UNIDAD 63

 

TO INFINITIVE – GERUNDIO COMO SUJETOS

 

Un verbo en su forma to-infinitive, pone énfasis en el concepto, actividad o potencialidad de la acción. El gerundio enfatiza el proceso y la acción; se enfoca en la experiencia de dicha acción.

To err is human.       Errar es humano.

To forgive is often difficult.       Perdonar es amenudo difícil.

Smoking is bad for your health.       Fumar es malo para tu salud.

Eating well is the key to a good health.       Comer bien es la clave para una buena salud.

 

Estudiar los siguientes ejemplos:

Travelling in winter is not easy.

Studying English is a lot of work.

Flying makes me nervous.

Driving in the snow can be dangerous.

Knowing how to write well is important.

Speaking to an audience is stressful.

Eating sandwiches makes me gain weight.

 

To conquer the world was Alexander’s ambition.

To dream is a very human thing.

To believe in God is easier for some than for others.

To love you is my greatest joy.

To help others is rewarding.

To hesitate would have been fatal.

 

EXPRESIONES DE LUGAR III

 

AMONG: en el medio o rodeado por algo.

Peter was among the spectators.       Peter estaba entre los espectadores.

I want to live in a house among the trees.       Quiero vivir en una casa entre los árboles.

 

AROUND: indica posición o movimiento en círculo o sin una guía o dirección clara.

We walked around the building.       Caminamos alrededor del edificio.

We were sitting around the table.       Estábamos sentados alrededor de la mesa.

 

TO: indica el destino de un movimiento.

Take me to the airport, please.       Lléveme al aeropuerto, por favor.

Will you come to the store today?       ¿Vendrás a la tienda hoy?

 

BELOW: en un nivel más bajo.

Amsterdam is below sea level.       Amsterdam está bajo el nivel del mar.

The goalkeeper hit him below the knee.       El arquero lo golpeó debajo de la rodilla.

 

BEYOND: en un lugar más lejos que el punto o concepto mencionado.

A big meteorite fell beyond the bridge.       Un gran meteorito cayó más allá del puente.

The city might expand beyond its boundaries.       La ciudad podría expandirse más allá de sus limites.

 

Ejercicio 1

Usar among, around, to, below o beyond donde corresponda:

      1      She lives ......... the forest.

      2      He was found unconscious ......... a pile of bodies.

      3      He fell ......... the floor.

      4      The murderer returned ......... the crime scene a couple of days later.

      5      The birds build their nests ......... the branches.

      6      There was water all ......... us.

      7      We sat ......... the fire.

      8      I couldn’t see my child ......... the crowd.

      9      We walked ......... the city.

  10      We went ......... a restaurant to have dinner.

  11      He drives ......... school every day.

  12      The king built a high wall ......... the castle.

  13      Is there life ......... the solar system?

  14      You can see  ......... the city limits no matter where you are.

  15      The police have taken him ......... court.

  16      I heard you’re moving ......... Paris.

  17      The percentage of people living ......... the poverty line is increasing.

  18      It’s only a few degrees ......... zero.

  19      ......... the cottage is a magnificent golf course.

  20      How often do you go ......... the dentist?

  21      We must go ......... the bank today. We haven’t got any money.

  22      Scientists need to study life ......... the surface of the ocean.

  23      The switch is ......... the window.

  24      They were travelling ......... the world.

  25      The princess never dared to ask what lay ......... the wall.

 

THROUGHOUT: en todas las partes de un área.

The virus spread throughout the city.       El virus se esparció por toda la cuidad.

Currently we have clients throughout Europe.       Actualmente tenemos clientes por toda Europa.

 

PAST: en o a una posición que está más allá de un punto particular.

She went past the shop.       Ella pasó por delante de la tienda.

We walked past Peter’s house.       Caminamos por delante de la casa de Peter.

 

UNDER: en una posición más baja, a menudo conlleva la idea de cubrir algo.

There’s a mouse under the bed.       Hay un ratón debajo de la cama.

She swept the dust under the carpet.       Ella barrió el polvo debajo de la alfombra.

 

INTO: hacia el interior y rodeado por algo.

He dived into the water.       Él se zambulló en el agua.

She put the necklace into her bag.       Ella puso el collar en su bolsa.

 

OFF: implica alejamiento o separación de un lugar o posición.

The cat jumped off the roof.       El gato saltó del techo.

He fell off the ladder and broke his arm.       Se cayó de la escalera y se rompió el brazo.

 

Ejercicio 2

Usar throughout, past, under, into u off donde corresponda:

      1      We travelled ......... that remote part of Africa.

      2      She ran ......... me.

      3      The patient went ......... the doctor’s office.

      4      We will promote economic development ......... the region.

      5      There were a lot of wind turbines ......... the field.

      6      The midfielder was carried ......... the pitch.

      7      She walked ......... him without saying a word.

      8      An old man walked ......... the shop.

      9      The dog jumped ......... the chair.

  10      He hid the present ......... a blanket.

  11      He fell ......... the horse.

  12      The priest placed the candles ......... the house.

  13      We drove ......... your house.

  14      What is the use of an umbrella if it can’t keep the rain .........?

  15      I’m wearing a T-shirt ......... my coat.

  16      He was a stray dog that we picked up ......... the street.

  17      The sweat poured ......... the doctor’s face.

  18      She left her key ......... a mat.

  19      I will pour water ......... the tank.

  20      The dog is sleeping ......... the table.

  21      We sat ......... the apple tree for several hours.

  22      Antibodies are carried ......... the body by white blood cells called lymphocytes.

 

NEXT TO: indica que dos personas o cosas están muy cerca.

The bank is next to the cinema.       El banco está junto al cine.

My aunt placed the lamp next to the window.       Mi tía ubicó la lámpara junto a la ventana.

 

BETWEEN: que se encuentra dentro del espacio o tiempo que separa a dos lugares, personas o cosas.

Julia worked here between 1990 and 1995.       Julia trabajó aquí entre 1990 y 1995.

The lamp is between the chair and the couch.       La lámpara está entre la silla y el sillón.

 

Ejercicio 3

Usar between, next to o upon donde corresponda:

      1      He sat down ......... the air conditioning.

      2      Our shop is ......... the bank and the school.

      3      My house is ......... Palm Street and Oak Street.

      4      Jill was standing ......... me.

      5      Lunch will be served ......... one and three.

      6      Put your luggage ......... the sofa.

      7      The castle was built ......... the mountains and the valley.

      8      He is sitting ......... my sister.

      9      I sat ......... Paul and Susan.

  10      The supermarket is ......... the post office.

 

OVER: en un nivel más alto.

Tom has a towel over his head.       Tom tiene una toalla sobre su cabeza.

Suddenly we saw a flying saucer over the house.       De repente vimos un platillo volador sobre la casa.

 

BESIDE: al lado de; junto a.

The bank is beside the church.        El banco está al lado de la iglesia.

The girl is standing beside my cousin.       La niña está parada junto a mi primo.

 

ON: que está sobre algo y en contacto con la superficie.

She put her head on the pillow.       Ella puso su cabeza sobre la almohada.

Don’t put your feet on the table.       No pongas tus pies sobre la mesa.

 

IN: dentro de un espacio limitado.

I like swimming in the sea.       Me gusta nadar en el mar.

My grandmother is in the garden.       Mi abuela está en el jardín.

The rest of the money is in the bank.       El resto del dinero está en el banco.

 

Ejercicio 4

Usar over, beside, on o in donde corresponda:

      1      He has an orange ......... his hand.

      2      The plane flew ......... the village.

      3      She always has a smile ......... her face.

      4      There are some pictures ......... the wall.

      5      She put a cloth ......... the table.

      6      There were many flamingos flying ......... the lake.

      7      She put her hands ......... her eyes and began to cry.

      8      At noon the fog had settled ......... Santiago.

      9      This coffee has too much sugar ......... it.

  10      He felt really uncomfortable ......... her.

  11      After dinner we sat down ......... the fire.

  12      We were all together ......... a warm fire.

  13      He wears a gold ring ......... his finger.

  14      There was a round table ......... the room.

  15      Don’t sit ......... the grass.

  16      There was a mirror ......... the sink.

  17      The office is ......... the first floor.

  18      My sister lives ......... Italy.

  19      She put the money ......... the bag.

  20      Do not place the monitor set ......... soft surfaces.

  21      The police shot him ......... his leg.

  22      Jeff has cut ......... his left knee.

  23      The keys are ......... your pocket.

  24      I saw the horse jump ......... the fence.

  25      She works ......... a shoeshop.

  26      I work ......... a factory.

 

AWAY: a una distancia de algo o alguien.

Suddenly he threw his cigarette away.       De repente tiró su cigarrillo lejos.

Why do you live away from your parents?       ¿Por qué vives lejos de tus padres?

 

ROUND: en dirección circular; en todos o en algunos lados de algo.

A chain of gold was round her neck.       Una cadena de oro estaba alrededor de su cuello.

Why don’t you take a walk round the park?       ¿Por qué no das un paseo por el parque?

 

WITHIN: dentro o no más allá de un área.

My ring is within the box.       Mi anillo está dentro de la caja.

The mall is like a city within a city.       El centro comercial es como una ciudad dentro de una ciudad.

 

OUT OF: que no está o se sale de una determinada condición o lugar.

It looks like a creature out of this world.       Parece como una criatura fuera de este mundo.

She had an accident but she is out of danger.       Tuvo un accidente pero está fuera de peligro.

 

OUT: que está afuera de algo, generalmente un edificio, la casa o la oficina.

It’s very cold out.       Hace mucho frío afuera.

He sent the boys out to look for the dog.       Envió a los niños afuera para buscar el perro.

 

Ejercicio 5

Usar away, round, within, out of o out donde corresponda:

      1      I was trying to swat a mosquito buzzing ......... my head.

      2      Give me half of the treasure and I will go ..........

      3      Mr. Davis is taking his wife ......... to dinner.

      4      The new road goes ......... the village.

      5      That student is ......... town.

      6      We walked ......... the museum and saw a lot of interesting things.

      7      She told him to stay ......... from her sister.

      8      I’ll visit my family again after being ......... from them for five years.

      9      He caught my suitcase and ran ..........

  10      Natural beauty comes from ..........

  11      They stood ......... him and watched him.

  12      We might find life ......... our solar system.

  13      It was too cold to go ..........

  14      Let’s eat ......... tonight.

  15      Our nearest neighbours were two miles ..........

  16      You have to look deep ......... yourself to discover your true motivation.

  17      Air traffic .......... Europe will continue to grow.

  18      His head is completely ......... proportion with his body.

  19      The little boy looked all ......... him.