AVOIDING REPETITION BY OMITTING TO-INFINITIVES
Now we can learn to avoid repetition of the main verb by omitting the to-infinitive (with or without the need to retain the to).
To: Julia
From: Ella
Subject: James
Hi Julia
Good to hear from you!
You asked after James. Actually, I don`t see as much of him as I`d like to. (Mind you, I`m to blame -1 was supposed to call him last night and completely forgot!) I think he`s happy - he certainly deserves to be. Such a lovely guy.
Don`t know about you but I need a holiday. I`d fly off somewhere hot tomorrow if I could afford to. I hate my job. I`d resign if I dared to, but then I`d have even less money.
Anyway, I`ve got some work to do before bedtime, if I can bear to, that is. Very dull!
I`ll call tomorrow for a chat.
Much love
Ella
In order to avoid repetition, you can leave words out of to-infinitive clauses. Instead of using a full to-infinitive clause after a verb, you can just use to if the action or state has already been mentioned.
Instead of He failed his exam but I don`t think he deserved to fail it, you can say:
- He failed his exam but I don’t think, he deserved to.
Remember!
You can also do this in conversation to avoid repeating what the other person has said.
A: Do you ever visit a doctor?
B: No. We can’t afford to.
PRACTICE
Exercise 1. Match the sentence halves.
1. I wondered
2. I was hoping
3. Were you planning
4. Did you think you could
5. Was there a possibility that you
6. Is there any chance of
a. you could give Simon a lift.
b. Simon getting a lift with you?
c. give Simon a lift?
d. might give Simon a lift?
e. to give Simon a lift?
f. if you would mind giving Simon a lift
Exercise 2. Put each sentence into the correct order.
1. borrow / I / hoping / was / to / car tonight /. / your
..........................................................
2. of / were / you / jacket / looking / What / ? / for / kind
..........................................................
3. there / ? / an / Was I particularly liked / you / author
..........................................................
4. if / ? / were I wondering / donation / you could / us / We / a / give
..........................................................
5. to / I / ask / if / wanted / be / could / turned down /. / the heating
..........................................................
6. me /, / you / ? / did / Excuse / want / something
..........................................................
Exercise 3. Choose the correct word.
1. I was hoping / wondering / expecting if you could help me.
2. I wondered if I might / am / said ask you a question?
3. Was / Could / Might there something I can help you with?
4. We were hoping / wondering / asking you could help us.
5. I hoping / will hope / hoped you might be able to lend me some money.
Exercise 4. Write the missing words in sentence B so that it means the same as sentence A.
1. A. Would it be possible for me to leave my bag with you and collect it later?
B. I was................................if I could leave my bag with you and collect it later.
2. A. Did you want a double or a single room, madam?
B. ................................you like a double or a single room, madam?
3. A. What kind of suitcase did you want, sir?
B. What kind of suitcase were you................................for, sir?
4. A. Do you think you could repair this watch?
B. I was................................that you could repair this watch.
Exercise 5. Decide if the pairs of sentences have the same meaning.
1. A. I was planning to come and see you later.
B. I am thinking about coming to see you later. .........
2. A. Which of these cakes did you want? p-j
B. What kind of cakes did you use to like? .........
3. A. I`d like to get tickets for the show at 7 p.m. I
B. I was hoping to get tickets for the show at 7 p.m. .........
4. A. We were wondering if you`d like to come with us.
B. We thought
nguon VI OLET
