Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Africa.
morning.
Remember
do it.
know
locked
the
door.
clearly
remember to
do
something
forgot
to
shut
the
windows.
(=
locked it.)
Go on to do something = do or say
something new.
After
discussing
the
economy,
the
foreign policy.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
Try
Try doing something = do something as
an experiment or test.
The
photocopier
doesnt
seem
to
be
done.
for me to do it.
make progress.
(= needs to be cleaned)
I?
interests.
EXERCISE
1. Complete each sentence with a verb in the correct form, -ing or to.
1. Please remember to lock (lock) the door when you go out.
2. A: You lent me some money a few months ago.
B: Did I? Are you sure? I dont remember ___________ (lend) you any money.
3. A: Did you remember ___________ (call) your sister?
B: Oh no, I completely forgot. Ill phone her tomorrow.
4. When you see Steve, remember ___________ (give) him my regards.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
Verb + preposition AT
Joke at / laugh at / look at / smile at / stare, glance or take a look at (but Have a look) at
Why are you looking at me like that?
If you smile at me like that Ill give you anything you want.
I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh at me.
Aim or point something at / shoot or fire a gun at
Shout to/at
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
Admire for / apologise to somebody for / apply to a person, a company, etc. for a job,
etc. / ask (somebody) for / leave (a place) for another place / punish for / search (a
person, a place, a bag, etc.) for / thank or forgive somebody for / wait for / work for
I wrote the company asking them for more information about the job.
Im going to apologise for the mistake we made.
She has applied for a new job.
They were waiting for me when I arrived.
Ive searched the house for the keys but I still cant find them.
Ill never forgive them for what they did.
When I realised I was wrong, I apologised (to them) for my mistake.
Everybody blamed me for the accident.
I havent seen her since she left home for the office this morning.
Pay
Blame
Blame somebody or something for / Somebody is to blame for
Everybody blamed me for the accident.
Blame a problem, etc. on
Everybody blamed the accident on me.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
Verb + preposition IN
Believe in
Do you believe in God? (= Do you believe that God exists?)
I believe in saying what I think (= I believe it is right to say what I think)
But believe something = believe it is true. Believe somebody = believe they are telling
the truth.
The story cant be true. I dont believe it. (not believe in it)
Include in / involve in / persist in / specialise in / succeed in
Helen is a lawyer. She specialises in company law.
I hope you succeed in finding the job you want.
Verb + preposition ON
Concentrate on / congratulate or compliment somebody on / insist on / plan on / rely
on / spend (money) on
You can rely on Jill. She always keeps her promises.
Dont look out of the window. Concentrate on your work.
I wanted to go alone, but some friends of mine insisted on coming with me.
He spends a lot of money on clothes and discos.
I congratulated her on her success in the exam.
Depend on
I may go to the match; it really depends on the weather.
But you can use depend when /where /how, etc. with or without on.
Are you going to buy it? It depends how much it is
It depends on how much it is.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
Discussion
Have a discussion about something, but discuss something (no preposition)
We had a discussion about what we should do.
We discussed a lot of things at the meeting. (not discussed about)
Do
Do something about something = do something to improve a bad situation
If youre worried about the problem, you should do something about it.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
Care
10
Remind
Remind somebody about (=tell somebody not to forget)
Im glad you reminded me about the meeting.
Remind somebody of (= cause somebody to remember)
Look at this photograph of Richard. Who does he remind you of?
Warn
Warn somebody about a person or thing which is bad, dangerous, unusual, etc.
I knew he was a strange person. I had been warned about him (not warned of him)
Vicky warned me about the traffic. She said it would be bad.
Warn somebody about / of a danger, something bad which might happen later.
Everybody has been warned of / about the dangers of smoking.
Scientists have warned us about / of the effects of global warming.
Complain
11
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
12
I think shes arriving this evening, but Im not sure of/about that.
Adjective + preposition ABOUT
Anxious / confident / excited / happy about a situation / nervous / right / upset / worried
Are you excited about going away next week?
Lisa is upset about not being invited to the party.
Adjective + preposition WITH
Busy with / content with / crowded with (people, etc.) / delighted with / disappointed
with something you receive, or the result of something / familiar with / fed up or bored
with something / happy with /occupied with / pleased with /satisfied with / wrong with
The streets were crowded with tourists.
I was delighted with the present you gave me.
Were you happy with your exam results?
I dont enjoy my job any more. Im fed up with it / Im bored with it.
There is something wrong with this.
Adjective + preposition AT
Bad at / better at / brilliant at / excellent at / good at / hopeless at/ lucky at / skilled at
/ skilful at / useless at
Im not very good at repairing things.
I was never very good at mathematics.
Adjective + preposition TO
Accustomed to / inferior to / married or engaged to / similar to / superior to
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
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Adjective + preposition IN
Interested in / involve in
He is very interested in antique furniture.
Are you interested in art?
Adjective + preposition ON
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
14
Sorry about a situation or something that happened. Feeling pity or sympathy for.
Sorry for / about something you did. Feeling ashamed or unhappy about.
You can also say Im sorry I did something
Feel / be sorry for somebody who is in a bad situation.
Im sorry about the noise last night. We were having a party.
Im sorry about the mess. Ill clear it up later.
Were all sorry about Julie losing her job.
Alex is very sorry for/about what he said
Im sorry for/about shouting at you yesterday.
Im sorry I shouted at you yesterday.
I feel sorry for/about Matt. Hes had a lot of bad luck.
Adjective + prepositions FROM / TO
Different from / to
15
Noun + preposition OF
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
16
AT
BY
FOR
IN
at all times
by accident
for a change
in addition (to)
at arms length
by air mail
for a visit
in answer (to)
at daybreak
by bus / train*
for a walk
in a uniform
at dawn
by chance
for a white
in a dress
at first
by cheque
for ages
in a group
at first sight
day by day
in a hurry
at home
for breakfast
in a loud voice
at least
by example
for ever
in cash
at last
by far
for fear of
in conclusion
at once
by hand
in control
at sea
by heart
for good
in danger
at the age of
by means of
for granted
in favour of
at the beginning*
by mistake
for life
in future
at the bottom of
by myself
for luck
in general
at breakfast
by no means
for my sake
in German
for nothing
in haste
at the corner
by sight
for now
in other words
at the door
by telepathy
for sale
in pairs
at the end*
by the arm
for short
in the west
at the moment
by the rules
in time*
by the way
at work
*By bus, etc. refers to using buses as a means of transport. I usually go to work by bus.
We can use on the bus, etc. for specific journey to particular destination.
If we go there on the bus, well have more time to chat.
*At the beginning of means at the very start of an event.
At the beginning of the Civil War, the fort was attacked.
In the beginning (not usually with of) means near the start of an event.
In the beginning, the South had some success.
*At the end (of) something refers to the final part of a period of time, a road, a book, a film, etc.
He is leaving at the end of October. / Their house is at the end of the road.
In the end means finally. We waited and waited; in the end, we decided to go back home.
*In time (for something/ to do something) = soon enough. The opposite of in time is too late.
Will you be home in time for dinner? (= soon enough for dinner)
On time = punctual, not late. If something happens on time, it happens at the time which was planned.
Ill meet you at 7.30. OK, but please be on time. (= dont be late, be there at 7.30)
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
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ON
OUT OF
TO
on a diet
out of breath
to my surprise
on arrival
out of control
to some degree
on average
out of date
to some extent
on behalf of
out of danger
to the point
on business
out of earshot
to our amazement
on condition that
out of doors
to your advantage
on duty
out of fashion
to your health
on fire
out of favour
on foot
out of luck
on holiday
out of money
up and down
on horseback
out of order
up as far as
on line
out of pocket
up the hill
on my own
out of practice
up the spout
on no account
out of print
up till/until
on purpose
out of rearch
up to date
on second thoughts
out of sight
up to you
on strike
on the left/right
on the floor
out of time
out of touch
out of tune
on the phone
out of work
on the screen
on the whole
UP
FROM
from a to b
from bad to worse
from morning to night
from my point of view
from now on
from place to place
from time to time
Examples:
I took his pen by mistake (= I thought it was my pen)
I did all the work by myself (= on my own; without help from others)
The shoes are made by hand (= not by machine)
The workers are on strike (= they refuse to work because of a problem overpay,
hours, etc.)
I met them by chance (= it wasnt planned- It was luck)
The children are on holiday (= they are having a holiday)
He broke the plate by accident (= He didnt want to do it, it was an error/
mistake)
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
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________ them?
4. It was careless ________ you to leave the door unlocked when you went out.
5. They didnt reply to our letter, which wasnt very polite ________ them.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
19
6. We always have the same food every day. Im fed up ________ it.
7. I cant understand people who are cruel ________ animals.
8. We enjoyed our holiday, but we were a bit disappointed ________ the hotel.
9. I was surprised ________ the way he behaved. It was completely out of
character.
10. Ive been trying to learn Spanish, but Im not very satisfied ________ my
progress.
11. Linda doesnt look very well. Im worried ________ her.
12. Are you angry ________ what happened?
13. Im sorry ________ what I did. I hope youre not angry ________ me.
14. The people next door are furious ________ us ________ making so much noise
last night.
15. Jill starts her new job next week. Shes quite excited ________ it.
16. Im sorry ________ the smell of paint in this room. Ive just decorated it.
17. I was shocked ________ what I saw. Id never seen anything like it before.
18. The man we interviewed for the job was intelligent, but we werent very impressed
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
20
11. Sue is much more successful than I am. Sometimes I feel a bit jealous ________
her.
12. Im tired ________ doing the same thing every day. I need a change.
13. Do you know anyone who might be interested ________ buying an old car?
14. Weve got plenty to eat. The fridge is full ________ food.
15. She is very honest person. I dont think she is capable ________ telling a lie.
16. Helen works hard and shes extremely good ________ her job.
17. Im not surprised he changed his mind at the last moment. Thats typical
________ him.
18. Mark has no money of his own. Hes totally dependent ________ his parents.
19. Were short ________ staff in our office at the moment. We need more people to
do the work.
5. Put in to where necessary. If the sentence is already complete, leave the
space empty.
1. I know who she is, but Ive never spoken ________ her.
2. Why didnt you answer ________ my letter?
3. I like ________ listen to the radio while Im having breakfast.
4. Wed better phone ________ the restaurant to reserve a table.
5. Did Mike apologise ________ you? Yes, he said he was very sorry.
6. I explained ________ everybody the reasons for my decision.
7. I thanked ________ everybody for all the help they had given me.
8. Ask me what you like and Ill try and answer ________ your questions.
9. Mike described ________ me exactly what happened.
10. Karen wont be able to help you, so theres no point in asking ________ her.
6. Put in to or at.
1. I wrote ________ the hotel complaining about the poor service we had received.
2. Look ________ these flowers. Arent they pretty?
3. Please dont shout ________ me! Try to calm down.
4. I saw Sue as I was cycling along the road. I shouted ________ her, but she didnt
hear me.
5. Dont listen ________ what he says. He doesnt know what hes talking about.
6. Whats funny? What are you laughing ________?
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
21
________ it.
13. We waited for Steve ________ half an hour, but he never came.
14. Tomorrow morning I have to catch a plane. Im leaving my house ________ the
airport at 7.30.
8. Put in the correct preposition.
1. Did you hear ________ what happened at the party on Saturday?
2. I had a strange dream last night. Did you? What did you dream ________?
3. Our neighbours complained ________ us ________ the noise we made last
night.
4. Kevin was complaining ________ pains in his chest, so he went to the doctor.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
22
10. Put in the correct preposition. If the sentence is already complete, leave the
space empty.
1. The school provides all its students ________ books.
2. A strange thing happened ________ me a few days ago.
3. Mark decided to give up sport so that he could concentrate ________ his studies.
4. I dont believe ________ working very hard. Its not worth it.
5. My present job isnt wonderful, but I prefer it ________ what I did before.
6. I hope you succeed ________ getting what you want.
7. As I was coming out of the room, I collided ______ somebody who was coming in.
8. There was an awful noise as the car crashed ________ a tree.
UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
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UNIT 11. INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS: CHANGE IN MEANING. THEORY AND EXERCISES
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