m thinking about where to go for my next holiday.
I
think history lessons are boring. (NOT ‘am thinking’)
•
Remember that the progressive form of a verb (
be + -
ing ) is not the same as the -ing form.
Compare:
I was not having a watch and so I didn’t how the time.
I didn’t have a watch and so I didn’t know the time. Not having a watch, I didn’t know the time. •
When a verb is used to describe a state, the simple form and the -ing form may be used, but not the
progressive form.
contribute Oxfam and Save the Children have contributed a lot of money for the relief work.
Oxfam and Save the Children have contributed a lot of money to the relief work. When I return home, I hope to contribute my country’s economic development.
When I return home, I hope to contribute to my country’s economic development. contribute (money or some other form of assistance) to sth : ‘In recent years a number of major corporations have contributed large sums of money to the President’s campaign funds.’ control 1
I was surprised that nobody wanted to control my luggage.
I was surprised that nobody wanted to inspect my luggage. After controlling his fingerprints, the police arrested him.
After inspecting his fingerprints, the police arrested him. At this stage in the process, every mould is controlled again.
At this stage in the process, every mould is inspected again. control = make people or machines do what you want them to do: ‘Who will control the aircraft if the pilot has a heart attack?’ ‘The police were unable to control the crowd.’
