sure you’ll soon succeed … English fluently. (speak)
Don’t prevent him … (learn)
I’ve given … (smoke)
It’s no use … that I enjoyed it. (say)
We thought … across the States. (drive)
People don’t mind … in front of the White House. (queue)
Someone suggested … out for lunch. (go)
Would you mind … the window? (close)
It’s a pleasure … in Washington. (be)
I don’t object … on Sundays. (work)
It’s no use … to find excuses. (try)
40 F The ing-form with pronouns or nouns
| Excuse me interrupting, Senator. | Entschuldigen Sie, wenn ich Sie unterbreche, Senator. |
| Do you mind me smoking a pipe? | Macht es Ihnen etwas aus, wenn ich eine Pfeife rauche? |
| I can’t imagine David forgetting to come. | Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, daß David vergessen hat zu kommen. |
Das Sinnsubjekt (= logische Subjekt) dieser ing-Konstruktion kann durch ein vor der ing-Form stehendes Pronomen oder Substantiv ausgedrückt werden. In der gesprochenen Sprache verwendet man die Objektpronomen me, you, him, her, it, us, them. In der Schriftsprache finden Sie meistens die Pronomen my, your, his etc., bzw. bei Substantiven das Genitiv-s. Excuse my interrupting. Do you mind my smoking a pipe? I can’t imagine David’s forgetting to come.
40 G Complete the sentences. Use the pronouns as in the spoken language:
| Example | Beispiel |
Do you mind … a suggestion? (I, make)
Do you mind me making a suggestion?
I don’t like … the conference. (she, interrupt)
Please excuse … you by your first name. (we, call)
She doesn’t like … late every time. (he, come)
You must forgive … him. (we, interrupt)
Fancy … with us for six months. (he, live)
I remember … to come to our party. (they, forget)
We can’t understand … through Central Park alone. (you, walk)
| 40 H ing-form or to-infinitiv | ing-Form oder Infinitiv mit “to” |
| He began talking. | He began to talk. |
| I prefer working in the evening. | I prefer to work in the evening. |
| I don’t like dancing. | I don’t like to dance tonight. |
Die ing-Form berührt sich häufig mit dem Infinitiv. Nach einigen Verben wie z.B. begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer kann sowohl die ing-Form als auch der Infinitiv mit “to” stehen. Dabei beschreibt die ing-Form mehr eine allgemeingültige Aussage, der Infinitiv mit “to” mehr einen bestimmten Einzelfall.
Wichtig: Nach “would like” oder “would love” kann nur der Infinitiv mit “to” stehen: I’d like to know more about America. I’d love to go there next year.
40 I Complete the following sentences with the ing-form or the to-infinitive. Mark the sentences where both structures are possible:
What do you intend … today? (do)
I’d love … you. (come and see)
He’d like … a glass of wine. (drink)
I enjoy … (travel)
Some people hate … (queue)
I prefer … (walk)
She doesn’t mind … disturbed while she’s working. (be)
40 J Vocabulary Practice
Find words in dialogue 40 A that mean the following:
to disturb – it’s nice – biscuit – to produce
40 K Who was this man?
He was born in 1917 near Boston, Massachusetts, of Irish-American parents. He went to Harvard University and studied political science. During World War II he was seriously wounded. After the war he worked as a press correspondent and covered the Potsdam Conference. He was only 29 years old when he entered the House of Representatives. In 1953 he became a Senator. Seven years later he was nominated Presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. In November 1960 he won the election and entered the White House as the 35th President.
His term of office was short. On November 22, 1963, he was killed by an assassin in Dallas, Texas. He’s buried in the Arlington Cemetery on the outskirts of Washington.
Here’s a quotation from his inaugural address. “My fellow-citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
40 L Find a synonym or definition of the words or expressions underlined:
seriously wounded
He covered a conference.
term of office
assassin
the outskirts of Washington
inaugural address
40 M Situation – Say it in English
Sie sind zu Besuch in Washington. Fragen Sie jemanden, ob er Ihnen den Weg zum Weißen Haus erklären
