Verb -ing or to

Verb -ing or to

Building vocabulary and grammar

Are these statements true or false in your country?

• Eating food on a subway or bus is bad manners.

• It's rude to cut in line.

• You should try to keep your voice down in public.

• You can offend someone by not bowing or shaking hands when you meet.

• People might stare at you for walking around barefoot.

• Having an argument in public is considered bad manners.

• It's impolite to walk into someone's home without taking off your shoes.

Multiple Choice

________ in line is bad manners.

• Cut

• Cutting

Multiple Choice

You might offend someone by _________ too close.

• standing

• stand

Multiple Choice

You can offend your host by not _________ off you shoes.

• taking

• to take

Multiple Choice

It's polite _______ when you meet someone.

• bow

• to bow

Multiple Choice

It's customary not _______ cab drivers.

• to tip

• tip

STRUCTURE

• Verb+ING as a subject

• Preposition + verb+ING

• It's ... + to +verb

• Gerund as a subject: Eating in public is bad manners.

• Not shaking hands is impolite.

• Gerund after prepositions: You can offend people by chatting in public.

• People might stare at you for not shaking hands.

• Infinitive after It's: It's impolite not to shake hands.

• It's bad manners to eat in public.