Exercises

64.1 (Section A) Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown.

1. It's difficult to understand him.

He _is difficult to understand._

2. It's quite easy to use this machine.

This machine is ---

3. It was very difficult to open the window.

The window ---

4. It's impossible to translate some words.

Some words ---

5. It's not safe to stand on that chair.

That chair ---

6. It's expensive to maintain a car.

A ---

64.2 (Section A) Complete the second sentence using the adjective in brackets. Use a/an +adjective + noun + to... (as in the example).

1. I couldn't answer the question. (difficult) It was _a difficult question to answer._

2. Everybody makes that mistake. (easy)

It's an ---

3. I like living in this place. (nice)

It's a ---

4. We enjoyed watching the game. (good)

It was ---

64.3 (Section B) Make a new sentence beginning It... Use one of these adjectives each time:

careless considerate kind nice

1. You did my shopping for me.

_It was kind of you to do my shopping for me._

2. You make the same mistake again and again.

It ---

3. Don and jenny invited me to stay with them.

---

4. John made so much noise when I was trying to sleep.

It wasn't very ---

64.4 (Section C) Use the following words to complete these sentences:

sorry/hear glad/hear delighted/get surprised/see

1. We _were delighted to get_ your letter last week.

2.Thank you for your letter. I --- that you're keeping well.

3. We --- Pauline at the party. We didn't expect her to come.

4. I --- that your mother isn't well. I hope she gets well soon.

64.5 (Section D) Complete the second sentence using the words in brackets + to...

1. Nobody left before me. (the first)

I was _the first person to leave._

2. Everybody else arrived before Paul. (the last)

Paul was the ---

3. Fiona passed the exam. All the other students failed. (the only)

Fiona was ---

4. I complained to the restaurant manager about the service. Another customer had already complained before me. (the second)

I was ---

5. Nell Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969. Nobody had done this before him. (the first)

Neil Armstrong was ---

64.6 (Section E) Complete these sentences using the word in brackets and a suitable verb.

1. Diane is very intelligent. She _is bound to pass_ the exam. (bound)

2. I'm not surprised you're tired. After such a long journey you --- tired. (bound)

3. Tom's got a very bad memory. He --- what you told him. (sure)

4. I don't think you need to take an umbrella. It --- (not likely)

5. The holidays begin this weekend. There --- a lot of traffic on the roads. (likely)

UNIT 65. To... (afraid to do) and preposition + ~ing (afraid of ~ing)

A. Afraid to (do) and afraid of (do)ing

I am afraid to do something = I don't want to do it because it is dangerous or the result could be bad. We use afraid to do for things we do intentionally:

* A lot of people are afraid to go out at night. (= they don't want to go out because it is dangerous--so they don't go out)

* He was afraid to tell his parents about the broken window. (= he didn't want to tell them because he knew they would be angry)

I am afraid of something happening = it is possible that something bad will happen (for example, an accident). We do not use afraid of ~ing for things we do intentionally:

* The path was icy, so we walked very carefully. We were afraid of falling. (= it was possible that we would fall--not 'we were afraid to fall')

* I don't like dogs. I'm always afraid of being bitten. (not 'afraid to be bitten')

So, you are afraid to do something because you are afraid of something happening as a result:

* I was afraid to go near the dog because I was afraid of being bitten.

B. Interested in (do)ing and interested to (do)

I'm interested in doing something = I'm thinking of doing it, I'd like to do it:

* I'm trying to sell my car but nobody is interested in buying it. (not 'to buy')

We use interested to especially with hear/see/know/read/learn. I was interested to hear it = 'I heard it and it was interesting for me':

* I was interested to hear that Diane has got a new job.

* Ask George for his opinion. I would be interested to know what he thinks. (=it would be interesting for me to know)

This structure is the same as surprised to/delighted to... etc. (see Unit 64C):

* I was surprised to hear that Diane has got a new job.

C. Sorry to (do) and sorry for (do)ing

We usually say sorry to... to apologize when (or just before) we do something:

* I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to you.

We use sorry to (hear/read etc.) to show sympathy with somebody (see Unit 64C):

* I was sorry to hear that Fiona lost her job. (= I was sorry when I heard...)

You can use sorry for (doing something) to apologize for something you did before:

* (I'm) sorry for shouting at you yesterday. (not 'Sorry to shout...')

You can also say:

* (I'm) sorry I shouted at you yesterday.

D. Note that we say:

I want to (do)/I'd like to (do) but I'm thinking of (do)ing/I dream of (do)ing

I failed to (do) but I succeeded in (do)ing

I allowed them to (do) but I prevented them from (do)ing

For examples, see Units 53-54 and 61.