Practice · Dr. Bashir

1 Corrections

How you said it, the natural version, and why. These are your own sentences.

How you said it

I like run in the morning.

The natural version

I like running in the morning.

After like / love / enjoy / hate, use the -ing form (the gerund).

How you said it

I don't like chocolate. Me too.

The natural version

I don't like chocolate. Me neither. / Neither do I.

To agree with a negative sentence, use "me neither" or "neither do I" — not "me too."

How you said it

I don't like go to the mall.

The natural version

I don't like going to the mall.

Same rule: like + -ing. "I don't like going."

How you said it

I recommended my patient to avoid cigarettes.

The natural version

I recommend avoiding cigarettes. / I advised my patient to avoid cigarettes.

"Recommend" takes -ing; "advise someone" takes "to."

How you said it

I regret that I didn't memorize the Quran.

The natural version

I regret not memorizing the Quran.

After "regret," use the -ing form. To make it negative, put "not" before it.

How you said it

When I reach to the hospital, I check my patients.

The natural version

When I reach the hospital, I check my patients.

"Reach" already includes the idea of "to" — say "reach the hospital," never "reach to."

How you said it

I forgot going with him to the party.

The natural version

I forgot to go with him to the party.

"Forget to do" = you didn't do it. "Forget doing" = you don't remember a past event.

1b Already right

These needed no correction at all.

Even though I was tired, I still worked today.

Perfect use of "even though" to show contrast — well done.

2 Grammar tips

Agreeing and disagreeing

Positive: "Me too / So do I." Negative: "Me neither / Neither do I."

"I don't like chocolate." "Me neither."

Preposition + -ing

After a preposition (in, at, of, for), the verb is always -ing.

She's afraid of making mistakes and good at solving problems.

Verbs + gerund (-ing)

After like, love, enjoy, hate, can't stand, mind, and "thinking of," use the -ing form.

I enjoy running and I can't stand waiting.

stop / forget change meaning

"Stop doing" = quit it. "Stop to do" = pause in order to do it. "Forget to do" = didn't do it.

I stopped eating fast food, but I stopped to eat lunch.

even though (contrast)

Use "even though" + a full sentence to show surprise or contrast.

He refused to apologize even though he was wrong.

used to + base verb

Use "used to" for habits that were true in the past but not now.

We used to play football on our neighbor's land.

Verbs + infinitive (to + verb)

After want, decide, refuse, learn, forget, and "important / afraid," use "to" + base verb.

I decided to walk twice a week.

Would you mind + -ing

A polite way to ask for something. The verb after it is always -ing.

Would you mind opening the window?

3 New words and phrases

4 Pronunciation

·characteristicka-rik-tuh-RIS-tikFive beats; stress the fourth: -RIS-.

Practise these sounds

5 Practice sentences

01I can't stand waiting in long queues.
02She decided to move to a new city for the job.
03Would you mind opening the window?
04They're really good at solving problems under pressure.
05He refused to apologize even though he was wrong.
06We're thinking of starting our own business.
07I'm learning to drive this summer.
08Do you enjoy working from home?
09She's afraid of making mistakes in front of people.
10It's important to set clear goals.
11I recommend avoiding cigarettes to all my patients.
12I regret not memorizing the Quran when I was younger.

6 Model sentences

Read these out loud three times.

Even though I was tired, I still went running this morning.
I decided to walk twice a week, and I recommend avoiding cigarettes to my patients.
When we gather as a family, we sometimes turn on the TV, but we don't watch it for months.
I read the news from many sources because I want to feel up to date.
I used to play football on our neighbor's land until I was fifteen.
I don't like interfering in anyone's life, so I stay quiet.
I can't stand waiting in long queues, but I try to stay patient.
I regret not memorizing the Quran, but I still enjoy learning new things every day.

7 Mini-dialogue

A
Do you enjoy running in the morning?
B
Yes, I love it. But I can't stand running in the heat.
A
Me neither. Would you mind telling me how you started?
B
Not at all. I decided to walk twice a week, then I began running.
A
Do you ever regret stopping football?
B
A little. We used to play on our neighbor's land when I was young.
A
Even though you're busy, you still find time to exercise.
B
I try. I want to stay up to date and healthy at the same time.

Read A, say B's line yourself, then check.

8 Homework

Write 6 sentences about your habits using -ing verbs (I enjoy ___, I can't stand ___).
Write 4 sentences using "to" + verb (I decided to ___, I want to ___, I'm learning to ___).
Make 3 short agreeing/disagreeing replies: "Me too," "Me neither," and "Neither do I."
Say these 6 words out loud 3 times: thyme, queue, omelet, cucumber, characteristic, moustache.
Write 2 sentences with "used to" about your childhood, and 2 with "even though."
Record yourself reading the 8 Model Sentences and listen back for clear -ing endings.

9 Self-check

The hardest part this week was choosing between the -ing form and "to" + verb. I'll remember that "like, enjoy, can't stand" take -ing, and "want, decide, refuse" take "to."

The most useful phrase for me is "Would you mind...?" — it sounds polite, and I can use it with patients and colleagues every day.

One question I still have: how does the meaning change between "I stopped eating" and "I stopped to eat," and between "forget to do" and "forget doing"? I want to practice these pairs next time.