Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-53762-9 - English Grammar in Use with Answers, Third Edition Raymond Murphy Excerpt More

information

Unit

63
A

Expressions + -ing
When these expressions are followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing: Its no use / Its no good Theres nothing you can do about the situation, so its no use worrying about it. Its no good trying to persuade me. You wont succeed. Theres no point in Theres no point in having a car if you never use it. There was no point in waiting any longer, so we went. But we usually say the point of doing something: Whats the point of having a car if you never use it? Its (not) worth I live only a short walk from here, so its not worth taking a taxi. Our ight was very early in the morning, so it wasnt worth going to bed. You can say that a lm is worth seeing, a book is worth reading etc. : What was the lm like? Was it worth seeing? Thieves broke into the house but didnt take anything. There was nothing worth stealing.

Have difculty -ing, have trouble -ing We say have difculty doing something (not to do): I had no difculty nding a place to live. (not difculty to nd) Did you have any difculty getting a visa? People often have difculty reading my writing. You can also say have trouble doing something: I had no trouble nding a place to live.

We use -ing after: a waste of money / a waste of time It was a waste of time reading that book. It was rubbish. Its a waste of money buying things you dont need. spend/waste (time) He spent hours trying to repair the clock. I waste a lot of time day-dreaming. (be) busy She said she couldnt see me. She was too busy doing other things.

Go swimming / go shing etc. We use go -ing for a number of activities (especially sports). For example, you can say: go swimming go sailing go shing go climbing go skiing go jogging

Also go shopping, go sightseeing How often do you go swimming? Id like to go skiing. When did you last go shopping? Ive never been sailing. (For gone and been, see Unit 7D.)

126

Cambridge University Press

www.cambridge.org

Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-53762-9 - English Grammar in Use with Answers, Third Edition Raymond Murphy Excerpt More information

Exercises
63.1 Make sentences beginning Theres no point . 1 Why have a car if you never use it? Theres no point in having a car if you never use it. 2 Why work if you dont need money?
3 Dont try to study if you feel tired. 4 Why hurry if youve got plenty of time?

Unit

63

63.2 Complete the sentences on the right.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shall we get a taxi home? If you need help, why dont you ask Dave? I dont really want to go out tonight. Shall I phone Liz now? Are you going to complain about what happened? Do you ever read newspapers? Do you want to keep these old clothes? No, it isnt far. Its not worth getting a taxi . Its no use . He wont be able to do anything. Well, stay at home! Theres no point if you dont want to. No, its no good now. She wont be at home. No, its not worth . Nobody will do anything about it. No, I think its a waste . No, lets throw them away. Theyre not worth .

63.3 Write sentences using difculty. 1 I managed to get a visa, but it was difcult. I had difculty 2 I nd it hard to remember peoples names. I have difculty 3 Lucy managed to get a job without difculty. She had no 4 It wont be difcult to get a ticket for the game. You wont have any

getting a visa

. . . .

63.4 Complete the sentences. Use only one word each time. 1 Its a waste of money buying things you dont need. 2 Every morning I spend about an hour the newspaper. 3 Whats Sue doing? Shes going away tomorrow, so shes busy 4 I think you waste too much time television. 5 Theres a beautiful view from that hill. Its worth to the top. 6 Its no use for the job. I know I wouldnt get it. 7 Just stay calm. Theres no point in angry.

63.5 Complete these sentences with the following (with the verb in the correct form): go riding go sailing go shopping go skiing go swimming goes sailing . 1 Barry lives by the sea and hes got a boat, so he often 2 It was a very hot day, so we in the lake. 3 Theres plenty of snow in the mountains, so well be able to . 4 Helen has got two horses. She regularly. 5 Wheres Dan? Hes . There were a few things he needed to buy.
Additional exercises 2728 (pages 31819)

127

Cambridge University Press

www.cambridge.org