Unit

58 Verb + -ing or to … 3 (like / would like etc.)

A like / love / hate
When you talk about repeated actions, you can use -ing or to … after these verbs.
So you can say:
Do you like getting up early? or Do you like to get up early?
Stephanie hates flying. or Stephanie hates to fly.
I love meeting people. or I love to meet people.
I don’t like being kept waiting. or … like to be kept waiting.
I don’t like friends calling me at work. or … friends to call me at work.
but
(1) We use -ing (not to …) when we talk about a situation that already exists (or existed).
For example:
Paul lives in Berlin now. He likes living there.
(he lives there now and he likes it)
Do you like being a student? (you are a student – do you like it?)
The office I worked in was horrible. I hated working there. (I worked there and I hated it)
(2) There is sometimes a difference between I like to do and I like doing:
I like doing something = I do it and I enjoy it:
I like cleaning the kitchen. (= I enjoy it.)
I like to do something = I choose to do it (but maybe I don’t enjoy it):
It’s not my favourite job, but I like to clean the kitchen as often as possible.
Note that we use -ing (not to …) with enjoy and mind:
I enjoy cleaning the kitchen. (not I enjoy to clean)
I don’t mind cleaning the kitchen. (not I don’t mind to clean)

B would like / would love / would hate / would prefer

Would like / would love etc. are usually followed by to … :
I’d like (= I would like) to go away for a few days.
What would you like to do this evening?
I wouldn’t like to go on holiday alone.
I’d love to meet your family.
Would you prefer to eat now or later?
Compare I like and I would like (I’d like):
I like playing tennis. / I like to play tennis. (= I like it in general)
I’d like to play tennis today. (= I want to play today)
Would mind is followed by -ing:
Would you mind closing the door, please? (not mind to close)

C I would like to have (done something)

I would like to have done something = I regret now that I didn’t or couldn’t do it:
It’s a shame we didn’t see Anna. I would like to have seen her again.
We’d like to have gone away, but we were too busy at home.
We use the same structure after would love / would hate / would prefer:
Poor David! I would hate to have been in his position.
I’d love to have gone to the party, but it was impossible.

116 enjoy/mind ➜ Unit 53 would like ➜ Units 37E, 55A prefer ➜ Unit 59
Unit
Exercises 58
58.1 Write sentences about yourself. Do you like these activities? Choose from these verbs:
like / don’t like love hate enjoy don’t mind

1 (flying) I don’t like flying. or I don’t like to fly.

2 (playing cards)
3 (being alone)
4 (going to museums)
5 (cooking)
6 (getting up early)

58.2 Make sentences using -ing or to … . Sometimes either form is possible.

1 Paul lives in Berlin now. It’s nice. He likes it.
(He / like / live / there) He likes living there.
2 Jane is a biology teacher. She likes her job
(She / like / teach / biology) She
3 Joe always has his camera with him and takes a lot of pictures.
(He / like / take / pictures)
4 I used to work in a supermarket. I didn’t like it much.
(I / not / like / work / there)
5 Rachel is studying medicine. She likes it.
(She / like / study / medicine)
6 Dan is famous, but he doesn’t like it.
(He / not / like / be / famous)
7 Jennifer is a very careful person. She doesn’t take many risks.
(She / not / like / take / risks)
8 I don’t like surprises.
(I / like / know / things / in advance)

58.3 Complete the sentences with a verb in the correct form, -ing or to … . In two sentences either form
is possible.
1 It’s fun to go to new places – I enjoy travelling .
2 ‘Would you like down?’ ‘No, thanks. I’ll stand.’
3 The music is very loud. Would you mind it down?
4 How do you relax? What do you like in your spare time?
5 When I have to take a train, I’m always worried that I’ll miss it. So I like
to the station in plenty of time.
6 I enjoy busy. I don’t like it when there’s nothing to do.
7 I would love to your wedding, but I’m afraid I’ll be away.
8 I don’t like in this part of town. I want to move somewhere else.
9 Do you have a minute? I’d like to you about something.
10 If there’s bad news and good news, I like the bad news first.
11 Shall we leave now, or would you prefer a little?
12 Steve wants to win every time. He hates .

58.4 Write sentences using would … to have (done). Use the verbs in brackets.
1 It’s a shame I couldn’t go to the party. (like) I would like to have gone to the party.
2 It’s a shame I didn’t see the programme. (like)
3 I’m glad I didn’t lose my watch. (hate)
4 It’s too bad I didn’t meet your parents. (love)
5 I’m glad I wasn’t alone. (not / like)
6 We should have travelled by train. (prefer)

➜ Additional exercises 26–28 (pages 317–19) 117

Unit
59 prefer and would rather
A prefer to … and prefer -ing
When you say what you prefer in general, you can use prefer to … or prefer -ing:
I don’t like cities. I prefer to live in the country. or I prefer living in the country.
You can say:
prefer something to something else
to doing something else
prefer doing something
rather than (doing) something else
prefer to do something rather than (do) something else
I prefer this coat to the other one.
I prefer driving to travelling by train. or
I prefer driving rather than travelling by train.
I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
Sarah prefers to live in the country rather than in a city.

B would prefer (I’d prefer …)

We use would prefer to say what somebody wants in a specific situation (not in general):
‘Would you prefer tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please.’
We say ‘would prefer to do something’ (not usually would prefer doing):
‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’ (= I would prefer …)
I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

C would rather (I’d rather …)

I’d rather = I would rather. I’d rather do something = I’d prefer to do it.
We say I’d rather do (not to do). Compare:
⎧ ‘I’d rather drive.’ (not to drive)
‘Shall we go by train?’ ⎨
⎩ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’
Which would you rather do, ⎧
go to the cinema or go shopping?
Which would you prefer to do, ⎨⎩
The negative is ‘I’d rather not …’ :
I’m tired. I’d rather not go out this evening, if you don’t mind.
‘Do you want to go out this evening?’ ‘I’d rather not.’
We say ‘I’d rather do one thing than do another’:
I’d rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

D I’d rather somebody did something

We say ‘I’d rather you did something’ (not I’d rather you do):
‘Who’s going to drive, you or me?’ ‘I’d rather you drove.’ (= I would prefer this)
‘Jack says he’ll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?’ ‘I’d rather he did it today.’
Are you going to tell Anna what happened, or would you rather I told her?
We use the past (drove, did etc.) here, but the meaning is present not past. Compare:
I’d rather make dinner now.
I’d rather you made dinner now. (not I’d rather you make)
I’d rather you didn’t (do something) = I’d prefer you not to do it:
I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone what I said.
‘Shall I tell Anna what happened?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’
‘Are you going to tell Anna what happened?’ ‘No. I’d rather she didn’t know.’

118 would prefer ➜ Unit 58B prefer (one thing) to (another) ➜ Unit 136D
Unit
Exercises 59
59.1 Which do you prefer? Write sentences using ‘I prefer (something) to (something else)’.
1 (driving / travelling by train)
I prefer driving to travelling by train.
2 (basketball / football)
I prefer
3 (going to the cinema / watching movies at home)
I to
4 (being very busy / having nothing to do)
I
Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using rather than:
5 (1) I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
or I prefer driving rather than travelling by train.
6 (3) I prefer
7 (4)

59.2 Complete the sentences. Sometimes you need one word, sometimes more.
A B

1 Shall we walk home? I’d rather get a taxi.

2 Do you want to eat now? I’d prefer to wait till later.
3 Would you like to watch TV? I’d to listen to some music.
4 Do you want to go to a restaurant? I’d rather at home.
5 Let’s go now. wait a few minutes.
6 What about a game of tennis? I’d prefer for a swim.
7 I think we should decide now. I’d think about it for a while.
8 Would you like to sit down? to stand.
9 Do you want me to come with you? I’d rather alone.

Now use the same ideas to complete these sentences using than and rather than.
10 (1) I’d rather get a taxi than wait for a bus.
11 (3) I’d rather some music
12 (4) I’d prefer at home
13 (6) I’d rather for a swim
14 (7) I’d prefer about it for a while

59.3 Complete the sentences using would you rather I … .

1 Are you going to make dinner or would you rather I made it ?
2 Are you going to pay the bill or would you rather ?
3 Are you going to do the shopping or ?
4 Are you going to phone Tina or ?

59.4 Use your own ideas (one or two words) to complete these sentences.
1 ‘Shall I tell Anna what happened?’ ‘No, I’d rather she didn’t know.’
2 You can stay here if you want to, but I’d rather you with us.
3 I don’t like this programme. I’d rather not it.
4 I’d rather work outdoors work in an office.
5 This is a private matter. I’d rather you tell anybody else.
6 The weather here isn’t bad, but I’d rather it a little warmer.
7 I don’t want to go to the match. I’d prefer it on TV.
8 ‘Do you mind if I open the window?’ ‘I’d rather you . I’m feeling cold.’
9 I hate doing the shopping. I’d rather somebody else it.
10 I’d prefer to go to the beach go shopping.

➜ Additional exercises 27–28 (pages 318–19) 119

Unit
60 Preposition (in/for/about etc.) + -ing
A If a preposition (in/for/about etc.) is followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing:
preposition verb (-ing)
Are you interested in working for us?
I’m not good at learning languages.
Kate must be fed up with studying.
What are the advantages of having a car?
Thanks very much for inviting me to your party.
How about meeting for lunch tomorrow?
Why don’t you go out instead of sitting at home all the time?
Amy went to work in spite of feeling ill.
You can also say ‘instead of somebody doing something’, ‘fed up with people doing something’ etc. :
I’m fed up with people telling me what to do.

B We say:

before -ing, after -ing:

Before going out, I phoned Sarah. (not Before to go out)
What did you do after leaving school?
You can also say ‘Before I went out …’ and ‘… after you left school’.

by -ing (to say how something happens):

You can improve your English by reading more.
She made herself ill by not eating properly.
Many accidents are caused by people driving too fast.
The burglars got into the house by breaking a window and climbing in.

without -ing:
We ran ten kilometres without stopping.
It was a stupid thing to say. I said it without thinking.
She needs to work without people disturbing her. or … without being disturbed.
I have enough problems of my own without having to worry about yours.

C to + -ing (look forward to doing something etc.)

We often use to + infinitive (to do / to see etc.):
We decided to travel by train.
Would you like to meet for lunch tomorrow?
But to is also a preposition (like in/for/about/with etc.). For example:
We went from Paris to Geneva.
I prefer tea to coffee.
Are you looking forward to the weekend?
If we use a preposition + verb, the verb ends in -ing:
I’m fed up with travelling by train.
How about going away this weekend?
So, when to is a preposition and it is followed by a verb, we use to -ing:
I prefer driving to travelling by train. (not to travel)
Are you looking forward to going on holiday? (not looking forward to go)

be/get used to -ing ➜ Unit 61 Verb + preposition + -ing ➜ Unit 62 while/when -ing ➜ Unit 68B
120 in spite of ➜ Unit 113 Prepositions ➜ Units 121–136
Unit
Exercises 60
60.1 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
1 Why is it useful to have a car?
What are the advantages of having a car ?
2 I don’t intend to apply for the job.
I have no intention of .
3 Helen has a good memory for names.
Helen is good at .
4 You probably won’t win the lottery. You have little chance.
You have little chance of .
5 Did you get into trouble because you were late?
Did you get into trouble for ?
6 We didn’t eat at home. We went to a restaurant instead.
We went to a restaurant instead of .
7 We got into the exhibition. We didn’t have to queue.
We got into the exhibition without .
8 Amy is 90 years old, but she’s fit and healthy.
Amy is fit and healthy despite .

60.2 Complete the sentences using by -ing. Choose from these verbs:
borrow break drive press put stand

1 The burglars got into the house by breaking a window.

2 I was able to reach the top shelf on a chair.
3 You turn on the computer the button at the back.
4 Kevin got himself into financial trouble too much money.
5 You can put people’s lives in danger too fast.
6 We made the room look nicer some pictures on the walls.

60.3 Complete the sentences with a suitable word. Use only one word each time.
1 We ran ten kilometres without stopping .
2 Dan left the hotel without his bill.
3 It’s a nice morning. How about for a walk?
4 You need to think carefully before an important decision.
5 It was a long trip. We were tired after on a train for 36 hours.
6 I’m not looking forward to away. I’d prefer to stay here.
7 I was annoyed because the decision was made without anybody me.
8 After the same job for ten years, Ellie felt she needed a change.
9 We got lost because we went straight on instead of left.
10 I like these pictures you took. You’re good at pictures.
11 Can you touch your toes without your knees?
12 We’ve decided to sell our car. Are you interested in it?

60.4 For each situation, write a sentence with I’m (not) looking forward to.
1 You are going on holiday next week. How do you feel?
I’m looking forward to going on holiday.
2 A good friend of yours is coming to visit you soon. It will be good to see her again. How do you feel?
I’m
3 You’re going to the dentist tomorrow. You don’t enjoy visits to the dentist. How do you feel?
I’m not
4 Rachel doesn’t like school, but she’s leaving next summer. How does she feel?

5 Joe and Helen are moving to a new apartment soon. It’s much nicer than where they live now.
How do they feel?

➜ Additional exercises 26–28 (pages 317–19) 121