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Unit 10.1 · B1 Grammar

Uses of the -ing form

-ing forms as nouns and subjects; verbs followed by -ing; likes and dislikes + -ing; prepositions + -ing; by + -ing for method and for + -ing for reason.

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  1. 1. I avoid _____ through the city centre during the morning rush hour.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Adriving✓
    Bto driving
    Cdrive
    Ddrove

    💡 Avoid is followed by the -ing form.

  2. 2. An -ing phrase can be the subject of a sentence, as in 'Cycling to work is healthy.'

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 The -ing form can function like a noun and form the subject of a sentence.

  3. 3. Marta enjoys _____ crime novels on the train. (read)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    reading

    💡 Enjoy is a verb of liking followed by an -ing form.

  4. 4. You can reduce travel costs _____ to work instead of taking a taxi.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Aby walking✓
    Bby walk
    Cto walking
    Dfor walk

    💡 By + -ing explains the method used to achieve a result.

  5. 5. Match each verb to the natural -ing complement that follows it.

    Matching30s
    To reduce kitchen costs, avoid→wasting food
    Because your commute is long, consider→moving closer to work
    After two hours, I can't stand→waiting in this queue
    To improve your health, give up→eating sugary snacks

    💡 These verbs and expressions take an -ing form as their object.

  6. 6. _____ for six people takes longer than cooking for two. (cook)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    Cooking

    💡 Cooking is an -ing noun phrase acting as the subject of the sentence.

  7. 7. Put the chunks in order to describe an interest in a new cooking skill.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.She
    2. 2.is interested in
    3. 3.learning
    4. 4.how to
    5. 5.make bread.

    💡 The preposition in is followed by the -ing form learning.

  8. 8. Which expression is not followed by an -ing form in the rule list for this unit?

    Multiple Choice20s
    Awould prefer✓
    Bavoid
    Cdon't mind
    Dpractise

    💡 Prefer can take -ing here, but the page specifically excludes would prefer from that pattern.

  9. 9. After a preposition, use a to-infinitive rather than an -ing form.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 Prepositions are followed by noun forms, and a verb becomes a noun-like -ing form in this position.

  10. 10. Thank you for _____ us carry the equipment. (help)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    helping

    💡 The preposition for is followed by the -ing form helping.

  11. 11. Which sentence uses verb + preposition + -ing correctly?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AAre you thinking of applying for the job?✓
    BAre you thinking to applying for the job?
    CAre you think of apply for the job?
    DAre you thinking of to apply for the job?

    💡 Think of is followed by an -ing form.

  12. 12. Match each -ing phrase to its grammatical function in the sentence.

    Matching30s
    Swimming before work is refreshing.→-ing phrase as subject
    They enjoy cooking together.→-ing object after a liking verb
    Save time by checking in online.→-ing form explaining method
    Thanks for waiting patiently.→-ing form after a preposition giving a reason

    💡 The -ing form can act as a noun, an object, or the complement of a preposition.

  13. 13. The doctor advised me to avoid _____ heavy meals late at night. (eat)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    eating

    💡 Avoid takes an -ing form as its object.

  14. 14. In this unit's verb-pattern list, prefer can be followed by an -ing form, but would prefer is treated differently.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 The reference explicitly includes prefer and excludes would prefer from the -ing pattern.

  15. 15. Which sentence correctly uses an -ing phrase as its subject?

    Multiple Choice20s
    ATravelling with young children requires planning.✓
    BTravel with young children requiring planning.
    CTo travelling with young children requires planning.
    DTravelling with young children require planning.

    💡 The -ing phrase is a singular subject and therefore takes requires.

  16. 16. Reorder the chunks to describe an activity someone does not mind.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.My brother
    2. 2.doesn't mind
    3. 3.doing
    4. 4.the washing-up
    5. 5.after dinner.

    💡 Don't mind is followed by an -ing form.

  17. 17. You will become more confident by _____ the presentation several times. (practise)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    practising

    💡 By + -ing explains how the improvement happens; practising is the British spelling.

  18. 18. Complete the encouragement: 'The task is difficult, but keep _____.'

    Multiple Choice20s
    Atrying✓
    Bto trying
    Ctry
    Dtried

    💡 Keep is followed by an -ing form.

  19. 19. An -ing form always creates a continuous tense and can never work like a noun.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 The unit focuses on noun-like and complement uses of -ing, not only continuous tenses.

  20. 20. They are interested in _____ the local dishes during their visit. (try)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    trying

    💡 The preposition in is followed by the -ing form trying.