A. 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 must try one. (= you must 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 still didn't look right, so I moved it back
again.
B.
Need to ... and need ~ing
I need
to do something = it is necessary for me to do it:
* I need
to take 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 = something needs to be done:
* The
batteries in the radio need changing. (= they need to be changed)
* Do you
think my jacket needs cleaning? (= ... needs to be cleaned)
* It's a
difficult problem. It needs thinking about very carefully. (= it needs to be
thought about)
C.
Help and can't help
You can
say 'help to do' or 'help do' (infinitive 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 ...
There is
also an expression 'can't/couldn't help doing something'. 'I can't help doing
something' = I can't stop myself from 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 from laughing)
* I'm
sorry I'm so nervous. I can't help it. (= I can't help being nervous)
EXERCISES
56.1
Make helpful suggestions. Each time write a sentence using try + one of the
following
suggestions: phone him at work
move the aerial change the
batteries turn it the other way take an aspirin
1. The
radio isn't working. I wonder what's wrong with it.
_Have
you tried changing the batteries?_
2. I
can't open the door. The key won't turn.
Try ---
3. The
TV picture isn't very good. What can I do about it?
Have you
---
4. I
can't contact Fred. He's not at home. What shall I do?
Why
don't you ---
5. I've
got a terrible headache. I wish it would go.
Have you
---
56.2 For
each picture write a sentence with need(s) + one of the following verbs:
clean cut empty
redecorate tighten
1. Her
jacket is dirty. It needs cleaning.
2. The
grass is very long. It ---
3. The
room isn't very nice ---
4. The
screws arc loose ---
5. The
bin is full ---
56.3 Put
the verb into the correct form, ~ing or to... .
1. 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 we were unsuccessful. We had to call the fire
brigade.
d. Sue
needed to borrow some money. She tried --- (ask) Gerry 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).
2. a. I
need a change. I need --- (go) away for a while.
b. She
isn't able to look after herself. She needs --- (look) after.
c. The
windows are dirty. They need --- (clean).
d. Why
are you leaving now? You don't need --- (go) yet, do you?
e. You
don't need --- (iron) that shirt. It doesn't need --- (iron).
3. a.
They were talking very loudly. I couldn't help --- (overhear) them.
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 very enjoyable holiday.
Answer
56.1
2 Try
turning it the other way.
3 Have
you tried moving the aerial?
4 Why
don't you try phoning him at work?
5 Have
you tried taking an aspirin?
56.2
2 It
needs cutting.
3 It
needs redecorating.
4 They
need tightening.
5 It
needs emptying.
56.3
1 b.
knocking c. to put
d.
asking e. to reach
f. to
concentrate
2 a. to
go b. looking
c.
cleaning d. to go
e. You
don't need to iron ... It doesn't need ironing
3 a. overhearing b. get or to get
c.
smiling
d. make
or to make
