74 See it happen or see it happening?

74 Exercises

1 See it happen (B)

Henry is in court. He is answering questions about a Mr Lewis, who the police suspect of a number of crimes. Add a sentence using the verb in brackets. ► And you say a second man came into the restaurant? (see) Henry: That's right. / saw him come in.

1Are you quite certain that Mr Lewis took the envelope? (see)

Henry: Yes, absolutely. ...........................................................................................

2Then Mr Lewis left the restaurant, did he? (watch) Henry: He left soon afterwards ...........................................

3And he drove away, (hear)

Henry: Yes, he did.........................................................

2 See it happening (C)

Look at the pictures and add a sentence with I can see/hear/smell... and the ing-form of these verbs: bark, burn, come, ring, wave

► The postman is on his way. I can see him coming.

1There's a phone upstairs. ......................................................................................

2There's a woman in the boat. ..............................................................................

3 See it happen or see it happening? (D)

There has been a bomb explosion in the city centre. TV reporter Kitty Beamish is asking people about it. What did people see or hear?

? Man: The bomb exploded. I heard it. It was a shock.

He heard the bomb explode.

?Woman: A man was lying in the road. I saw him. He was just lying there.

She saw a man lying in the road.

75 Some structures with the ing-form

A Two actions at the same time

All afternoon Claire lay in a hammock reading a magazine.

When two things are happening at the same time, we can use a main verb (lay) and an ing-form (reading). Here are some more examples.

We had to stand in a queue waiting for the bank to open.

You can t sit watching television all day. All afternoon, Vicky lay on the sofa thinking about life.

We can also use this structure when one action comes in the middle of another. We use the ing-form for the longer action.

Matthew injured his knee doing gymnastics. (= He injured his knee while he was doing gymnastics.) I went to sleep listening to the radio.

B One action after another

When there are two short actions, one straight after the other, we can use an ing-form for the first action. Opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks. (= He opened the bottle and then poured the drinks.)

Turning right into Madison Avenue, the car drove north for two blocks.

We can also use the perfect ing-form.

Having opened the bottle, Mike poured the drinks. (= After opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.)

If either of the actions is long, we must use the perfect.

Having photocopied all the papers, Sarah put them back in the file. Having repaired the car, Tom took it out for a road test. NOT Repairing the car, Tom took it-out for a road test.

These patterns are typical of written English. In spoken English, to talk about one action after another we use a sentence like this.

Tom repaired the car and then took it out for a road test.

C The ing-form saying why

We can use the ing-form to give a reason.

The fans queued for hours, hoping to get tickets. (= They queued for hours because they hoped to get tickets.) Being the youngest child, Natasha was her father's favourite. Not knowing the way, I had to ask for directions.

We can also use the perfect ing-form to give a reason.

Having spent all his money, Daniel couldn't afford a new jacket. We decided not to travel, having heard the terrible weather forecast.

75 Exercises

1 One action in the middle of another (A)

Say what accidents these people had. Use these phrases: lift weights, light a fire, open a tin, run, ski Put the verbs describing the longer action in the -ing form.

2 One action after another (B)

Rewrite the sentences about a detective. Begin with an ing-form, e.g. doing or having done.

Mitchell picked up the phone and dialled a number. He let it ring for five long minutes and then slowly replaced the receiver. He took a gun out of the drawer and put it in his briefcase. He left the office and then had to wait a while for the lift. He reached the ground floor and hurried outside to a taxi. The taxi driver pulled out a gun and shot Mitchell.

? Picking up the phone, Mitchell dialled a number.

? Having let it ring for five long minutes, he slowly replaced the receiver.

1 ............................................................................................................................................................

2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 The ing-form saying why (C)

Match the two parts and join them using an ing-form, e.g. doing or having done.

? Not wanting to be late, Vicky ran to the bus stop. ? Having worked hard all day, Sarah was exhausted.