Now after three years, it's no problem for Jane:
She is used to driving on the left.
I'm used to something = it is not new or strange for me:
* Frank lives alone. He doesn't mind this because he has lived alone for 15 years. It is not strange for him. He is used to it. He is used to living alone.
* I bought some new shoes. They felt a bit strange at first because I wasn't used to them.
* Our new flat is on a very busy street. I expect we'll get used to the noise, but at the moment it's very disturbing.
* Diane has a new job. She has to get up much earlier now than before - at 6.30. She finds this difficult because she isn't used to getting up so early.
* Brenda's husband is often away from home. She doesn't mind this. She is used to him being away.
B. After be/get used you cannot use the infinitive.(to do/to drive etc.). We say:
* She is used to driving on the left. (not 'she is used to drive')
When we say 'I am used to...', 'to' is a preposition, not a part of the infinitive (see Unit 59C). So we say:
* Frank is used to living alone. (not 'Frank is used to live')
* Jane had to get used to driving on the left. (not 'get used to drive')
C. Do not confuse I am used to doing (be/get used to) and I used to do. They are different in structure and meaning.
I am used to (doing) something = something isn't strange or new for me:
* I am used to the weather in this country.
* I am used to driving on the left because I've lived in Britain for a long time.
I used to do something = I did something regularly in the past but no longer do it (see Unit 18). You can use this structure only for the past, not for the present. The structure is 'I used to do' (not 'I am used to do'):
* I used to drive to work every day, but these days I usually go by bike.
* We used to live in a small village, but now we live in London.
EXERCISES
60.1 Read the situations and complete the sentences. Use (be/get) used to as in the example.
1. Jane is American. She came to Britain and at first she found driving on the left difficult.
When she arrived in Britain, she _wasn't used to driving_ on the left, but she soon _got used to_ it. Now she has no problems. She _is used to driving_ on the left.
2. Juan is Spanish and came to live in England. In Spain he always had dinner late in the evening, but in England dinner was at 6 o'clock. This was very early for him. When Juan first came to England, he --- dinner so early, but after some time he --- it. Now he finds it quite normal. He --- at six o'clock.
3. Julia is a nurse. A year ago she started working nights. At first she found it hard. At first Julia didn't like it. She --- nights and it took her a few months to --- it. Now, after a year, she's quite happy. She --- nights.
60.2 What do you say in these situations? Use I'm (not) used to... .
1. You live alone. You don't mind this. You have always lived alone.
FRIEND: Do you get a bit lonely sometimes? You: No, I'm used to living alone.
2. You steep on the floor. You don't mind this. You have always slept on the floor.
FRIEND: Wouldn't you prefer to sleep in a bed? You: No, I ---
3. You have to work hard. This is not a problem for you. You have always worked hard.
FRIEND: You have to work very hard in your job, don't you? YOU: Yes, but I don't mind that. I ---
4. You normally go to bed early. Last night you went to bed very late (for you) and as a result you are very tired this morning.
FRIEND: You look tired this morning. YOU: Yes, ---
60.3 Read the situation and complete the sentences using used to.
1. Some friends of yours have just moved into a flat on a busy street. It is very noisy.
They'll have to _get used to the noise._
2. Jack once went to the Middle East. It was very difficult for him at first because of the heat.
He wasn't ---
3. Sue moved from a big house to a much smaller one. She found it strange at first.
She had to --- in a much smaller house.
4. The children at school had a new teacher. She was different from the teacher before her but this wasn't a problem for the children. The children soon ---
5. Somebody from Britain is thinking of going to live in your country. Warn him/her!
You would have to ---
60.4 (Section Q Complete the sentences using only one word each time.
1. Jane had to get used to driving on the left.
2. We used to live in a small village but now we live in London.
3. Tom used to --- a lot of coffee. Now he prefers tea.
4. I feet very full after that meal. I'm not used to --- so much.
5. I wouldn't like to share an office. I'm used to --- my own office.
6. I used to --- a car but I sold it a few months ago.
7. When we were children, we used to --- swimming every day.
8. There used to --- a cinema here but it was knocked down a few years ago.
9. I'm the boss here! I'm not used to --- told what to do.
UNIT 61. Verb + preposition + ~ing (succeed in ~ing/accuse somebody of ~ing etc.)
A. Many verbs have the structure verb + preposition (in/for/about etc.) + object. For example:
verb + preposition + object
We talked about the problem.
You must apologize for what you said.
If the object is another verb, it ends in ~ing:
verb + preposition + ~ing (object)
We talked going to America.
She apologized for not telling the truth.
Here are some more verbs with this structure:
succeed (in)
Have you succeeded in finding a job yet?
insist (on)
They insisted on paying for the meal.
think (of)
I'm thinking of buying a house.
dream (of)
I wouldn't dream of asking them for money.
approve(of)
She doesn't approve of gambling.
decide (against)
We have decided against moving to London.
feel (like)
Do you feel like going out tonight?
look forward (to)
I'm looking forward to meeting her.
We say 'apologize to somebody for...':
* She apologized to me for not telling the truth. (not 'she apologized me')
B. With some of the verbs in A, you can use the structure verb + preposition + somebody + ~ing:
verb + preposition somebody + ~ing
She doesn't approve of me gambling.
We are all looking forward to Liz coming home.
C. The following verbs can have the structure verb + object + preposition + ~ing:
verb + object + preposition + ~ing
congratulate (on)
I congratulated Ann on passing the exam.
accuse (of)
They accused me of telling lies.
suspect (of)
Nobody suspected the man of being a spy.
prevent (from)
What prevented him from coming to see us?
stop (from*)
The police stopped everyone from leaving the building.
thank (for)
I forgot to thank them for helping me.
forgive (for)
Please forgive me for not writing to you.
warn (against)
They warned us against buying the car.
You can also say 'stop somebody doing' (without from). So you can say:
* You can't stop me doing what I want. or ... stop me from doing what I want.
Some of these verbs are often used in the passive. For example:
* I was accused of telling lies.
* The man was suspected of being a spy.
* We were warned against buying the car.
EXERCISES
61.1 Complete each sentence using only one word.
1. Our neighbours apologized for _making_ so much noise.
2. I feel lazy. I don't feel like --- any work.
3. I wanted to go out alone but Joe insisted on --- with me.
4. I'm fed up with my job. I'm thinking of --- something else.
5. We have decided against --- a new car because we can't really afford it.
6. I hope you write to me soon. I'm looking forward to --- from you.
7. The weather was extremely bad and this prevented us from --- out.
8. The man who has been arrested is suspected of --- a false passport.
9. I think you should apologize to Sue for --- so rude to her.
10. Some parents don't approve of their children --- a lot of television.
11. I'm sorry I can't come to your party but thank you very much for --- me.
61.2 Complete the sentences using a preposition + one of the following verbs (in the correct form): cause escape go help interrupt live play solve spend walk
1. Do you feel _like going_ out this evening?
2. It took us a long time but we finally succeeded --- the problem.
3. I've always dreamed --- in a small house by the sea.
4. The driver of the other car accused me --- the accident.
5. There was a fence around the lawn to stop people --- on the grass.
6. Forgive me --- you but may I ask you something?
7. Where are you thinking --- your holiday this year?
8. The guards weren't able to prevent the prisoner ---
9. I wanted to cook the meal by myself but Dave insisted --- me.
10. I'm sorry we've had to cancel our game of tennis tomorrow. I was really looking for-ward ---.
61.3 Complete the sentences on the right.
1. It was nice of you to help me. Thanks very much.
George thanked _me for helping him._
2. I'll drive you to the station. I insister.
TOM insisted ---
3. Congratulations!
Jim congratulated me ---
4. It was nice of you to come to see me. Thank you.
Mrs Bond thanked ---
5. Dont stay at the hotel near the airport.
I warned ---
6. I'm sorry I didn't phone you earlier.
Mary apologized ---
7. You're selfish.
Jane accused ---
UNIT 62. Expressions + ~ing
A. When these expressions are followed by a verb, the verb ends in ~ing:
It's no use .../It's no good ...:
* There's nothing you can do about the situation, so it's no use worrying about it.
* It's no good trying to persuade me. You won't succeed.
There's no point in ...:
* There's no point in having a car if you never use it.
* There was no point in waiting any longer, so we went.
It's (not) worth ...:
* I live only a short walk from here, so it's not worth taking a taxi.
* It was so late when we got home, it wasn't worth going to bed.
You can say 'a film is worth seeing', 'a book is worth reading', etc.
* What was the film like? Was it worth seeing?
* I don't think newspapers are worth reading.
B. (Have) difficulty ~ing
We say 'have difficulty doing something' (not 'to do'):
* I had difficulty finding a place to live. (not 'I had difficulty to find')
* Did you have any difficulty getting a visa?
* People often have great difficulty reading my writing.
We usually say 'have difficulty' (not 'have difficulties'):
* I'm sure you'll have no difficulty passing the exam. (not 'have no difficulties')
C. We use ~ing after:
a waste of money .../a waste of time ... (to ... is also possible):
* It was a waste of time reading that book. It was rubbish.
* It's a waste of money buying things you don't need.
spend/waste (time) ...
* He spent hours trying to repair the clock.
* I waste a lot of time daydreaming.
(be) busy ...:
* She said she couldn't see me. She was too busy doing other things.
D. Go swimming/go fishing etc.
We use go ~ing for a number of activities (especially sports). For example, you can say:
go swimming/go sailing/go fishing/go climbing/go skiing/go jogging etc.
also: go shopping/go sightseeing.
* I'd like to go skiing.
* When did you last go shopping?
* I've never been sailing. (For been and gone, see Unit 7D.)
You can also say 'come swimming/come skiing' etc.:
* Why don't you come swimming with us?
EXERCISES
62.1 Complete the sentences on the right.
1. Shall we get a taxi home?
No, it isn't far. It's not worth _getting a taxi._
2. If you need help, why don't you ask Tom?
It's no use ---. He won't be able to help us.
3. I don't really want to go out tonight.
Well, stay at home! There's no point --- if you don't want to.
4. Shall I phone Ann now?
No, it's no good ---. She won't be at home.
5. Are you going to complain about what happened?
No, it's not worth ---. Nobody will do anything about it.
6. Do you ever read newspapers?
No. I think it's a waste ---
62.2 Make sentences with worth ~ing or not worth ~ing. Choose one of these verbs:
consider keep read repair see visit
1. The film isn't very good. _It's not worth seeing._
2. It would cost too much to repair this watch. It's not worth ---
3. If you have time, you should go to the museum. It's worth ---
4. It's quite an interesting suggestion ---
5. There's an interesting article in the paper today. ---
6. We can throw these old clothes away. They ---
62.3 Make sentences beginning There's no point... .
1. Why have a car if you never use it? There's no point in having a car if you never use it.
2. Don't eat if you're not hungry.
There's no ---
3. Why work if you don't need money?
4. Don't study if you feet tired.
62.4 Write sentences using difficulty.
1. I managed to get a visa but it was difficult.
_I had difficulty getting a visa._
2. I can't remember people's names.
I have difficulty ---
3. Lucy managed to get a job without difficulty.
She had no ---
4. Do you find it difficult to understand him?
Do you have ---
5. It won't be difficult to get a ticket for the concert.
You won't have any ---
62.5 Complete the sentences. Use only one word each time.
1. It's a waste of money buying things you don't need.
2. Every morning I spend about an hour --- the newspaper.
3. 'What's Carol doing?' 'She's busy --- letters.'
4. I think you waste too much time --- television.
5. There's a beautiful view from that hill. It is worth --- to the top.
62.6 Complete these sentences with one of the following (with the verb in the correct form):
go skiing go shopping go swimming go sailing go riding
1. Barry lives by the sea and he's got a boat, so he often _goes sailing._
2. There's plenty of snow in the mountains so we'll be able to ---
3. It was a very hot day, so we --- in the river.
4. Margaret has got two horses. She often ---
5. The shops are shut now. It's too late to ---
UNIT 63. To ..., for ... and so that ... (purpose)
A. We use to ... to say why somebody does something (= the purpose of an action):
* 'Why did you go out?' 'To post a letter.'
* A friend of mine phoned to invite me to a party.
* We shouted to warn everybody of the danger.
We use to... to say why something exists or why somebody has/wants/needs something:
* This wall is to keep people out of the garden.
* The President has a team of bodyguards to protect him.
* I need a bottle opener to open this bottle.
B. We use to ... to say what can be done or must be done with something:
* It's difficult to find a place to park in the city centre. (= a place where you can park)
* Would you like something to eat?
* Have you got much work to do? (= work that you must do)
* I get lonely if there's nobody to talk to.
Also: money/time/chance/opportunity/energy/courage etc. to (do something):
* They gave us some money to buy some food.
* Do you have much opportunity to practise your English?
* I need a few days to think about your proposal.
C. For ... and to ...
Compare:
* I'm going to Spain for a holiday.
but I'm going to Spain to learn Spanish. (not 'for learn Spanish', not 'for learning Spanish')
We use for + noun (for a holiday) but to + verb (to learn). Some more examples:
* What would you like for dinner?
but What would you like to eat? (not 'for eat')
* Let's go to the pool for a swim.
but Let's go to the pool to have a swim.
Note that you can say ... for (somebody) to (do something):
* There weren't any chairs for us to sit on, so we had to sit on the floor.
You can use for ~ing to say what the general purpose of a thing is. To... is also possible:
* This knife is only for cutting bread. (or ... to cut bread.)
You can use What ... for? to ask about purpose: