when is the best time to dye your hair clean or dirty

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

57. Verb + ing or to … 2 (try/ need/ help)

Try to ... and try-ing

Try to do = attempt to do, make an effort to do:

· I was very tired. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn't.

· Please try to be quiet when you come home. Everyone will be asleep.

Try also means 'do something as an experiment or test'. For example:

· These cakes are delicious. You should try one.

(=you should have one to see if you like it)

· We couldn't find anywhere to stay. We tried every hotel in the town, but they were all full.

(=we went to every hotel to see if they had a room)

If try (with this meaning) is followed by a verb, we say try -ing :

· A: The photocopier doesn't seem to be working.

B: Try pressing the green button. (=press the green button- perhaps this will help to solve the problem)

Compare:

· I tried to move the table, but it was too heavy. (so I couldn't move it)

· I didn't like the way the furniture was arranged, so I tried moving the table to the other side of the room. But it didn't look right, so I moved it back again.

Need to ... and need –ing

I need to do something= it is necessary for me to do it:

· I need to get more exercise.

· He needs to work harder if he wants to make progress.

· I don't need to come to the meeting, do I?

Something needs doing = it needs to be done:

· My phone needs charging . (=it needs to be charged)

· Do you think this jacket needs cleaning ? (= … needs to be cleaned)

· It's a difficult problem. it needs thinking about very carefully. (= it needs to be thought about)

Help and can't help

You can say help to do or help do (with or without to):

· Everybody helped to clean up after the party. Or Everybody helped clean up ...

· Can you help me to move this table? or Can you help me move ...

I can't help doing something = I can't stop myself doing it:

· I don't like him, but he has a lot of problems. I can't help feeling sorry for him.

· She tried to be serious, but she couldn't help laughing . (=she couldn't stop herself laughing)

· I'm sorry I'm so nervous. I can't help it. (= I can't help being nervous)

EXERCISES

57.1

Make suggestions. Use try + one of the following:

phone his office	restart it	change the batteries
turn it the other way	take an aspirin

1	The radio isn't working.	Have you ____tried changing the batteries? _______
2	I can't open the door. The key won't turn.	Try _____________________________________
3	The computer isn't working properly.	Have you tried ________________________________
4	Fred isn't answering his phone. What shall I do?	You could _______________________________________
5	I've got a terrible headache. I wish it would go.	Have you ______________________________________

57.2

For each picture, write a sentence with need{s) +one of the following verbs:

~~clean~~ cut empty paint tighten

1	This jacket is dirty. _____It needs cleaning.______________
2	The room isn't very nice. It ________________________________________
3	The grass is very long. ________________________________________
4	The screws are loose. ________________________________________
5	The bin is full. ________________________________________

57.3

Put the verb into the correct form.

a. I was very tired. I tried ____ to keep ____ (keep) my eyes open, but I couldn't.

b. I rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. Then I tried ______ (knock) on the door, but there was still no answer.

c. We tried ________ (put) the fire out but without success. We had to call the fire brigade.

d. Sue needed to borrow some money. She tried __________ (ask) Gary, but he was short of money too.

e. I tried ___________ (reach) the shelf, but I wasn't tall enough.

f. Please leave me alone. I'm trying ________ (concentrate).

a. I need a change. I need ___________ (go) away for a while.

b. My grandmother isn't able to look after herself any more. She needs _________ (look) after.

c. The windows are dirty. They need ___________ (clean).

d. Your hair is getting very long. It needs ___________ (cut).

e. You don't need _______ (iron) that shirt. It doesn't need ____________ (iron).

a. They were talking very loudly. I couldn't help ________ (overhear) what they said.

b. Can you help me _______ (get) the dinner ready?

c. He looks so funny. Whenever I see him, I can't help ________ (smile).

d. The fine weather helped ___________ (make) it a really nice holiday.

ANSWER KEY