Klasse 8b Englisch 7th May 2020

Topic: Revision - The gerund

Examples:

Shopping is fun. The gerund as subject

Sue enjoys painting. The gerund as object

Frank left the shop without paying. The gerund after prepositions

Jackie is really good at doing card tricks. Adjective + preposition + gerund

What are the disadvantages of living in the country? Noun + preposition + gerund

Don’t worry about catching the train. Verb + preposition + gerund

Practice I

Combine the sentence parts with a preposition from the box to write about Josh’s dream.

Example:

Josh often talks about / become a famous musician

 Josh often talk about becoming a famous musician.

about in of on to

1) Josh dreams / make it big in the music scene.

Josh dreams of making it big in the music scene.

2) He sometimes thinks / leaving school and tour with his band.

He sometimes thinks about leaving school and touring with his band.

3) His parents think he should concentrate / get better marks at school.

His parents think he should concentrate on getting better marks at school.

4) Josh seldom worries / fail his exams.

Josh seldom worries about failing his exams.

5) He’s sure he will succeed / pass all his courses.

He’s sure he will succeed in passing all his courses.

6) He’s looking forward / finish school and spend more time on his music.

He’s looking forward to finishing school and spending more time on his music.
Practice II

Combine the sentences below using a gerund phrase and a preposition. You must add a preposition.

Example:

Suzie is going to L.A. for a year. She’s really excited.

 Suzie is really excited about going to L.A. for a year.

1) We didn’t make it to the final. We were very disappointed.

We were disappointed about not making it to the final.

2) Jared won first prize for his short story. He’s proud.

Jared is proud of winning first prize for his short story.

3) Catriona’s not coming to my party. She’s really sad.

Catriona’s really sad about not coming to my party.

4) Marco suggested going to the cinema. I wasn’t interested.

I wasn’t interested in going to the cinema (with Marco).

5) I know I hurt your feelings. I’m really sorry.

I’m really sorry about/for hurting your feelings.

6) Sandra is taking her driving test tomorrow. She’s very nervous.

Sandra is very nervous about taking her driving test tomorrow.

7) Tarik left his mobile in the café. He’s really angry.

Tarik is really angry about leaving his mobile in the café.

8) In the end, we didn’t have to rewrite our essays. We were glad.

We were glad about not having to rewrite our essays.

Practice III

Rewrite the sentences about Liz and her brother Jeremy using the preposition in brackets and a gerund
phrase.

Example:

Liz may be the smallest girl in her class, but she knows how to get her own way. (in spite of)

 In spite of being the smallest girl in her class, Liz knows how to get her own way.

1) Jeremy earns extra pocket money. He does garden work for the neighbors. (by)

Jeremy earns extra pocket money by doing garden work for his neighbours/By doing garden work for his
neighbours, Jeremy earns extra pocket money.

2) Liz meets her friends in the afternoon. But first she finishes her homework. (before)

Before meeting her friends in the afternoon, Liz finishes her homework.

3) Jeremy sometimes leaves the house even though he hasn’t done his homework. (without)

Jeremy sometimes leaves the house without doing/having done his homework.

4) Jeremy wants to do a gap year when he has finished school. (after)

Jeremy wants to do a gap year after finishing school.

5) Liz wants to study drama. She doesn’t want to do a gap year. (instead of)

Liz wants to study drama instead of doing a gap year.

6) Liz and Jeremy get on well, even though they are very different. (in spite of)

Liz and Jeremey get on well in spite of being very different.

Practice IV

Translate the following sentences into English. You will need the following phrases:

Es hat keinen Zweck… There is no use…

Meine Mutter ist damit beschäftigt… My mother is busy…
Ich habe nichts dagegen… I don’t mind…
Wir sind daran gewöhnt… We are used to…

1) Swimming is fun.

2) Peter is interested in playing football.

3) I hate writing letters.

4) We are used to working in the evening.

5) There is no use going to the cinema.

6) I am looking forward to phoning my uncle.

7) My mother is busy preparing the evening

meal.

8) He is good at speaking.

9) I don’t mind going home.

10) I would give up smoking.

Practice V

Translate the words in brackets using a gerund.

1) Please close all windows (bevor Sie das Gebäude verlassen).

Please close all windows before leaving the building.

2) I can’t believe Sharon would just move away (ohne Auf Wiedersehen zu sagen)

I can’t believe Sharon would just move away without saying goodbye.

3) You can improve your English (indem du jeden Tag fünf neue Wörter lernst).

You can improve your English by learning five new words a day/every day.

4) I can remember (dich zum ersten Mal zu treffen)

I can remember meeting you for the first time.

5) Are any of you interested (das Museum zu besuchen)?

Are any of you interested in visiting the museum?

6) The sun is shining – let’s walk (anstatt den Bus zu nehmen).

The sun is shining – let‘s walk instead of going by bus/taking the bus.