Racing driver Chuck Lodder, who had a bad accident in last year's Grand Prix, is likely to come out of hospital soon. He agreed to be interviewed by our sports reporter, although he has refused to be photographed, as his face still shows the marks of the accident.
Chuck was very cheerful when he spoke to us. His health now seems to be improving very slowly. He expects to sit at the wheel once again before very long.
Many people think that last year's race at Bruckheim ought never to have taken place. It was the last race on the old track, which is going to be rebuilt soon. The owners of the track expect to complete the work in time for next season.
A: Agree or disagree with the following:
1. Chuck Lodder is likely to stay in hospital for several months.
2. Chuck agreed to be interviewed and photographed by the sports reporter.
3. Chuck seems to be getting better slowly.
4. Many people think that last year's race at Bruckheim should have been cancelled.
5. The old track is going to be used again in two years' time.
6. Chuck has given up the idea of taking part in Grand Prix Race.
B: Retell the article as Chuck Ladder / as sports reporter / as one of the owners of the track. You may add some details of our own.
C: Tell a similar story about a yachtsman called Brendan Stiles who was badly injured when his experimental new yacht overturned and sank during an international yacht race which is held every year off the west coast of Australia.
Uses of the Infinitive
5. Define the infinitives in the functions of a subject, predicative, part of a predicative and object in the following sentences. Translate the sentences into Russian.
\. To drive fast in such weather is pretty dangerous. 2. What is more pleasant: to love or to be loved? 3. Her habit is to put five lumps of sugar in her tea. 4. Sociable people are easy to deal with. 5. I asked her to explain everything. 6. It's a funny thing about life: if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it. 7. It is necessary to be patient when you get in a traffic jam. 8. To take money from him was like robbing a child. 9. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it. 10. Everything comes to him who knows how to wait. 11. To let his friends down is not characteristic of him. 12. Man's true vocation is to cultivate the ground. 13. The dentist recommended the patient to have the tooth out. 14. Her method is to make a child think and find his own solution. 15. It is very pleasant to look after a baby.
6. Combine the two ideas into one sentence, using verb + (not) + to-infinitive, as in the examples given. Model: He says that he'll never tell another lie. He's promised. He's promised never to tell another lie.
1. John won't help me any more. He's refused. 2. We're going on holiday to Spain. We've decided. 3. You needn't come with me to the station. Don't bother! 4. He says he doesn't know what I mean. He's only pretending. 5. Bill says he'll lend me the necessary money. In fact, he's promised. 6. How about inviting Robert this weekend instead of next. I'd prefer it. 7. I caught the last train after all. I just managed it. 8.1 wish I could visit my aunt in New York. I can't afford it. 9. We'll be staying with friends in Munich at Easter. We've arranged it all. 10. Jim will give me a lift to work tomorrow morning. He's already offered. 11. We tried to make the management understand our point of view. We failed. 12. Mary and John say they won't break the bad news to the family until later. They've agreed.
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7. Two people are visiting a castle built in the eighteenth century by a famous duke. One asks questions about the duke, which the other, who has just bought the guidebook, does his best to answer. Use verb + (not) + to-infinitive, as in the model given.
Model: A: Was he rich? (very.)
a) B: Yes, he seems to have been very rich.
b) B: Yes, he appears to have been very rich.
c) : Yes, he is said to have been very rich.
d) B: Yes, he is supposed to have been very.
1. Did he live here? (most of his life.) 2. Did he marry? (several times.) 3. Did he have children? (a lot of.) 4. Did he build any other houses? (several.) 5. Did he own large estates? (enormous.) 6. Did he employ a large staff? (huge.) 7. Was he a good land lord? (excellent.) 8. Did he hunt? (when he was a young man.) 9. Did he lose money gambling? (a fortune.) 10. Did he fight duels? (two.)
8. Make the necessary changes to use infinitives after a noun phrase.
Model: I though I had lost my purse, so I ran back home to look for it, and there it was (such a relief.)
- It was such a relief to find my purse. Or
- What a relief (it was) to find my purse!
1. As I was walking through town I bumped into an old friend, (a pleasant surprise.) 2. Bill was offered a promotion with his firm, but he refused it. (a mistake for Bill.) 3. Someone ought to eat these pears because they are going soft. Otherwise, I shall have to throw them away, (a shame.) 4. Bob got into financial difficulties because he didn't accept his father's advice, (mistake for Bob.) 5. John has failed his final examination. He says he's not going to bother trying it again, (nonsense for John.) 6. Janet was sure she had got the job. Then a letter of refusal came, which she certainly wasn't expecting, (a shock for Janet.) 7. The teacher hasn't shown up. We can go to the cinema, (fun.) 8. Last summer he spent his holidays at the Black See coast, (a pleasure.) 9. He wants to take his exams in autumn, (an unwise decision.) 10. I learned German at evening class, (a problem.) 11. We have booked to go on holiday next week, but now my friend is ill, so we'll have to cancel the trip, (a pity.)
9. Study the table below. Paraphrase the following so as to use a to-infinitive after nouns /pronouns.
\. There is I there are + noun /pronoun + to-infinitive.
There are ten letters to write / to be written.
Note: The active to-infinitive has a passive meaning here.
2. Have I Have got + noun /pronoun + to-infinitive
She had nowhere to sleep. = She didn't have a bedroom or
bad.
Note: You cannot use the passive infinitive here.
3. Note the idioms:
He is nowhere to be seen/ to be found. Nobody's to blame.
1. There are so many books that must be read. 2. I have no money which I can spend. 3. There is nothing that we might do
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now. 4. There was nothing that might keep him at home that night, and he gladly accepted the invitation. 5. She had no one who could take care of her. 6. We've got no time that we can lose. 7. I have three exercises that I must do. 8. There are still a lot of things that must be packed. 9. There is nothing that we can say. 10. She must type twenty letters. 11. You can't blame anybody for this.
10. Study the example then change the sentences, using adjective + to-infinitive.
When the Dales visited the old house to see how far the workmen had progressed with the repairs, they were disappointed to see that several jobs had not been done to their satisfaction.
Model: They were annoyed when they saw that the shower still hadn't been installed.
They were annoyed to see that the shower still hadn't been installed.
1. Peter was alarmed when he found out that the central heating couldn't be turned off. 2. Sue was horrified when she found that the kitchen had been painted red instead of white. 3. They were shocked when they found a pile of building bricks in the kitchen! 4. Sue was angry when she saw black tiles in the bathroom instead of blue! 5. Peter was furious when he found that the new wiring system fused all the lights! 6. Sue was upset when she learnt that three panes of glass were still missing from the kitchen windows! 7. They were infuriated when they discovered splashes of red paint all over the kitchen floor! 8. They were horrified when they realised that the new garage wasn't wide enough for the car! 9. Sue was dismayed when she found that the roof was still leaking. 10. They were relieved when they noticed that at least the cellar was still unspoilt!
A: Work with your partner. Share your impressions about decorations in your flat / house. Use the pattern above.
11. Change the following sentences using It + to be + adjective + of+ noun /pronoun + to-infinitive or How + adjective + of + noun /pronoun + to-infinitive as in the examples.
Model: They bought an old house (unwise).
It was unwise of them to buy an old house.
Sarah invited Jane and Sally to her dinner party (kind).
How kind of Sarah to invite Jane and Sally to her dinner party.
1. They expect to move house before Christmas (optimistic). 2. Sue learnt to drive (sensible). 3. Peter thinks management will reject his application (pessimistic). 4. Aunt Ivy criticises Ben all the time (unfair). 5. Tim goes to football matches without paying (dishonest). 6. Ben doesn't do his homework regularly (foolish). 7. Stan sent Helen and Bill a postcard from Italy (nice). 8. Bill didn't send the cheque to the travel bureau (forgetful). 9. Your brother is planning a trip through the African deserts (brave). 10. He wants to make the trip alone (unwise). 11. Ben doesn't do his homework regularly (foolish).
12. Jane and Sally thanked Sarah again by telephone (polite).
12. Complete the passage using enough or too on their own or together with the verbs in brackets.
Two young sailors are recovering in hospital today, after their boat overturned. Jason Potter, aged nine, told their story:
"We tried to turn the boat the right way, but we just weren't strong a)... enough to do (do) it. Then we tried to get to the beach, but it was b)... far c)... (swim). The wind blew us back and we couldn't swim hard d).... We saw another boat, and shouted for help, but they were e)... far away f)... (hear) us.
The children swam to the foot of the cliffs, where they were noticed by a Mr Frank Payne. The cliffs were much g)... high for the kids h)... (climb), so I called the lifeboat". The lifeboat captain commented: "Children that age aren't experienced i)... (sail) in high winds. The weather conditions were much j)... dangerous k).., (go) outside the harbour".
A: Say whether the statements are true or false.
1. The young sailors were experienced enough to turn the boat the right way.
2. The beach was quite close to swim.
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3. The wind was too strong for the people on another boat to hear the young sailors.
4. The children were lucky enough to be noticed.
5. The weather conditions were favourable enough to sail outside the harbour.
B: Retell the passage in indirect speech.
13. Sandra has just joined a health club. Read her thoughts. Say what she actually says. Use infinitives after question words.
Note: 1. The word why cannot be followed by a to-infinitive: Please tell me why I should stay here. 2. We can use whether but not if: We'll have to decide whether to go ahead with the project (or not).
Model: Where should I go first? I can't remember. I can't remember where to go first. Should I ask someone or work it out for myself? I can't decide whether to ask someone or (whether)
to work it out for myself.
1. Where should I get changed? I can't remember.
2. What should I wear on my feet in the gym? I'd like to know.
3. Who should I talk to about the fees for the course? I'm not sure.
4. How do I switch on the running machine? I'm afraid I don't know.
5. Which exercise bike should I use? Who can show me?
6. Anna told me to put my things in a locker. Who can show me where it is?
7. I ought to look for the instructions, but where? I don't know.
8. Should I ask the couch? I'm not sure.
A: Speak about Sandra's problems on her first day in the healtli club. ' /
B: Say what problems you had when you found yourself in a new city / wanted to send a postcard / to exchange your money.
14. Study the examples, then combine the statements into one sentence using so as to and negative so as not to. Use the infinitive of purpose.
Remember!
The to-infinitive of purpose cannot be used in the negative. The long form in order not to is rather too formal in speech. So as to and the negative so as not to are usual when the ideas of purpose and result are combined.
Jane and Sally work in different departments of the same large company. They are chatting casually about work.
Model: Jane: I left home at eight this morning. I didn't want so arrive late again! I left home at eight this morning so as not to arrive late again!
Sally: I drove into town earlier, too. I wanted to avoid the rush-hour traffic. I drove into town earlier, too so as to avoid the rush-hour traffic.
1. Jane: I sometimes walk to work. It keeps my
weight down.
2. Sally: I'm living on fruit juice and cheese this
week. I don't want to put on weight before the film's annual dinner!
3. Jane: I'm going on a diet, too. I don't want to have
to buy a new dress for the dinner!
4. Sally: I'll go to bed early tonight. I want to be fresh
for our foreign visitors tomorrow!
5. Jane: And I'm going to the hairdresser's after
work. I want to make a good impression on my new boss!
6. Sally: I came up to the office by the stairs. I didn't
want to bump into the marketing manager in the lift!
7. Jane: I'm taking the day off on Friday. I want to
have an excuse for not attending another boring Board meeting!
8. Sally: And I'm taking Friday off, too! I want to
have enough time to prepare for our office party on Friday evening.
Say what you learned about Jane and Sally. Use the infinitives of purpose.
15. Here are some common set expressions with the to-infinitive. Match them with their meanings or explanations.
1. To tell you the truth,.... / To be frank with you,...
2. To cut a long story short,....
3. To get to the point,....
4. To begin with,.... / To start with....
5. To put it another way,
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6. To hear him / her talk,
7. Needless to say....
a. From what he /she says,
b. The first thing is / was,
c. I'm going to say what I really think.
d. I'm going to say this in different words.
e. Now I'm going to tell you the important thing.
f. I'm going to try to shorten the whole thing.
g. It's clear that....
16. Write the most appropriate set expression from the previous exercise in each of the blanks in these short conversations. Practice the dialogues.
- What was your holiday like?
- Not very good, I'm afraid.
- Why? /
- Well, (1)____, the flight out was delayed. Then, when
we arrived, the hotel had no record of our booking.
- Listen to her! (2)____, you'd think she'd just won the
Businesswoman of the Year Award!
- Well, hasn't she?
- No! The management has given her a "Bright Smile" award!
- Why isn't Mark with you?
- Well, it's all a bit complicated, but (3)_____, he had an
accident and we had to take him to hospital.
- This report is highly confidential, so (4)_____that you
mustn't show it to anyone. No one can say what might happen if people found out what was in it. (5)_____, I'm worried that Mr Smith has a copy. Let's just hope he keeps his mouth shut.
17. Translate the sentences into English. Use different patterns with infinitive.
1. , . 2. . 3. , , . 4. , . 5. . 6. . 7. . 8. . 9. , . 10. . 11. , . 12. , .
13. . 14. . 15. , . 16. , , . 17. . 18. . 19. , . 20. 6 , . 21. , . 22. , . 23. , .
18. Read the story and say what you would likely feel in Mrs Johns' place.
The Brave Old Lady
Mrs Johns, a 75-year-old widow, woke up with a start. Peering into the darkness, she was astonished to see a man in her room. It was easy to see he was a burglar. At first, she was too afraid to move. Then she plucked up her courage and said, "We must talk about this over a cup of tea. Would you be so kind to help me with the tea downstairs?" To her surprise, the man meekly obeyed. He was eager to help and anxious to please the old lady. He prepared the tea and said he was sorry to have disturbed her. He was too frightened to run away. After a cup of tea, he said he would be glad to give Mrs Johns his name and address and left empty-handed. Of course, Mrs Johns informed the police, who commended her for bravery. Later, during the trial, the judge said it was his duty to send the man to prison, describing him as the most incompetent burglar he had ever met! A: Answer the questions:
1. How did Mrs Johns discover the burglar in her room?
2. What was her first reaction like?
3. How did the burglar behave in that situation?
4. What happened to him later?
: Discussion:
1. What do you think of Mrs John's actions?
2. Do you fell sorry for the burglar? Why?
C: Retell the story in the name of Mrs Johns / the burglar / the judge.
19. Read the article and say whether the elk is likely to be removed from the roof.
Anything Goes!
When Mr Sam Quirky installed a huge plastic flying elk, about 8 metres tall, on the roof of his house, he said he was free to do what he liked on his own property.
However, the local counsel have other ideas. "Although we are always eager to support genuine modern art, local laws forbid this kind of installation", said a spokesperson.
The first person to notice the elk was a neighbour, Mrs Me-nendez, who told me: "I was surprised at first, but now I'm quite happy to see it there. It makes the view from my window more interesting".
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The last thing Mr Quirky told me was: "Whatever the local council says, I'm determined to keep the elk on my roof.
And a spokesperson for the Campaign for Civil Liberties said: "We are very anxious for Mr Quirky to be allowed to keep the elk".
And with so many views on the subject, this reporter is reluctant to express an opinion!
A: Answer the questions. Use adjective + to-infinitive.
1. What does Mr Quirky think of his property?
2. How did the local counsil react to the installation of the elk on the roof?
3. Is Mr Quirky going to remove it?
4. What is the reporter's view on the subject?
B: Make up conversations between a) Mrs Menendez and the reporter; b) Mr Quirky and the local counsel representative. Express their emotions and attitude to the installation of the elk. You may use the following:
| To be (un)likely 1 eager 1 reluctant 1... To find it easy / amazing 1 delightful 1... To feel free 1 not free... To be the last / the first person... | + to-infinitive |
20. Read the jokes and retell them in indirect speech. Mind the use of to - infinitives after verbs.
***
Father told his schoolboy son to mail a letter he had written to an army friend.
"Daddy", the son reported, "I've dropped the letter into the mail box".
"Have you?" exclaimed the father. "Didn't you notice that I had forgotten to write the address on the envelope?"
"I did", answered the boy, "but I thought it was a military secret".
- Bob, your dream has always been to be up to the ears in love, hasn't it?
- Yes, it has. And now I'm head over in debt, that proves that my dream has come true.
Who Profits?
At a dinner party Charles Lamb, the famous English humorist, happened to be sitting beside a very talkative young clergyman. Observing that Lamb did not listen to him, the young
man exclaimed, "You don't seem to profit from what I'm telling you!"
"No, sir, I don't", answered Lamb, "but the gentleman on the other side of me is certain to profit a great deal; because everything you tell me comes in at one ear and goes out at the other".
