Complete the following sentences with suitable gerunds.

1. If you seriously want to save money, you'd better give up....

2. I don't mind most housework but I can't stand....

3. The puppies looked so sweet that I couldn't resist....

4. If you want to learn to ride a horse, you won't be able to avoid....

5. Must you keep...? It's really annoying!

6. I'd hate to be a miner. Can you imagine...?

7. Can I have the newspaper if you've finished...?

The man the police caught finally admitted.

8. When he said he'd forgotten the phone number, I sug­gested....

9. My job as a tourist guide involves....

10. Nobody suspects you....

11. Sue never takes the trouble....

12. Is it worth...?

13. I can't help....

14. Ted hesitated before....

15. What he loves best in the world is....

16. There is little hope....

17. Don't insist....

18. Why do you persist...?

19. At the reception I had the pleasure....

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, gerund or infinitive.

1. You must remember (call) at the bank on your way home because we need (order) some traveller's cheques.

2. Could you stop (type) for a moment? I need (concentrate) on this letter.

3. I hope you haven't forgotten (telephone) the garage because the car badly needs (service).

4. We could try (make) a dash for the car if it would only stop (rain) for a moment.

5. I'm sure you won't regret (buy) the house, even though it needs (paint) and (decorate).

6. I regret (say) that he's forgotten ever (promise) you a job.

7. I don't remember (take) my wallet out of my bag, but I must have done it when I stopped (buy) petrol.

8. As I told you, he's rather deaf, so don't forget (try) (shout) if he doesn't answer the door at first.

9. I've considered (ask) him (raise) my salary but I don't think he can afford (do) it.

10. If the machine happens (stop) (work), just telephone and arrange for the service engineer (call).

11. I can't help (think) that we shouldn't have agreed (lend) him our car.

12. If you've finished (use) the typewriter, I'd like (borrow) it for a while, so that I can get used to (type) with that machine.

13.  I regret (say) I lost my temper with him.

14. He regrets (steal) money now.

15. Sheila will always regret (not go) to University.

16. The headmaster does not allow (run) along the corridors.

17.  The teacher on duty does not allow us (run) along the corri­dors.

18.  Don't forget (write) to me when you are away.

19. Have you forgotten about (write) to me already?

20. Tony cannot do any work without (tell) at least twice.

21. Always remember (wipe) your feet before entering the school during the rainy season.

22. Do you remember (wipe) your feet before you came into the house?

 

Comment on the use of the possessive case in the following sentences:

1. Murphy's law is based on a popular belief that if something goes wrong it always goes wrong in the worst possible way.

2. The children's first Christmas was spent in Wales.

3. I don't remember the student's name.

4. Do you know all the students' names?

5. The city's population rose to nine million people.

6. Durrell was a graduate of London's college of Hotel Manage­ment.

7. Corelli was probably the best of Callas's tenor partners.

8. The secretary of State's speech was televised.

9. Her daughters-in-law's birthdays both fall on July.

10. There will be a students' meeting next Tuesday.

11. Donald works for a women's journal.

12. A fortnight's holiday will do you good.

13. That little boy of Bessy's is constantly looking for trouble!

14. How I dislike that new boyfriend of Liz's!

15. Ted and Linda's mother is a decorator.

16. Ted's and Linda's projects are up to the mark.

17. On the way home I dropped in at the baker's, then at the butcher's, but the greengrocer's was already closed.

18. One day a stranger arrived and introduced himself as an old friend of the master's.

19. That remark of Max's was not to the point.

 

Put the possessive ending 's or ' in the following expressions.