English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Verb + -ing or verb + to-infinitive; like and would like

A. Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets in the –ing or to-infinitive form.

1   Do you promise ……to tidy…… your room this weekend (tidy)?

2   I’ve always wanted ……………………… a dog (have).

3   Would you mind ……………………… the window, please (open)? It’s too hot here.

4   Dogs don’t enjoy ……………………… at home all day (be).

5   Philip refused ……………………… to my advice (listen).

6   Did the hotel offer ……………………… your room (change)?

7   Children love ……………………… to the circus (go).

8   We don’t need ……………………… an umbrella with us (take).

9   You should avoid ……………………… too many sweet things (eat).

10   The workers finished ……………………… the house (paint).

B. Rewrite these sentences using the correct forms of like and would like.

1   Do you want a banana?

      Would you like a banana?

2   I enjoy playing tennis.

      …………………………………….

3   My dream is to be a chef.

      …………………………………….

4   Do you want to see my paintings?

      …………………………………….

5   Going to the theatre is interesting f o r us.

      …………………………………….

6   Can I get you a drink?

      …………………………………….

C. Underline the correct option.

Most teenagers like (1) spend / spending time in front of the TV, but is this a good thing? Is TV just a way of avoiding (2) to do / doing something more useful? Some people think that most TV programmes are not right for teenagers. Teenagers need (3) to have / having better programmes,’ agrees TV producer Erica Johnson. ‘Our TV company promises (4) to make / making educational programmes which teenagers will enjoy (5) to watch / watching.’ Erica suggests (6) to create / creating a special channel for teenagers. Teenagers want (7) to be / being different, so a different channel is a good idea. TV is a great way of learning. Teenagers can learn (8) to understand / understanding the world through television.’ What do teenagers think? Emily, 13, said, ‘It’s a bad idea. We have enough channels already. I wouldn’t like (9) to see / seeing one more.’ Erica said, ‘We are planning (10) to show / showing the first programme on this new channel next spring.’

D. Complete the email with the verbs from the box. The verbs should be –ing or to-infinitive forms.

To: i.smith@superlingo.net

I want 1……to complain…… about Super Lingo. My wife and I decided 2………………… Super Lingo because we needed 3………………… Arabic very quickly for a business trip. You promised 4………………… us Arabic in two weeks. We started 5………………… a month ago and finished 6………………… to all the CDs last week. And now? We know nothing! Super Lingo is useless! The course was very difficult and boring. We certainly didn’t enjoy 7………………… hours translating poems from Arabic into English.

I was very angry, so my wife suggested 8………………… this email to you. Please give us back our money immediately; we’d like 9………………… it this week. We hope 10………………… from you soon.

Jane & Peter Stevens

E. In your notebook, write at least six true sentences about yourself.

Examples: I want to be a doctor.

My ancle likes skiing very mach.

F. Circle the correct option.

1   If you want to learn a language, you need …………… for years and years.

      a study     b studying     c to study

2   I’ve …………… to learn Russian.

      a finished     b decided     c enjoyed

3   I …………… studying every day.

      a don’t mind

      b don’t want

      c don’t need

4   The Super Lingo! system didn’t work, but they refused …………… me my money back.

      a to give     b to gave     c giving

5   …………… like to buy my Super Lingo! system?

      a Do you would

      b You would

      c Would you