Ghostwriting

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First introduced in 1927, The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories are a series of books about the adventures of brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, teenaged detectives who solve one baffling mystery after another. The Hardy Boys were so popular among young boys that in 1930 a similar series was created for girls featuring a sixteen-year-old detective named Nancy Drew. The cover of each volume of The Hardy Boys states that the author of the series is Franklin W. Dixon; the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories are supposedly written by Carolyn Keene. Over the years, though, many fans of both series have been surprised to find out that Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene are not real people. If Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene never existed, then who wrote The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries?

The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew books were written through a process called ghostwriting. A ghostwriter writes a book according to a specific formula. While ghostwriters are paid for writing the books, their authorship is not acknowledged, and their names do not appear on the published books. Ghostwriters can write books for children or adults, the content of which is unspecific. Sometimes they work on book series with a lot of individual titles, such as The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew series.

The initial idea for both The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew series was developed by a man named Edward Stratemeyer, who owned a publishing company that specialized in children’s books. Stratemeyer noticed the increasing popularity of mysteries among adults, and surmised that children would enjoy reading mysteries about younger detectives with whom they could identify. Stratemeyer first developed each book with an outline describing the plot and setting. Once he completed the outline, Stratemeyer then hired a ghostwriter to convert it into a book of slightly over 200 pages. After the ghostwriter had written a draft of a book, he or she would send it back to Stratemeyer, who would make a list of corrections and mail it back to the ghostwriter. The ghostwriter would revise the book according to Stratemeyer’s instructions and then return it to him. Once Stratemeyer approved the book, it was ready for publication.

Because each series ran for so many years, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys both had a number of different ghostwriters producing books; however, the first ghostwriter for each series proved to be the most influential. The initial ghostwriter for The Hardy Boys was a Canadian journalist named Leslie McFarlane. A few years later, Mildred A. Wirt, a young writer from Iowa, began writing the Nancy Drew books. Although they were using prepared outlines as guides, both McFarlane and Wirt developed the characters themselves. The personalities of Frank and Joe Hardy and Nancy Drew arose directly from McFarlane’s and Wirt’s imaginations. For example, Mildred Wirt had been a star college athlete and gave Nancy similar athletic abilities. The ghostwriters were also responsible for numerous plot and setting details. Leslie McFarlane used elements of his small Canadian town to create Bayport, the Hardy Boys’ fictional hometown.

Although The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books were very popular with children, not everyone approved of them. Critics thought their plots were unrealistic and even far-fetched, since most teenagers did not experience the adventures Frank and Joe Hardy or Nancy Drew did. The way the books were written also attracted criticism. Many teachers and librarians objected to the ghostwriting process, claiming it was designed to produce books quickly rather than create quality literature. Some libraries—including the New York Public Library—even refused to include the books in their children’s collections. Ironically, this decision actually helped sales of the books, because children simply purchased them when they were unavailable in local libraries.

Regardless of the debates about their literary merit, each series of books has exerted an undeniable influence on American and even global culture. Most Americans have never heard of Edward Stratemeyer, Leslie McFarlane, or Mildred Wirt, but people throughout the world are familiar with Nancy Drew and Frank and Joe Hardy.

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Questions


1) According to the passage, the Nancy Drew mystery series was introduced in
A. 1925
B. 1927
C. 1929
D. 1930

2) Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A. Ghostwriting: A Way of Life
B. Who Were Leslie McFarlane and Mildred A. Wirt?
C. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew: Ghostwriting a Series
D. The Dubious yet Profitable Practice of Ghostwriting

3) According to the passage, which of the following people was a real writer?
A. Carolyn Keene
B. Franklin W. Dixon
C. Leslie McFarlane
D. Tom Hardy

4) According to the passage, a ghostwriter is someone who
I. writes about mysterious or strange events
II. does not receive credit as the author
III. bases his or her books on predetermined guidelines
A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III

5) As used in paragraph 3, which is the best definition for surmised?
A. guessed
B. questioned
C. knew
D. proved

6) According to the passage, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books were created based on the idea that
I. mystery books for adults are popular
II. children enjoy reading about characters they can relate to
III. girls and boys are not interested in the same things
A. I only
B. I and II only (CORRECT)
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III


7) Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that Leslie McFarlane and Mildred Wirt
A. disliked writing according to a specific formul
B. respected the art of ghostwriting
C. were unsuccessful in their previous occupations
D. found it helpful to write from personal experience

8) According to the passage, some teachers and librarians objected to ghostwritten books such as The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mystery Stories because they
A. disapproved of mystery stories
B. thought the books were too expensive
C. believed the books were not quality literature
D. disliked Edward Stratemeyer’s questionable business practices

9) Which of the following best describes the author's attitude toward The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew book series?
A. balanced and respectful
B. doubtful and critical
C. hostile but forgiving
D. overwhelmingly praising

10) Which of the following best describes the structure of this passage?
A. introduction, explanation, history, controversy, conclusion
B. introduction, history, controversy, explanation, conclusion
C. history, explanation, summary, conclusion, controversy
D. history, controversy, explanation, summary, conclusion

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Dictation

First introduced in 1927, The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories are a series of books about the adventures of two teenaged detectives who solve one baffling mystery after another. In 1930 a similar series was created for girls featuring a sixteen-year-old detective named Nancy Drew.

These books were written through a process called ghostwriting. A ghostwriter writes a book according to a specific formula; they write books containing unspecified content for children or adults, their authorship is not acknowledged, and their names do not appear on the published books.

The initial idea for these mystery series was developed by Edward, owner of a publishing company that specialized in children’s books. He noticed the increasing popularity of mysteries among adults, and surmised that children would enjoy reading mysteries about younger detectives with whom they could identify. However, critics thought their plots were unrealistic and even far-fetched, since most teenagers did not experience such adventures. Many teachers and librarians objected to the ghostwriting process, claiming it was designed to produce books quickly rather than create quality literature. Some libraries even refused to include the books in their children’s collections, but ironcially, this decision actually helped sales of the books, because children simply purchased them when they were unavailable in local libraries.

Regardless of the debates about their literary merit, each series of books has exerted an undeniable influence on American and global culture.

*Gerunds or Infinitives?

To figure out whether we should use a gerund or an infinitive in a sentence, we need to know what both are.

You can check out these links on gerunds and infinitives for more information. Here is a recap.

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "ing" at the end.

The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading."

You can use a gerund as

• the subject (thing doing the action / being talked about): Reading is good.
• the complement (completing the sentence): Her favourite hobby is reading.
• or the object of a sentence (receiver of the action): I enjoy reading.

The infinitive is the "to" form of the verb, and is also a noun.

The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn."

You can use an infinitive as 

• the subject: To learn is important.
• the complement: The most important thing is to learn.
• or the object of a sentence: He wants to learn.

As you can see, both gerunds and infinitives can be nouns, which means they can do just about anything that a noun can do. 

They can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence, although they normally name activities rather than people or objects.

However, as subjects or complements, a very noticeable difference is that gerunds usually sound more common, more like normal, spoken English. On the other hand, infinitives sound more... abstract. They emphasize the possibility or potential for something to happen, and overall, they sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

• Learning is important. - Gerund, normal subject.
• To learn is important. - Infinitive, abstract subject.

As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between using a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

• He enjoys swimming. - "enjoy" requires a Gerund.
• He wants to swim. - "want" requires an Infinitive.

For this reason, we need to find out and know the common verbs used with either gerunds or infinitives.

Here are some lists of verbs that might help you determine whether gerunds or infinitives should be used

The "Could-be-followed-by-gerund-or-infinitive-and-virtually-makes-no-difference-in-meaning" List:

attempt begin continue hate

like love neglect prefer

regret can't stand stand start

Example:

• I like to play basketball in the park.
• I like playing basketball in the park.

The "Could-be-followed-by-gerund-or-infinitive-and-but-has-different-meanings" List:

forget

remember

stop

Example:

• I stopped smoking.
• I stopped to smoke.

The "Could-be-followed-by-gerund-or-simple-verb-and-needs-a-second-subject" List:

feel hear listen to

look at notice observe

overhear see watch

Example:

• I heard Sam singing.
• I heard Sam sing... (Sam is the second subject)

Gerunds accompany a form of the verb to go in many idiomatic expressions: Let's go shopping. We went jogging yesterday. She goes bowling every Friday night.

The "Followed-by-a-gerund" List:

Initiation, Completion and Incompletion
anticipate avoid begin cease complete	delay finish get through give up postpone	quit risk start stop try
Communication
admit advise deny discuss	encourage mention recommend	report suggest urge
Continuing Action
continue can't help	practice involve	keep keep on
Emotion
appreciate dislike enjoy hate like	love mind don't mind miss prefer	regret can't stand resent resist tolerate
Mental Process
anticipate consider forget	imagine recall remember	see can't see understand

Example:

• I gave up trying.

The "Followed-by-an-infinitive-but-also-followed-by-a-gerund-if-describing-an-actual-vivid-or-fulfilled-action" List:

Emotion
care desire hate	hate like loathe	love regret yearn
Choice or Intent
agree choose decide decide expect	hope intend need plan prefer	prepare propose refuse want wish
Initiation, Completion, Incompletion
begin cease commence fail	get hesitate manage neglect	start try undertake
Mental Process
forget know how	learn	remember
Request and Promise
demand offer	promise swear	threaten vow
Intransitives
appear happen	seem	tend
Miscellaneous
afford arrange	claim continue	pretend wait

Example:

• We decided to leave. - infinitive
• They began farming the land. - gerund

The "Followed-by-an-infinitive-but-accompanied-by-a-second-object" List:

Communication
advise ask beg challenge command convince	forbid invite order permit persuade promise	remind require tell warn urge
Instruction
encourage help	instruct teach	train
Causing
allow cause choose	force get hire	need would like
Miscellaneous
dare expect	trust prepare	want

Example:

• They taught the children to swim.

Exercise 1:
1. Mary enjoys ___________________ to music. (listen)
2. I don’t mind ___________________ the washing up. (do)
3. Irregular verbs are not easy ___________________ . (remember)
4. Mathew is really good at ___________________ . (cook)
5. She waited ___________________ a movie ticket. (buy)
6. The doctor encouraged his patients ___________________ healthy food. (eat)
7. My flat is easy ___________________ . (find)
8. She is interested in ___________________ a doctor. (become)
9. He is saving money ___________________ a new car. (buy)
10. When I met her I couldn’t help ___________________ her. (hug)
11. My favorite hobby is ___________________ . (cook)
12. My father helped me ___________________ my homework. (do)
13. I’m sick of ___________________ hamburgers every day. (eat)
14. It is important ___________________ the net for more information. (surf)
15. She advised me ___________________ a doctor as soon as possible. (see)
16. I don’t feel like ___________________ English today. (study)
17. Isabel got Mike ___________________ her car (wash)
18. ___________________ sport every day is good for your health. (do)
19. At last they decided ___________________ the apartment. (rent)
20. I pretended ___________________ asleep. (be)
21. Sheila stopped ___________________ hello to her friends. (say)
22. It’s no use ___________________ over spilt milk. (cry)
23. The following questions are easy ___________________ . (answer)
24. She told us where ___________________ the necessary material. (find)
25. Would you mind ___________________ this letter for me? (post)
26. They suggested ___________________ by bus. (travel)
27. We plan ___________________ to Europe this summer(go)
28. It was hard for her ___________________ smoking. (quit)
29. We were all happy about ___________________ the New Year in Vienna. (celebrate)
30. It seems difficult ___________________ everything about the topic. (know)
31. Just avoid ___________________ unnecessary mistakes. (make)
32. Can you imagine ___________________ my car before we leave? (finish)
33. We are used ___________________ up early in the morning. (get)
34. She enjoys ___________________ . (paint)
35. I forgot ___________________ the door when I left. (lock)
36. I regret ___________________ you that your application was rejected. (inform)
37. We intend ___________________ you next spring. (visit)
38. I decided ___________________ more often. (exercise)
39. Mary keeps ___________________ about her problems. (talk)
40. Ireland doesn’t allow ___________________ in bars. (smoke)
41. Nancy seemed ___________________ disappointed. (be)
42. I can’t bear ___________________ so much responsibility. (have)
43. She is fond of ___________________ picnics. (have)
44. She promised ___________________ smoking. (stop)
45. They urge their citizens ___________________ more waste. (recycle)
46. John is thinking about ___________________ abroad. (study)
47. She considered ___________________ to New York. (move)
48. The aquarium needs ___________________ . (clean)
49. Tom agrees ___________________ me. (help)
50. She warned him ___________________ late. (not be)

Exercise 2:


1. I can’t imagine __________________ at home. (work)
2. We have decided against __________________ a new car. (buy)
3. She seems __________________ her new job. (like)
4. The students hope __________________ the exam. (pass)
5. He won’t go by plane. He is afraid of __________________ . (fly)
6. I am lazy. I don’t feel like __________________ any work. (do)
7. Remember __________________ the letter. Otherwise they won’t get it by Saturday. (post)
8. Have you ever learned how __________________ such a plane? (fly)
9. They were too lazy __________________ out with us. (go)
10. I always enjoy __________________ to my grandfather. He always tells me great stories. (talk)
11. I’m very interested in __________________ French. (learn)
12. My pen friend is coming next Friday. I’m really looking forward __________________ her. (meet)
13. Don’t you mind __________________ away from your family for such a long time? (be)
14. The children promised __________________ back by nine. (be)
15. I wanted to go alone but Joe insisted on __________________ with me. (come)
16. Tom offered __________________ me home. (bring)
17. Why not __________________ a weekend in Scotland? (spend)
18. I’m sorry I can’t come to your party but thank you for __________________ me. (invite)
19. Our neighbors apologized for __________________ such noise. (make)
20. Paris is always worth __________________ to. (travel)
21. I’m sure I gave him back the money. I remember __________________ it back to him. (give)
22. She eventually managed __________________ her bike. (repair)
23. Would you like __________________ a cup of coffee? (drink)
24. There’s no point in __________________ the matter. He has already made his decision. (discuss)
25. I prefer __________________ to skiing. (snowboard)
26. Do you mind __________________ Anita to the doctor? (bring)
27. It is difficult __________________ him. (understand)
28. We had difficulties __________________ your house. (find)
29. They decided __________________ Tennis in the afternoon. (play)
30. We expect him __________________ us on Sunday. (join)

Exercise 3:

1. ________________ is not allowed here. (fish)
2. I heard the TV set ________________ . (explode)
3. She appeared ________________ very nervous. (be)
4. I keep ________________ you - it was an accident. (tell)
5. Jack is good at ________________ ceilings. (paint)
6. She wondered who ________________ . (ask)
7. It is difficult ________________ him. (understand)
8. She did not know what ________________ from them. (expect)
9. My wife warned us ________________ the table. (not touch)
10. He refused ________________ me what all the fuss was about. (tell)
11. There’s no sense in ________________ him. He’s not at home. (visit)
12. Elephants are known ________________ a fantastic memory. (have)
13. I let her ________________ on with her work. (get)
14. Colin had no idea of how ________________ into the house. (get)
15. I’d rather ________________ in bed than go to work. (be)
16. I crossed the road without ________________ . (look)
17. We advised her ________________ a year abroad. (not spend)
18. I always dreamed of ________________ in a small house by the seaside. (live)
19. She made us ________________ for hours. (wait)
20. She learned ________________ pupils with respect. (treat)
21. I couldn’t help ________________ when I saw the bride in the beautiful white dress. (cry)
22. My uncle has given up ________________ and now he prefers ________________ . (smoke, eat)
23. He wasn’t used ________________ on the right side of the road. (drive)
24. Would you rather ________________ to a restaurant or eat at home. (go)
25. There was a fence ________________ people from walking on the grass. (walk)
26. I agreed ________________ him if he is in trouble. (help)
27. I’m too old ________________ my habits now. (change)
28. Please stop ________________ . You’re making me nervous. (whisper)
29. He was silly enough ________________ into the pond without ________________ first. (dive, look)
30. I enjoy ________________ alone. I never feel lonely. (be)

Exercise 4:

1. They are likely __________________ up at any time. (show)
2. The man denied __________________ the crime. (commit)
3. Their memories of __________________ in Africa will stay with them forever. (travel)
4. He has always been afraid of __________________. (fly)
5. __________________ is good for your health. (swim)
6. Would you mind __________________ me the sugar. (pass)
7. She promised __________________ the report as soon as possible. (read)
8. I had a hard time __________________ the situation to my husband. (explain)
9. She had some problems __________________ without glasses. (read)
10. Paul gave up __________________ five years ago. (smoke)
11. What about __________________ to the zoo tomorrow? (go)
12. Barca __________________ in winning the Spanish championship. (succeed)
13. They had fun __________________. (ski)
14. My friend was happy __________________ me at the party. (see)
15. He was ashamed __________________ that he had lied. (admit)
16. It was very kind of you __________________ me. (help)
17. She always wastes her time __________________ bad books. (read)
18. We had no problem __________________ from the airport to the train station. (drive)
19. She hadn’t expected this task __________________ so difficult. (be)
20. It’s no use __________________ a taxi. We’ll be late anyway. (take)
21. Don’t forget __________________ the document as soon as you are finished. (sign)
22. She made me __________________ like a real man. (feel)
23. __________________ video games all the time is very boring. (play)
24. She is fond of __________________ comics. (read)
25. Alvaro admitted __________________ during the English test. (cheat)
26. The teacher reminded us __________________ irregular verbs. (learn)
27. The boy refused __________________ what his mother said. (do)
28. Brenda really hates __________________. (study)
29. I used __________________ basketball during my college years. (play)
30. How long does it take you __________________ to the university? (walk)

Exercise 5:

1. Don't let them ___________________ (cross) that dangerous road on their own.
2. What about ___________________ (have) a last drink ?
3. They accused me of ___________________ (break) the window.
4. They'd rather ___________________ (go) to Tuscany than to Ireland.
5. There was a very good reason for ___________________ (not believe) in what he said.
6. I don't know what ___________________ (believe) anymore.
7. Remember ___________________ (phone) Tom tomorrow - OK I won't forget.
8. The teacher watched the pupil ___________________ (cheat).
9. Why not ___________________ (spend) our holiday in Florida this year ?
10. She is always the last ___________________ (arrive)
11. Most teachers insist on their pupils ___________________ (do) the homework.
12. She has often made me ___________________ (cry).
13. I expect ___________________ (hear) from you by Monday.
14. It's no use ___________________ (pretend) ___________________ (like) her food.
15. How old were you when you learnt ___________________ (drive) ?
16. I don't mind ___________________ (walk) home but I'd rather ___________________ (get) a taxi.
17. I can't make a decision. I keep ___________________ (change) my mind.
18. We had to keep him from ___________________ (fall) off the cliff.
19. He had made his decision and refused ___________________ (change) his mind.
20. It was a good holiday. I enjoyed ___________________ (be) by the sea.
21. Did I really tell you I was unhappy? I don't remember ___________________ (say) that.
22. The water here is not very good. I'd avoid ___________________ (drink) it if I were you.
23. I pretended ___________________ (be) interested in the conversation.
24. I got up and looked out of the window ___________________ (see) what the weather was like.
25. I have a friend who claims ___________________ (be) able to speak 5 languages.
26. I like ___________________ (think) carefully about things before ___________________ (make) a decision.
27. Steve used ___________________ (be) a footballer. He had to stop ___________________ (play) because of an injury.
28. How do you ___________________ (make) this machine work ? - I'm not sure. Try ___________________ (press) the button and see what happens !
29. What do you advise me ___________________ ? (do)
30. They intend ___________________ a new house next year. (buy)

Exercise 6:

1. We encouraged her __________________ (succeed in ) __________________ (become) a top player.
2. It's no good __________________ (force) him to go with us.
3. I promised __________________ (care) for the cat but I'm not much good at __________________ (babysit).
4. The people thanked me for __________________ (offer) __________________ (help) them.
5. I begged her __________________ (not accuse) me of __________________ (ruin) her hairstyle by __________________ (try) __________________ (kiss) her.
6. It is not worth __________________ (help) him __________________ (do) the job.
7. I let him __________________ (choose) between __________________ (fly) and __________________ (take) the train.
8. The film was really worth __________________ (see) so we made Mary __________________ (go) to the movies with us.
9. Her forced us __________________ (accept) his offer by __________________ (raise) it by 5 %.
10. Normally I enjoy __________________ (go) out but today I'd prefer __________________ (stay) indoors.
11. She promised __________________ (not object) to his __________________ (smoke).
12. They continued __________________ (eat) after the interruption.
13. I am not in the habit of __________________ (smoke) in the car.
14. Ann reminded me __________________ (finish) my work on time.
15. He'd better __________________ (get) used to __________________ (work) harder.
16. I am capable of __________________ (stand) on my head and __________________ (play) the saxophone.
17. You'd better __________________ (start) __________________ (dig) the garden.
18. I expected someone __________________ (pick) up these papers.
19. The Romans were quite happy about Hannibal __________________ (not attack) Rome.
20. It was interesting __________________ (watch) our cat __________________ (play).
21. We have taught our children __________________ (wash) their hands before __________________ (eat).
22. __________________ (write) letters is more boring than __________________ (phone).
23. Jack decided __________________ (have) a break from work.
24. I refused __________________ (speak) with them.
25. We agreed __________________ (meet) them at the airport.
26. There is no sense in __________________ (earn) more money than you can __________________ (spend).
27. They made us __________________ (leave) the campsite after __________________ (make) such a mess.
28. "Do you mind __________________ (work) overtime ?, " asked the boss
29. She has never known how __________________ (fry) a steak.
30. The doctor made him __________________ (promise) __________________ (reduce) his __________________ (smoke).

Gerunds

A gerund = a verb + "ing”, and then used as a noun.

Example 1: Swimming is good exercise.

"Swimming" = verb + "ing". It is now used as a noun, a subject that we talk about.

Example 2: The girls enjoy swimming. (direct object)

"Swimming" is now used as a direct object, a receiver of the action in the sentence...It is being enjoyed by the girls.

Example 3: The best exercise is swimming. (predicate nominative)

"Swimming" is the predicate nominative; it

• follows the linking verb (is) and
• tells us what the subject is (the best exercise = swimming)

Example 4: Joe was scolded for swimming. (object of a preposition)

Here, "Swimming" is the object of a preposition because it

• sticks with a preposition (for) and
• gives meaning to that sentence (Why was Joe scolded? He was scolded for swimming.)

A gerund phrase consists of

• a gerund
• its modifiers (changes the meaning)
• and complements (completes the action)

The gerund phrase is used as a noun.

Example:
Swimming in the lake is good exercise.

Not simply just swimming, but swimming in the lake.

(To identify whether you are looking at a gerund or a gerund phrase, sometimes, you need to ask yourself:
"Any more I can say about this gerund?")


Exercise 1: Underline the gerund or gerund phrase in each sentence.

1. Although he is famous today, Rudolph Nureyev’s birth on a train in Russia was a modest beginning.
2. Brisk walking is my favourite exercise. 
3. Keeping a light on in the house helps discourage robbers. 
4. Mrs. Norman enjoys playing cards. 
5. I remember promising Steve my old bike. 
6. Standing during a two-hour train trip is not my idea of fun. 
7. Do you like sailing on the lake? 
8. Volunteering at the hospital is just one of Helen's activities. 
9. He began his great career by dancing with amateur groups.
10. Mrs. Brent enjoys watching quiz shows on television. 
11. Allow twenty minutes a pound for roasting the turkey. 
12. Taking out the garbage is not my favorite job around the house. 
13. Understanding a foreign language and speaking it well are two different things. 
14. Acting in high school and college plays helped prepare Tim for Broadway. 
15. Collecting stamps is a popular hobby. 
16. Rushing through your chores will get you nowhere. 
17. Don't you ever get tired of listening to the radio? 
18. Mr. Olson never tires of talking about his grandchildren. 
19. One of his skills was leaping like a gazelle.
20. The dance world in London, Paris, and New York competed in praising his performances.
21. At recitals in which Lisa sang, the orchestra was often drowned out by wild cheering.
22. Watching his impossibly high leaps was an unforgettable experience.
23. His dancing is known to everyone.
24. Bird watching with binoculars is a popular pastime. 
25. Arguing with me takes much of my little brother's time. 
26. Constant complaining helps no one. 
27. Listening to the concerto is sheer pleasure for Joan. 
28. After standing behind the counter all day, Jim likes to relax at night. 
29. Driving in a crowded city was a new experience for Nick.
30. She could not stop humming that tune.

Exercise 2: Write gerund or gerund phrase to identify the underlined words. Write subject, direct object, predicate nominative, or object of a preposition to identify how each gerund or gerund phrase is used in the sentence.

1. Dancing takes many forms. 
2. Preparation for dancing in a troupe begins early in life. 
3. Stretching all the muscles takes up much of a dancer’s practice time. 
4. The grandest movement of ballet is leaping. 
5. In the 1920s, modern dancers started moving in a completely new way. 
6. Now dancers enjoy studying traditional forms. 
7. The darkness of the night prevented us from finishing the job. 
8. Rising with the sun did not appeal to him. 

Infinitives

An infinitive = a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

The word "to" usually appears before the infinitive.

Example:
It is important to listen.

"listen" is a verb (I listen, you listen, he/she/it listens...etc).
But now you can use it as an activity, that is, to listen

Exercise 1: Circle the infinitive in each sentence below.

1. Daniel had always been competitive. To conquer Mount Everest is his goal.
2. When he was a child, Liam was terrified to play hide-and-seek.
3. It takes great courage, foresight, and luck to succeed.
4. Stranded on a barren desert, all Tia wanted was to survive.
5. Afraid to move, Evan froze in terror as the huge cobra slithered over his left foot.

An infinitive phrase = an infinitive with

• modifiers (changes the meaning) or
• a complement (completes the action),

...all acting together as a single part of speech.

Example 1:

It is important to listen carefully.

Not simply just to listen, but to listen with care: to listen carefully.

Example 2:

It is not polite to look through the keyhole.

Not simply just to look, but to look through the keyhole.

Exercise 2: Underline the infinitive phrase in each sentence below.

1. Do I have enough change to make a phone call? 
2. Always try to proofread your paper before you turn it in. 
3. Jackie is able to swim six lengths of the pool. 
4. Little Cheryl came to play with my little brother. 
5. Would you remember to warn me if anyone comes? 
6. I would be happy to give you a ride home later. 
7. To move to a larger house would be unwise for us now. 
8. Jerry was afraid to be alone in the old house. He thought it was haunted.
9. Megan is trying to practice the piano an hour a day. 
10. To be a doctor is Ann's ambition. 
11. To win the presidency is Senator Brown's ambition. 
12. Did you have time to feed the kitten? 
13. Mr. and Mrs. Ng plan to go to Japan this summer. 
14. The mayor decided to call a press conference. 
15. James always tries to do his best. 
16. Sarah tried to paint the ceiling of her room. 
17. The guest speaker was asked to speak for half an hour. 
18. Our plan is to go to Tennessee in October. 
19. To play tennis every day is Jim's ambition for the summer.
20. Andre knows that to drive the quicksand is impossible.
21. Ben told George that he'd like to travel to Canada.  
22. We shouted at Steve to kick the football at Henry.
23. Mr Chan built a storm cellar in which to shelter during tornadoes.
24. Tyler's wish, to fly in a hot-air balloon, was finally coming true!
25. Cody and Zach tried to follow orders, but they failed miserably.
26. The students' decision, to stop by the cafe and get a cup of coffee, made them late for English class.
27. Jake was about to jump into the big tub of Jello when his mother got home.
28. After he hit the deer at the side of the road, Blake had no choice but to drive on.
29. Sean's suggestion, to give the kind lady a bunch of roses, was appreciated.
30. "Be quiet, please," said Lola to her roommate. "I want to hear the news."

Grammar

A-Z of Grammar!

*

*Gerunds or Infinitives?

A

Adjectives

Adverbs

Articles

B

C

Clauses

Comparisons

Conditionals

"Confusing Words"

D

Demonstratives

E

Emphasis

F

G

Gerunds

H

I

Infinitives

Inversions

J

K

L

Linking Words

M

Modal Verbs

N

Nouns

O

P

Passive Voice: Have Something Done

Possessives

Pronouns

Q

Quantifiers

Questions and Answers

R

Reported Speech

S

T

Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

Too and Enough

U

V

W

Word Formation

X

Y

Z

Everyday Use

• Grade 1

• Grade 2

• Grade 3

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

• Grade 6

• Grade 7

• Grade 8

• Grade 9

• Grade 10

• Grade 11

• Grade 12

Comparing Passages

• Grade 1

• Grade 2

• Grade 3

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

• Grade 6

• Grade 7

• Grade 8

• Grade 9

• Grade 10

• Grade 11

• Grade 12

Dialogues

• Grade 1

• Grade 2

• Grade 3

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

• Grade 6

• Grade 7

• Grade 8

• Grade 9

• Grade 10

• Grade 11

• Grade 12

Informational Passages

• Grade 1

• Grade 2

• Grade 3

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

• Grade 6

• Grade 7

• Grade 8

• Grade 9

• Grade 10

• Grade 11

• Grade 12

Short Stories

• Grade 1

• Grade 2

• Grade 3

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

• Grade 6

• Grade 7

• Grade 8

• Grade 9

• Grade 10

• Grade 11

• Grade 12

"Read and Think" Passages

• Level 1

• Level 2

• Level 3

• Level 4

• Level 5

• Level 6

• Level 7

• Level 8

• Level 9

• Level 10

• Level 11

• Level 12

Reading Comprehensions

The below links will lead you to different types of passages.

Each type consist of reading comprehensions suitable for people at varying levels in English.

Each worksheet has:

1. the passage
2. questions
3. new vocabulary

Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to email me or leave a comment below ^__^

以下的文字會連結到不同類型的段落。

每段落包含了各種各樣的閱讀理解，適合在不同英文水平的人。

每個工作表中都有：

1. 一片段落
2. 一些問題
3. 新詞彙

如有問題可直接給我發電子郵件或在下面的對話框留言 ^__^

• "Read and Think" Passages

• Short Stories

• Informational Passages

• Dialogues

• Comparing Passages

• Everyday Use

Oscar

Reading Comprehension

Ghostwriting

Grammar

Unit 1:
Unit 2:

• Gerunds (-ing forms)
• Infinitives
• Gerunds or Infinitives?

Unit 3:
Unit 4:

Unit 5:
Unit 6:
Unit 7:
Unit 8:

Unit 9:
Unit 10:
Unit 11:
Unit 12:

Mia

Worksheets

Vito

Worksheets

Daisy

Worksheets

Don

Worksheets

Venus

Worksheets

Vinci

Worksheets

John

Worksheets

Casey

Worksheets

Matthew

Worksheets

Sherise

Worksheets

Ring

Worksheets

Ho Nam

Worksheets

Liana

Worsheets

Emi

Worksheets

RaRa

Worksheets

Shanice

Worksheets

Kam

Worksheets