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English Grammar in Use · Murphy

Intermediate Grammar

Master English grammar one unit at a time. Clear notes, then 40+ interactive exercises with instant feedback – based on the topics in English Grammar in Use (Intermediate).

Continuous or simple?

Present perfect cont.

● LIVE →

UNIT 10

Perfect: cont. or simple?

Future: present tenses

Future: will / going to

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UNIT 24

Future cont. & perfect

Must / mustn’t / needn’t

Had better / It’s time

If I knew / I wish I knew

● LIVE →

UNIT 40

If I had known / I wish I had known

Verb + -ing or to … 1

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UNIT 57

Verb + -ing or to … 2

● You’re here

UNIT 57 · Intermediate · B1-B2

Verb + -ing or to … 2“try / need / help + -ing or to …” – 44 interactive questions

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Correct answers

🎉 Brilliant! You finished all 44 questions of Unit 57!

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📖 Grammar Reference – Verb + -ing or to … 2

Study the notes, then work through the six exercises.

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What you’ll learnNeed / Help / Like / Prefer with -ing vs to-infinitive

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~20 min4-Tier notes + 4 exercises (57.1–57.4)

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26 questionsInstant automated feedback

1 Tier 1 – The Concept & Nuance: Passive Need (-ing) & Help / Prefer

Need doing has a passive meaning (= needs to be done). Help can take either the bare infinitive or to-infinitive.

🚗 Need Doing (Passive Meaning)

– “The car is dirty. It needs washing.” = “It needs to be washed.”
– “My batteries need charging.”

🤝 Help & Can’t Help

– “Can you help me (to) move this table?”
– “I can’t help laughing.” (= I cannot prevent myself from laughing).

2 Tier 2 – Like / Love / Hate & Would Like

like / love + -ing	General enjoyment: “I like swimming.”
would like / would love + TO	Specific desire / invitation: “I would like to have* a coffee.” (NOT ~~would like having~~).*

3 Tier 3 – Top 3 Common Learner Pitfalls

✗ ~~The grass needs to cut.~~

✓ The grass needs cutting. (or needs to be cut)

– Rule: Need doing has an inherently passive meaning.

✗ ~~I would like going to Italy this summer.~~

✓ I would like to go to Italy this summer.

– Rule: Would like / would prefer / would love always takes to + infinitive.

✗ ~~I couldn’t help to smile.~~

✓ I couldn’t help smiling.

– Rule: The idiom can’t help takes -ing.

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Tier 4 – Interactive Practice: Work through Exercises 57.1–57.4 below with instant scoring!

Made with care for English learners · allenglish4u.com
Original practice material inspired by the English Grammar in Use syllabus (Cambridge University Press). Example sentences and exercises are written by All English 4U.

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