-ing as subject; before/after etc. + -ing; prepositions + -ing; go/come + -ing
CONTEXT LISTENING
Look at this list of things people use computers for.
booking accommodation
buying tickets
doing homework
downloading music
finding out information
having online conversations
paying bills
planning holidays playing games
writing emails
Do you use a computer for any of these things?
Do you know other people who do?
You are going to hear Mickey and Cristina having a conversation.
What doesn’t Cristina enjoy?
What has Mickey used the computer for this afternoon?
Listen again and match the questions to the answers.
What does the manager’s new notice say?
How long has Mickey been on the internet?
When do Mickey and Cristina need to get plenty of information?
When did Mickey find the website about Doubtful Sound?
What did Mickey promise Cristina?
What is one of the main attractions of the trip?
What is a possibility on the trip?
When should people tell the company if they are vegetarians?
When does Cristina need a good coffee?
A. While looking for ideas about South Island.
B. To go walking with her on holiday.
C. After working in that office all day.
D. No talking except on business.
E. Before planning their holiday.
F. Since finishing his essay.
G. Taking photographs.
H. Seeing penguins.
I. When booking.
What kind of word follows since, before, while, when and after?
GRAMMAR
The -ing form as subject
We often use the -ing form as the subject of a verb:
Running is good exercise.
We can use a noun with the -ing form:
Running a marathon is good exercise.
You often see -ing and No + -ing in signs and notices:
Parking is not allowed.
No talking except on business
Before, after, when, while and since + -ing
Before or after + -ing shows what happens first and what happens second:
We’ll look at the website before booking our trip.( = 1 We’ll look at the website. 2 We’ll book our trip.)
We booked our trip after looking at the website.( = 1 We looked at the website. 2 We booked our trip.)
When + -ing shows that two actions happen at the same time:
I dropped my passport when getting off the train. (= I got off the train and I dropped my passport at the same time.)
While + -ing shows that one action happens in the middle of another:
I found this website while looking for ideas about South Island. (= I looked for ideas about South Island for some time. I found the website during that time.)
Since + -ing shows when an action began:
I haven’t had a pleasant day since joining that company.
We can also use before, after, when, while and since at the beginning of a sentence:
Since finishing my essay, I’ve been on the internet.
By, without and for + -ing
We use by/without/for + -ing to show how we do something, or how something happens.
We can book by filling in this form online.
We can do it without leaving the house.
I use my computer for downloading music.
go and come + -ing
We use go + -ing to talk about some sports and other activities:
Can we go walking there?
When we invite someone to join us, we use come + the -ing form:
Would you like to come swimming with me?
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