Verb + preposition
1 Complete the text with these prepositions: about, at, for, in, of, to, with You will have to use some prepositions
more than once.
If somebody told you they were building a lift to take people into space, you would probably laugh 1……… theidea But in fact, if you listen 2…………scientists and engineers talking about the plan, you soon realise they are being
completely serious.
The elevator would consist 3…… a carbon fibre ribbon 100,000 km long One end would be in the ocean at the
equator, and the other end would be in space.
At the moment, it takes months or years to prepare 4……… a trip into space by rocket Space agencies have begun searching 5……… a better option – partly because they worry 6…… the cost of space missions The idea of a space elevator appeals 7………… governments because it would be far cheaper than sending rockets into space It would be slower, but that would give passengers more time to adjust 8…… the different conditions as they left the
It may not be easy though: countries might argue 9……… the exact location of the elevator But if the political leaders can cope 10…… these problems and manage to take part 11…… the project together, it is certainly possible.
Science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke wrote a novel 12…… the idea in 1979 He said in a speech that humans
would build a space elevator ten years after they stopped laughing at the idea Well, they’ve stopped laughing now.
2 Circle the correct prepositions to complete the sentences.1 You should apologise for / to that comment!
2 Cats get frightened if you shout at / to them.
3 I asked about / for the manager so I could talk to him in person.4 We complained for / about our hotel room.
5 I’ve never heard from / of this video game.6 I dreamed about / of flying again last night.
7 After a long discussion, they agreed to / with our request and gave us our money back.8 If you’re unhappy with the service, why don’t you write for / to the manager?
3 Study the dictionary entries and answer the questions.
1 Which verb is used with two prepositions with no change of meaning? ………2 Which verb is used with two prepositions, but the meaning changes? ………
3 Which entry uses bold and italic type for two words that often go together? ………
4 Complete the sentences with the prepositions below.
about (x4) for (x2) of (x2) to with
1 She doesn’t care ……… getting high marks.2 I’ve never heard ……… that writer Is she
3 People often complain ……… their mobile
phone companies.
4 Please throw that pen ……… me – I need it.5 I apologized ……… shouting at him.
6 Jim’s boss asked ……… his holiday.
7 It’s difficult to work full-time and care …… a family.8 Geoff writes ……… politics on his blog.9 She doesn’t agree ……… my opinion of Sally.
10 I want you to know that I’m thinking ……… you.
Verb + infinitive or -ing form
1 Circle the correct verb form in these sentences Tick the box if both forms are correct.1 My friends agreed paying / to pay for my ticket.
2 I don’t mind cycling / to cycle in the rain.3 I’ve started learning / to learn the saxophone.
4 Two men have admitted stealing / to steal the painting.
5 We ended up staying / to stay at the hotel for a week instead of two nights.6 Do you like going / to go for walks on the beach?
7 I hate seeing / to see animals in pain.
8 I don’t expect passing / to pass all my exams.9 She offered phoning / to phone me later.
2 Complete the text with the infinitive or -ing form of the verbs in brackets Sometimes both are correct.At the end of a long journey, most people prefer 1 to get (get) home and relax as soon as possible They don’t
fancy 2……… (shop), but they don’t want 3……… (arrive) home with nothing to eat.Now, travellers who pass through Gatwick Airport in London can avoid 4……… (return) home to an empty fridge by choosing 5……… (visit) a virtual shop There are no real products in the shop, only images on ten large screens When you decide 6……… (buy) something, you use your smartphone to scan it You keep 7……… (scan) items until you’ve found everything you need, then you pay After that, you can spend a week or two 8……… (enjoy) your holiday The shop promises 9………
(deliver) your shopping soon after you get home According to the retailer, the virtual shop is a perfect combination of
traditional and online shopping People enjoy 10……… (look) around shops, but they also love 11……… (shop) online because it’s so convenient.
Trang 23 Study the dictionary entries and answer the questions.
1 How many meanings are there for each verb? ………
2 Which verb takes an infinitive? ………
3 Which verb takes an -ing form? ………
4 Which entry shows the verb pattern at the start of one meaning? ………
5 Which entry only shows the verb pattern in an example? ………
6 Which entry uses bold and italic type for two words that often go together? ………
4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in brackets.1 I try to avoid ……… on Saturday because the shops are so crowded (shop)2 Do you think he’ll agree ……… his company to a bigger firm? (sell)3 Jon decided ……… a job with another company (take)4 He spends a lot of his time ……… clients (meet)5 The bank has refused ……… us any money (lend)6 I promise ……… you know about any changes (let)7 I fancy ……… out tonight (eat)8 I told him we’re not interested, but that salesperson keeps ……… (call) Verbs and Tenses: Confusing verbs Exercise 1 :Choose the best option. a John talks and talks and talks and yet he never says/tells anything.b I don’t like my boss He makes/lets me do all the photocopying.c Are you coming/going round to my place this evening?d Do stop talking/speaking rubbish.e When you go/come round, could you bring my video back?f What language do they speak/talk in Uzbekistan?g Please say/tell me what’s wrong.h Let’s begin/start Word and write the letter.i I’m going to bring/fetch the kids from school now Back in a sec.j Oh, please make/let me stay up and watch the film. Exercise 2 :Find and correct the mistakes in the verbs in these sentences. a Could you please tell that again? I didn’t hear you properly b Have I ever said you I love you?c ‘Could you come here, please?’ ‘OK I’m going.’d He talks French well.e I’ll make you stay if you promise to be good.f I can’t begin the engine I think there’s something wrong with it g Could you fetch this video back to the shop for me?h Kate’s bringing her dog to the vets He’s unwell.i Lia said us a joke yesterday It was very funny.j I’d love to come and live in Italy but I can’t. Exercise 3 : Choose the best option, A or B. a Don’t ……… me you’ve lost your keys again A say B tellb French and Flemish are ……… in Belgium A talked B spokenc It was a great day They even ……… us stroke the kangaroos A made B letd Why don’t you ……… round to Jean’s place and ask her out? A go B comee Shall I ……… you out somewhere tonight? A bring B takef Can you ……… me what the time is, please? A tell B sayg What complete rubbish you ……… A speak B talkh ‘Where’s the corkscrew?’ ‘In the kitchen I’ll go and ……… it.’ A bring B fetchi Let’s ……… to the park A go B comej Liz ……… the truth Mark lied A said B told Exercise 4; Complete the sentences with a verb from the list in the correct form.say make fetch tell go come talk (x2) speak start a I once met a man who just couldn’t stop …………
b As soon as term finishes I’m ……… to
c He has travelled a lot and ……… several languages.d He’s a good dog I throw the ball and he ………… it.e I ……… Microsoft Windows but nothing happened.
f Let’s invite John to the meeting He always …… sense!g The baby … her first word It was ‘dog’,
h ………over here I want to show you something.i If only animals could ……… to us I wonder what
they’d say.
j My mum …… me come home by ten o’clock THE END