-ing / infinitive forms

1. Complete these sentences so that the meaning is similar to the first sentence. a) My father said I could use his car. My father allowed . b) I was surprised that it rained. I didnt expect... c) Dont stop him doing what he wants. Let d) He looks older when he wears glasses. Glasses make .. e) I think you should know the truth. I want.. f) Dont let me forget to phone my sister. Remind g) At first I didnt apply for the job but Sarah persuaded me. Sarah persuaded h) My lawyer said I shouldnt say anything to the police. My lawyer advised . i) I was told that I shouldnt believe everything he says. I was warned j) If youve got a car, you are able to travel round more easily. Having a car enables..

2. Put the verbs in the right form: -ing or infinitive. a) She doesnt allow in the house. /smoke/ b) Ive never been to Iceland but Id like ..there. /go/ c) Im in a difficult position. What do you advise me ..? /do/ d) She said the letter was personal and wouldnt let me .. it. /read/ e) We were kept at the police station for two hours and then we were allowed /go/ f) Where would you recommend me .for my holidays? /go/ g) I wouldnt recommend .in that restaurant. The food is awful. /eat/ h) The film was very sad. It made me . /cry/ i) Carols parents always encouraged her hard at school. /study/ 3. Use gerund or infinitive of the verb in brackets. Insert preposition where necessary. a) I regret /miss/. the performance. b) The car needs /overhaul/.immediately. c) We decided /leave/..them alone. d) Its no use /tell/him off, he didnt want /do/.it. e) I need a magnifying glass /decipher/..it with. f) He gave up /smoke/..and /drink/ g) We congratulate you on /reach/it. h) I remember /see/the film. i) Fancy him /act/.as a chairman of the committee. j) Its worth /notice/the development of the area. k) They want /prevent/.us /establish/.friendly relations. l) I cant understand /neglect/. children. m) Ill give you a chance /try/..your hand at it. n) He didnt even stop /chew/..the gum. o) Your time is up and you still go on /talk/. p) She cant avoid /attract/.the public eye. 4. Rewrite each sentence without changing the meaning, beginning as given. a) He said he didnt want to sit at the front. He refused... b) She succeeded in getting through to the office in the end. In the end she managed c) His parents wouldnt allow him to buy a powerful motorbike. His parents wouldnt let d) Going on a package tour was your choice. You chose. e) I had to stay late at the office last night. My boss made.. f) Leave the dog alone, Jean,said Chris. Chris told Jean. g) I really ought to phone the doctor. Id better h) You are supposed to take one tablet every four hours. You should. i) Taking a holiday in August is common in Britain. The British tend ... j) Actually Id prefer to go dancing with Margaret. Actually Id rather.. Put the verb in brackets into the most suitable form. a) Im afraid that I cant stand /sit/ on chairs like that one. b) I went back to the office and demanded /speak/..to the director. c) She didnt really fancy /go/.to the cinema, so she stayed at home. d) I hope /meet/ a lot of interesting people while Im there. e) She always pretends not /hear/..what people say to her. f) I used to enjoy /listen/..to pop music, but my tastes have changed. 1

5.

g) h) i) j) k) l) m) n) o)

I dont think we should risk /arrive/.too late at the airport. They warned Ronnie /be/. more careful about what he said to people. Terry keeps /ask/..me to lend her my notes from last weeks lesson. I wish youd let me /help/.you with that ironing. The doctor told me to avoid /walk/..upstairs for a week. I dont think she deserves /lose/her licence for such an offence. If youve finished /read/..the paper, could I have a look at it? They decided that they should practise /speak/as much as possible. She promised /let/.me know the results as soon as they came out.

-ing form as a noun

We can use an -ing form of the verb as a noun. It can be the subject, object, or a complement of a sentence.
Examples: Managing the computers resources is an important function of the operating system. The operating system starts running the user interface as soon as the PC is switched. Another function of the operating system is executing and providing services for applications software. Without the user being aware of the details, the operating system manages the computers resources. We begin by focusing on the interaction between a user and a PC operating system. We look forward to having cheaper and faster computers.

The -ing form is also used after prepositions. This includes to when it is a preposition and not part of the infinitive.
Examples:

1 Rewrite each of these sentences using an -ing form. 1 An important function of the operating system is to manage the computers resources. 2 One task of the supervisor program is to load into memory non-resident programs as required. 3 The role of the operating system is to communicate directly with the hardware. 4 One of the key functions of the operating system is to establish a user interface. 5 An additional role is to provide services for applications software. 6 Part of the work of the mainframe operating systems is to support multiple programs and users. 7 The task in most cases is to facilitate interaction between a single user and a PC. 8 One of the most important functions of a computer is to process large amounts of data quickly. 9 The main reason for installing more memory is to allow the computer to process data faster. 2 Complete these sentences with correct form of the verb, infinitive or -ing form. 1 Dont switch off without (close down) your PC. 2 I want to (upgrade) my computer. 3 He cant get used to (log on) with a password. 4 You can find information on the Internet by (use) a search engine. 5 He objected to (pay) expensive telephone bills for Internet access. 6 He tried to (hack into) the system without (know) the password. 7 You neednt learn how to (program) in HTML before (design) webpages. 8 I look forward to (input) data by voice instead of (use) a keyboard.

Verbs + object + infinitive; verbs + object + to-infinitive

New developments in computing are often designed to make something easier. These verbs are often used to describe such developments: allow, enable, help, let, permit. Allow, enable and permit are used with this structure: verb + object + to-infinitive Let is used with this structure: verb + object + infinitive Help can be used with either structure.
Examples: A GUI lets you point to icons and click a mouse button to execute a task. A GUI allows you to use a computer without knowing any operating system commands. Voice recognition software helps disabled users (to) access computers.

Complete the gap in each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets. 1 The Help facility enables users (get).. advice on most problems. 2 Adding more memory lets your computer (work) .. faster. 3 Windows allows you (display) .. two different folders at the same time. 4 The Shift key allows you (type) .. in upper case. 5 The MouseKeys feature enables you (use) .. the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer. 6 ALT + TAB allows you (switch) .. between programs. 7 The StickyKeys feature helps disabled people (operate) .. two keys simultaneously. 8 ALT + PRINT SCREEN lets you (copy) .. an image of an active window to the Clipboard. 2