High School

1.3 Put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to + infinitive.
Examples: If you want to pass your exams, you need to study... (study) more.
I'm sorry I broke the glass. I couldn't help... dropping... (drop) it.

1. Does this job need... (do) now or can I leave it until later?
2. I've got an extra bed, so when you come to stay, you won't need... your sleeping bag.
3. Tom helped his mother... (get) the dinner ready.
4. When he told me that everybody had made fun of him, I couldn't help... (feel) sorry for him.
5. Those shirts need... (iron) but you don't need...
6. He looks so funny. When I see him, I can't help... (smile).
7. The fine weather helped... (make) it a very enjoyable holiday.

Answer :

To answer the question, you'll need to know when to use the '-ing' form of a verb and when to use 'to + infinitive'. Here's a step-by-step guide to the adjustments needed for each sentence:

  1. Does this job need... (do) now or can I leave it until later?

    • In this case, the correct form is 'doing' because certain verbs like 'need', when used in a passive sense, are often followed by an '-ing' form: "Does this job need doing now or can I leave it until later?"
  2. I've got an extra bed, so when you come to stay, you won't need... your sleeping bag.

    • Here, 'need' is followed by the base form without 'to' because it's used in a special sense: "...so when you come to stay, you won't need to bring your sleeping bag."
  3. Tom helped his mother... (get) the dinner ready.

    • With 'help', you can use either the base form or 'to + infinitive': "Tom helped his mother to get the dinner ready." or "Tom helped his mother get the dinner ready."
  4. When he told me that everybody had made fun of him, I couldn't help... (feel) sorry for him.

    • The expression 'can't help' is followed by an '-ing' form: "...I couldn't help feeling sorry for him."
  5. Those shirts need... (iron) but you don't need...

    • Similar to the first sentence, 'need' in the context of necessity follows with '-ing': "Those shirts need ironing but you don't need to iron them yourself."
  6. He looks so funny. When I see him, I can't help... (smile).

    • Again, 'can't help' is followed by an '-ing' form: "When I see him, I can't help smiling."
  7. The fine weather helped... (make) it a very enjoyable holiday.

    • With 'help', you typically use the base form or 'to + infinitive': "The fine weather helped to make it a very enjoyable holiday." or "The fine weather helped make it a very enjoyable holiday."