Day 6: idioms with gerunds
Hello again! Are you ready to take up the challenge for day 6?
Today I'd like you to get aquainted with gerunds, a form that learners of English don't use very often. I find that the best way of introducing it in your speech is to use "ready-made" gerunds, that is, fixed expressions and chunks of language that help fluency by minimising the effort of composing a sentence.
So here is a little selection of common idiomatic expressions that feature one or several gerunds. For day 6:
- Read the idiom and complete it with a gerund.
- Provide a new example of your own making.
Share your answers with us in the comments! Ready?
1. Happy New Year! Here's _______________ for a bright future!
2. The star has it all but is still miserable; really there's no _______________ some people.
3. True Detective is full of twists and turns; there's no _______________ what will happen.
4. She doesn't expect to get the part, but there's no harm in _______________.
5. Who knows why that writer is so popular? There's no _______________ for taste.
6. Let's test our theory to see if it works. The proof of the pudding is in the _______________.
7. What is the message of the Olympic Games? It's not the _______________, but the _______________ that counts.
Today I'd like you to get aquainted with gerunds, a form that learners of English don't use very often. I find that the best way of introducing it in your speech is to use "ready-made" gerunds, that is, fixed expressions and chunks of language that help fluency by minimising the effort of composing a sentence.
So here is a little selection of common idiomatic expressions that feature one or several gerunds. For day 6:
- Read the idiom and complete it with a gerund.
- Provide a new example of your own making.
Share your answers with us in the comments! Ready?
1. Happy New Year! Here's _______________ for a bright future!
2. The star has it all but is still miserable; really there's no _______________ some people.
3. True Detective is full of twists and turns; there's no _______________ what will happen.
4. She doesn't expect to get the part, but there's no harm in _______________.
5. Who knows why that writer is so popular? There's no _______________ for taste.
6. Let's test our theory to see if it works. The proof of the pudding is in the _______________.
7. What is the message of the Olympic Games? It's not the _______________, but the _______________ that counts.
Hi, Bea,
ReplyDeleteThis my try. I have to admit that with the number 2 I was all guessing.
1. Happy New Year! Here's _wishing_ for a bright future!
Here´s wishing you a happy birthday!
2. The star has it all but is still miserable; really there's no _well-being for_ some people.
The government should ensure the well-being of the population.
3. True Detective is full of twists and turns; there's no _knowing_ what will happen.
There's no knowing what he'll do if he finds out the truth
4. She doesn't expect to get the part, but there's no harm in _trying_.
The challenge is quite tough but it´s worth trying
5. Who knows why that writer is so popular? There's no _accounting_ for taste.
I don´t like your outfit but there´s no accounting for taste.
6. Let's test our theory to see if it works. The proof of the pudding is in the _eating_.
The new racing car seems to be really fast, let´s see how it plays out this season. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
7. What is the message of the Olympic Games? It's not the _winning_, but the _taking part_ that counts.
Ending the race as runner-up is a pretty good result. Anyhow, it´s not the winning, but the taking part that counts.
Hello! Here I go... I must admit that I also put my imagination to work on some of them...
ReplyDeleteLoved the numner 5 and 6! Thanks again Bea!
1.Happy New Year! Here's us toasting for a bright future!
Here’s us toasting for a happy future. Cheers for the newlyweds!
2.The star has it all but is still miserable; really there's no pleasing some people.
She chose the destination, planned the holidays, asked him to pay for them and was still upset, there’s no pleasing her!
3. True Detective is full of twists and turns; there's no way of knowing what will happen.
Every year she designs a different exam, there’s no way of knowing what she will ask this year.
4. She doesn't expect to get the part, but there's no harm in trying.
He’s not likely to make a date with us next week, but there’s no harm in trying
5. Who knows why that writer is so popular? There's no accounting for taste.
I’d never have celery as a snack, but she seems to love it at any moment. There’s no accounting for taste!
6. Let's test our theory to see if it works. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
I think that dress will suit your new shoes, but why don’t you try them on? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
7. What is the message of the Olympic Games? It's not the winning but the taking part that counts.
There were lots of high level players and we were beaten in every game we played. Well, they say it’s not the winning but the taking part that counts.
Hi Bea!
ReplyDeleteThese are my answers. I found the second one a bit challenging, but at the end I managed to complete it!
1. Happy New Year! Here's hoping for a bright future!
Here's hoping for the end of the harsh weather!
2. The star has it all but is still miserable; really there's no reason for standing some people.
I'm going to leave my job, there's no reason for standing this situation.
3. True Detective is full of twists and turns; there's no guessing what will happen.
There's no guessing when the pandemic will end.
4. She doesn't expect to get the part, but there's no harm in trying.
I don't think I'll pass the exam, but there's no harm in trying.
5. Who knows why that writer is so popular? There's no accounting for taste.
Such an ugly shoes you are wearing! There's no accounting for taste.
6. Let's test our theory to see if it works. The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.
We need to test the vaccine in real conditions to see whether it works or not. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.
7. What is the message of the Olympic Games? It's not the winning, but the taking part that counts.
There can be only one winner, but remember that it's not the winning, but the taking part that counts.
Thank you, all!
ReplyDeleteSomething curious has happened: your answers have spawned another challenge! Collectively, you have the right answers to all the idioms. Can you find them by comparing all the comments?
Also, can you find the expression with a gerund that I hid in the body of the post?
Let's keep this challenge running!
Hi everyone! I've re-read the post and I found
Delete- way of introducing
- by minimizing
I wonder whether they could be considered as expressions... As for finding the right answers, I can't really find out how to do it we do not have feedback for none of the answer, do we? Mates, who dares to come up with a final list?
Thank you, Evelia! Let me guide you a bit...
DeleteThe two examples you have found are not gerunds but present participles. A quick test to see if you're in front of a gerund is to try to precede it by an article, a determiner or an article, words that can precede a noun. Can you say "a way of the introducing..."? No. That's because it's not a gerund. However, in the sentence "his constant whining was driving me up the wall", "whining" is a gerund. Keep searching, I'm sure you'll find it soon!
Now to finding the right answers: what I had in mind was that you would compare your answers, and in those that you don't agree, decide which one would be the best option.
Thank you for all the hard work!
Hi, all,
ReplyDeleteI think that the hidden gerund could be: "own making"
And I´m going to dare to give a final list:
1. Happy New Year! Here's wishing for a bright future!
2. The star has it all but is still miserable; really there's no pleasing some people.
3. True Detective is full of twists and turns; there's no knowing what will happen.
4. She doesn't expect to get the part, but there's no harm in trying.
5. Who knows why that writer is so popular? There's no accounting for taste.
6. Let's test our theory to see if it works. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
7. What is the message of the Olympic Games? It's not the winning, but the taking part that counts.
Great, Daniel! Number 1, however, is normally "here's hoping for..."
DeleteThe full expression in the text of the post is "of sb's own making". I must say that I have "stretched its meaning a little bit so I could fit it in here, because usually it means "as a consequence of your actions", with a sense of responsibility and blame. But well, I really wanted you all to be acquainted with it.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/of%20one's%20own%20making