Note:
You will find that the subjects and objects in the examples have with substituted for:
X = 1st Subject or 1st Object. Y = 2nd Subject or Object
Z = 3rd Subject.
- Someone will always remember X / doing X. Someone will never forget X / doing X.
- I think doing X is a waste of time.
There is no point in doing X. There isn’t any point in doing X. It is not worth doing X.
It’s no use doing X.
It’s no good doing X.
Do not bother to do /doing X
- It’s possible that X did Y. X might have done Y.
- X continued to do Y. X carried on doing Y.
- There isn´t much chance of X doing Y. X isn´t likely to do Y.
There is little prospect of x doing Y.
- X is not going to do Y anymore/ X is going to stop doing Y. X is going to give up doing Y.
- I´m sure X was very Y.
X must have been very Y.
- X really ought to do Y.
It is high time for X to do Y / It is high time (that) X did Y.
It is about time for X to do Y / It is about time (that) X did Y.
- X wishes he had done Y / X wishes he had not done Y X regrets not having done Y / X regrets having done Y
- Although / even though it was X. Despite / In spite of it being X.
- He doesn’t like either of them.
He likes neither of them.
- X should think about Y.
X should take Y into consideration.
- X does not stop Y from doing A.
X is ineffective at stopping Y from doing A.
- X wants to learn / start learning Y. X want to start doing Y.
X wants to take up Y / doing Y
- X became quite Y.
X was overcome with/by Y.
- X went somewhere on his/her own.
X went somewhere by himself/herself. X went somewhere alone.
- X saw something and did Y immediately.
X saw something and did Y without hesitation.
- It’s the most X I’ve ever seen.
I have never seen such an X / I have never seen a more X.
- Do you think you could give me a hand to do Y?
Would you mind giving me a hand to do Y?
I would appreciate it if you could give me a hand to do Y.
I would appreciate it if you gave me a hand to do Y. I would appreciate your giving me a hand to do Y. I would appreciate you giving me a hand to do Y.
- X is not as good at A as Y. Y is better at A than X.
- X wants to do Y.
X is interested in doing Y. X has an interest in doing Y
- X will only do A if Y does B.
X will not do A unless Y does B.
X will do A as long as / so long as Y does B. X will do A provided (that) Y does B
- X can do A provided (that) he doesn´t do B. X can do A providing (that) he doesn´t do B. X can do A , but only if he doesn’t do B
X can do A on the condition (that) he doesn´t do B. X can do A as long as he doesn´t do B.
- X demanded to do Y. X insisted on doing Y.
- X should consider A before doing B.
X should take into account A before doing B.
- X was led to believe Y...
X was under the impression (that) Y... X was given the impression (that) Y…
- Feel free to do Y.
Do not hesitate to do Y.
- When you decide to do Y.
When you make up your mind to do Y. When you come to the decision to do Y When you make the decision to do Y
- X would never have guessed that ... X would never have though that… Little did X know that...
- Do you mind if I do Y?
Do you have any objection to me/my doing Y?
- Not as many people do X as when Y.
There are a lot fewer people doing X than when Y.