2. It is useless to V/V-ing.... There is no use + V-ing.... 1. Infinitive Phrases as Adverbs

2. It is useless to V/V-ing....There is no use + V-ing....

1. Infinitive Phrases as Adverbs

Example:

Many Somebody Elses helped me, to be sure, but someone had to make those calls.

1. Infinitive Phrases as Adverbs

Exercise A Complete the following sentences by matching items in the box on the left with those in the box on the right.

• to be sure• to be brief• to be honest• to begin with• to make things worse

• It’s ugly.• It’s too cold.• But he has talent.• He didn’t finish his homework.• She wants us to stay away from trouble.

1. The musician is young, to be sure, but he has talent.

2. I don’t think the painting is beautiful; __________________. to be honest, it’s ugly

3. Mother doesn’t want us to go to pubs or stay out late; _____________________________ _______________.

to be brief, she wants us to stay away from trouble

4. Kevin went to school late; _____________________________ _________________.

to make things worse, he didn’t finish his homework

5. We can’t go. ____________________________ Besides, we have no money.

to begin with, it’s too cold.

Exercise B

Two high school teachers are talking about their student, David. Choose one of the phrases in the column to complete the following dialogue.

to be sure to tell the truth to make it short to begin with to be brief to do... justice to make things worse

A: Hey, I saw you talking angrily to David this morning. 1________________, I’ve

never seen you so mad. What’s wrong?

B: I really don’t want to talk more about it.

Anyway, 2_______________, David is totally incurable.

A: I don’t understand. Can you make it clear?

To tell the truth

to make it short

B: OK. 3_____________, I gave the class a

test this morning. David cheated in my presence. 4_____________________, when I caught him, he refused to admit it and said it was none of my business. That’s why I went nuts.

A: Oh, I have no idea why David had to cheat. 5________________, he is a clever student.

To begin with

To make things worse

To do him justice

B: He is clever, 6____________, but not very hard-working. I think he’s just trying to dodge his responsibility as a student. 7____________, if he doesn’t turn over a new leaf, he’ll end up in trouble.

to be sure

To be brief

Example:

It is useless to rely on/relying on the mysterious Somebody.

→ There is no use relying on/relying on the mysterious Somebody.

2. It is useless to V/V-ing....

There is no use + V-ing....

Rewrite the underlined sentences below with the above pattern.

1. We have found out the truth. It is useless to lie.

Exercise A:

There is no use lying.

2. They had been surrounded by the enemy. It was useless to resist.

There was no use resisting.

3. She is very stubborn. It is useless to argue with her.

There is no use arguing with her.

4. You had better stay calm. It is useless to panic.

There is no use panicking.

5. He won’t tell you the secret. It is useless to ask him any more questions.

There is no use asking him any more questions.

L: Miss Tsai, I have trouble with my math. Can you help me?

T: Sure. But first you have to tell me what’s wrong with your math.

Linda is in the second year of senior high. She is talking about her problem with Miss Tsai, a school adviser. Complete the following dialogue with the given words. Use one of the patterns above.

Exercise B:

L: Well, I have failed my math test again. Why am I so stupid?

T: 1_______________________________ (blame/yourself), Linda.

L: I know, but I’m really worried I’ll flunk my math.

T: 2_______________________________ (worry/it). Let’s find out why you have failed your test. Did you prepare for the test?

There is no use blaming yourself

There is no use worrying about it

L: Yes, I did some exercises the night before the test.

T: I see. But you know, 3_________________________________ __________________(study/test/last/minute). You should have practiced more often.

L: I tried to, but I always gave up halfway. Math is too difficult for me.

there is no use studying for a test at the last minute

Back

T: 4________________________________ (complain). Maybe you should turn to your math teacher. Ask her to help you with your problem. But...

L: I know what you are going to say—5__________________________________ _________ (rely/teacher). I should work harder to solve my problem on my own.

There is no use complaining

there is no use relying on the teacher