Warming Up:

Explaining words you don’t know

Look at the pictures below.
Do you know the names of these objects?
When you want to talk about an object, but you don’t
know its name in English, what can you do?
You’re going to listen to three conversations in different shops.
Which of these object does each person want to buy?

CANDLES.

MOSQUITO.
LIGHT BULB.
REPELLENT PLUG.

VOICE RECORDER.
HEADPHONES.

MATCHES.
Match the two halves of these sentences from the listening.

1. You use it to a. I'm looking for!

2. It looks like a b. record things.

3. Exactly! That's what c. mobile phone.

4. I've forgotten d. what I mean?.

5. What's it e. a stick.

6. It's long and thin, like f. know the word in English.

7. I don’t g. you put it into the wall.

8. It's a thing which h. called?

9. Do you know i. the word in English.

Match the two halves of these sentences from the listening.

8 No, you put it on the bed. Do you know what I mean?

3 Well, can you describe it for me?
2 Oh, hello. Yes, I am, but I don't know the word.
4 Yes, it's a thing that you use to keep warm in the winter.
1 Good morning. Are you looking for anything in particular?
6 No, it looks like a curtain, but it’s thicker.
9 Yes, I believe it's a blanket. Come with me and I'll show you where they are.
5 Is it something you wear?
7 And do you put it on the floor?
10 Exactly! That’s what I’m looking for.
Language for Speaking
Say that you don’t know the name of something
I don’t know/remember the word…
What’s it called?
I forgot the word in English…
I have it on the tip of my tongue…

Describe size, shape and what it’s similar to

It looks like… + noun
It’s + adjective, like a... + noun

Describe use
You use it… FOR + ING or TO INFINITIVE
It’s a thing that/which you use…

Check and confirm understanding

Do you know what I mean?
Exactly! That’s what I’m looking for.
Grammar in Use
Verbs with —ing and to-infinitive
We sometimes use a second verb after a main verb. In these cases, the second verb is usually
an infinitive with to or an —ing form.

We usually use the —ing form after verbs discussing likes and dislikes, such as:

like, love, enjoy, prefer, hate, can't stand

I enjoy eating seafood

We also normally use the —ing form after these common verbs:

imagine, keep, go, stop

I keep losing my keys.
We use the infinitive with to after verbs for discussing intentions an decisions, such as:

hope, plan, want, would like, agree, decide

She hopes to start her own business soon.

We also use the infinitive verb after these common verbs:

learn, need, invite

He only learnt to swim when he was in his early twenties.

IMPORTANT: The second verb never changes form.

✔ Penny decided to take the exam.

✖ Penny decided to takes the exam.
“To Be, or Not To Be”
Negative Infinitive & Negative Gerund
We use the not + to infinitive and not + ing form when we want to give a verb an opposite
meaning. Example:

“I want to be a good teacher.”

“I want not to be a bad teacher.”

The meaning is essentially the same in the two sentences. However, sometimes using the
negative form of the infinitive rather than the simple present negative can cause a difference in
meaning.

Now compare:

“I decided not to go to America.”

“I didn’t decide to go to America.”
Activity time!
Read the following article about living alone.
Choose the correct option.
 Complete the article with the correct form of the
verbs in the box.

to do

to think

to apply
to look for

to be

getting up
going to

to leave

asking
Now decide whether a gerund or an infinitive completes the following correctly:

1. Sarah enjoys _______ romantic novels.

• reading to read
• to read

2. Peter decided _________ to an Italian restaurant.

• not going not to go
• not to go

3. I would love _______ next to the sea.

• to live to live
• living

4. Where did you learn how _______ so well?

• cooking to cook
• to cook

5. I would like my pizza ___________ any pineapple, please.

• not having not to have
• not to have
Now decide whether a gerund or an infinitive completes the following correctly:

6. Do you mind __________ the window? It’s cold outside.

• not openingnot opening
• not to open

7. He needs ________ to the director.

• to talk to talk
• talking

8. It took me some time, but I learnt __________ involved in other people’s business.
• not getting not to get
• not to get

9. You keep _______ about your ex. No wonder Sarah left you.
• to talk
• talkingtalking

10. Max plans _______ to New York. We’re going to miss him.
• moving
• to moveto move