Foundation grammar · Unit 51 · A2

work/working, go/going, do/doing

-ing and to ...

A verb can appear in three shapes: the infinitive (work), to + infinitive (to work) and the -ing form (working). The word before it decides which shape it takes.

Go to the exercises

A work / go / be etc. (the infinitive)

Use the infinitive, with no to, after these words:

After Example
will / shall Ellie will be back at six. Shall I close the door?
might / may I might ring you tonight. May I come in?
can / could I can't come on Friday. Could you open the window, please?
must It's getting dark. I must go.
should You shouldn't eat so fast.
would Would you like a cup of tea?
do / does (present simple) Do you drive? Kev doesn't know anybody here.
did (past simple) What time did the bus come? We didn't win.
  • Ellie will be back at six.
  • I might ring you tonight.
  • It's getting dark. I must go.
  • Kev doesn't know anybody here.
  • We didn't win.

B to work / to go / to be etc. (to + infinitive)

Use to + infinitive after these:

After Example
(I'm) going to I'm going to paint the kitchen this weekend.
(I) have to I have to get up early tomorrow. Everybody has to sleep.
(I) want to Do you want to come with us?
(I) would like to I'd like to ask you something.
(I) used to My gran used to work in a mill.
  • I'm going to paint the kitchen this weekend.
  • I have to get up early tomorrow.
  • They don't want to come with us.
  • I'd like to ask you something.
  • My gran used to work in a mill.

C working / going / playing etc. (-ing)

Use the -ing form after am / is / are (present continuous) and was / were (past continuous).

  • Please keep the noise down. I'm working.
  • Sam isn't playing football this week.
  • What time are you going out?
  • It was snowing, so we stayed in.
  • What were you doing when the lights went out?

Exercises

51.1 Complete the sentences. Write ... ring Mum or ... to ring Mum.

  1. I'll ring Mum.

    I'll ring Mum.

  2. I'm going to ring Mum.

    I'm going to ring Mum.

  3. Can you Mum?

  4. Shall I ?

  5. I'd like .

  6. Do you have ?

  7. You should .

  8. I want .

  9. I might .

  10. You must .

51.2 Complete the sentences with a verb from the box. Sometimes you need the infinitive (work / go etc.) and sometimes you need -ing (working / going etc.).

cook/cookingdo/doingeat/eatinggo/goinglisten/listeningrain/rainingsleep/sleepingwait/waitingwake/wakingwatch/watchingwear/wearingwork/working

  1. Please don't ring me now. I'm working.

    Please don't ring me now. I'm working.

  2. I'm exhausted. I didn't sleep at all last night.

    I'm exhausted. I didn't sleep at all last night.

  3. What time do you usually up at weekends?

  4. "Where are you ?" "To the post office."

  5. Did you the match last night?

  6. Take your umbrella. It's .

  7. You can switch the music off. I'm not to it.

  8. We didn't anything because the café was closed.

  9. Two people were outside the door when I got home.

  10. "Does Tom always a hat?" "No, only when it's cold."

  11. "What are you tonight?" "I'm dinner for my parents."

51.3 Put the verb in the correct form. Choose the infinitive (work / go etc.), to ... (to work / to go etc.) or -ing (working / going etc.).

  1. Shall I put the heating on? (put)

    Shall I put the heating on?

  2. It's nearly midnight. I have to go to bed. (go)

    It's nearly midnight. I have to go to bed.

  3. Kerry isn't working today. She's off sick. (work)

    Kerry isn't working today. She's off sick.

  4. I'm not hungry. I don't want anything. (eat)

  5. It might later, so take a coat. (snow)

  6. What time do you have for work? (leave)

  7. Sorry, I can't you with that today. (help)

  8. My sister is at university. She's law. (study)

  9. Would you like to the cinema tonight? (come)

  10. When you saw Dylan, what was he ? (do)

  11. When you visit Edinburgh, where are you going ? (stay)

  12. I'm starving. I must some lunch. (have)

  13. "Where's Mum?" "She's a shower." (have)

  14. I used a dog, but he died last year. (have)

  15. The music was very loud. I couldn't what she said. (hear)

  16. You've got a temperature. I don't think you should to school today. (go)

  17. I don't know what the teacher said. I wasn't to her. (listen)

  18. Sorry I'm late. I had my sister to the station. (take)

  19. I want the truth. (know) You must me. (tell)

  20. May I your toilet? (use)

See also