In English there are several fixed expressions with ing forms. This exercise tests your understanding of those expressions.
Fill in the blanks.
1It is no use ............... about that problem.
Wrong!
After "It is no use", use the -ing form "worrying".
2It is ............... to persuade him. He won't change his mind.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "no good trying" and "no use trying" correctly mean that the action will not help.
3There is no point ............... a car if you can't drive.
Wrong!
After "There is no point", use "in buying" before the object.
4There is no point ............... to him.
Wrong!
After "There is no point", use "in talking" before the object.
5It doesn't take more than two minutes to walk there, so it is ............... taking the bus.
Wrong!
Use "not worth" before an -ing form when something is not useful or valuable enough to do.
6What is the ............... of taking a taxi if you can walk there in two minutes?
Wrong!
In the question "What is the point of...?", the correct noun is "point".
7What is Kerala like? Is it ...............?
Wrong!
Use "worth visiting" to ask whether a place is good enough to visit.
8I don't lock my door when I go out. I have nothing ...............
Wrong!
Use "worth stealing" to mean valuable enough for someone to steal.
9She has written several books. All of them are ...............
Wrong!
Use "worth reading" to mean good enough to read. "Worth" is followed by an -ing form, not a to-infinitive, and "worthy" needs "of".
10If you have ............... accommodation in the city, please give me a call.
Wrong!
After "have trouble", use the -ing form "trouble finding".
11I had no ............... there.
Wrong!
After "have difficulty", use the -ing form "difficulty getting".
12My handwriting is very bad. People always have ............... it.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
The expressions "trouble reading", "difficulty reading", and "problems reading" are all natural after "have".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- It is no use worrying about that problem.
- It is no good trying / no use trying to persuade him. He won’t change his mind.
- There is no point in buying a car if you can’t drive.
- There is no point in talking to him.
- It doesn’t take more than two minutes to walk there, so it is not worth taking the bus.
- What is the point of taking a taxi if you can walk there in two minutes?
- What is Kerala like? Is it worth visiting?
- I don’t lock my door when I go out. I have nothing worth stealing.
- She has written several books. All of them are worth reading.
- If you have trouble finding accommodation in the city, please give me a call.
- I had no difficulty getting there.
- My handwriting is very bad. People always have trouble reading / difficulty reading / problems reading it.