When these expressions are followed by a verb, the verb ends in ~ing:
It's no use .../It's no good ...:
* There's nothing you can do about the situation, so it's no use worrying about it.
* It's no good trying to persuade me. You won't succeed.
There's no point in ...:
* There's no point in having a car if you never use it.
* There was no point in waiting any longer, so we went.
It's (not) worth ...:
* I live only a short walk from here, so it's not worth taking a taxi.
* It was so late when we got home, it wasn't worth going to bed.
You can say 'a film is worth seeing', 'a book is worth reading', etc.
* What was the film like? Was it worth seeing?
* I don't think newspapers are worth reading.
(Have) difficulty ~ing
We say 'have difficulty doing something' (not 'to do'):
* I had difficulty finding a place to live. (not 'I had difficulty to find')
* Did you have any difficulty getting a visa?
* People often have great difficulty reading my writing.
We usually say 'have difficulty' (not 'have difficulties'):
* I'm sure you'll have no difficulty passing the exam. (not 'have no difficulties')
We use ~ing after:
a waste of money .../a waste of time ... (to ... is also possible):
* It was a waste of time reading that book. It was rubbish.
* It's a waste of money buying things you don't need.
spend/waste (time) ...
* He spent hours trying to repair the clock.
* I waste a lot of time daydreaming.
(be) busy ...:
* She said she couldn't see me. She was too busy doing other things.
Go swimming/go fishing etc.
We use go ~ing for a number of activities (especially sports). For example, you can say:
go swimming/go sailing/go fishing/go climbing/go skiing/go jogging etc.
also: go shopping/go sightseeing.
* I'd like to go skiing.
* When did you last go shopping?
* I've never been sailing.
You can also say 'come swimming/come skiing' etc.:
* Why don't you come swimming with us?
EXERCISES
62.1 Complete the sentences on the right.
1. Shall we get a taxi home?
No, it isn't far. It's not worth _getting a taxi.
2. If you need help, why don't you ask Tom?
It's no use ---. He won't be able to help us.
3. I don't really want to go out tonight.
Well, stay at home! There's no point --- if you don't want to.
4. Shall I phone Ann now?
No, it's no good ---. She won't be at home.
5. Are you going to complain about what happened?
No, it's not worth ---. Nobody will do anything about it.
6. Do you ever read newspapers?
No. I think it's a waste ---
62.2 Make sentences with worth ~ing or not worth ~ing. Choose one of these verbs:
consider keep read repair see visit
1. The film isn't very good. _It's not worth seeing._
2. It would cost too much to repair this watch. It's not worth ---
3. If you have time, you should go to the museum. It's worth ---
4. It's quite an interesting suggestion ---
5. There's an interesting article in the paper today. ---
6. We can throw these old clothes away. They ---
62.3 Make sentences beginning There's no point....
1. Why have a car if you never use it? There's no point in having a car if you never use it.
2. Don't eat if you're not hungry.
There's no ---
3. Why work if you don't need money?
4. Don't study if you feet tired.
62.4 Write sentences using difficulty.
1. I managed to get a visa but it was difficult.
I had difficulty getting a visa.
2. I can't remember people's names.
I have difficulty ---
3. Lucy managed to get a job without difficulty.
She had no ---
4. Do you find it difficult to understand him?
Do you have ---
5. It won't be difficult to get a ticket for the concert.
You won't have any ---
62.5 Complete the sentences. Use only one word each time.
1. It's a waste of money buying things you don't need.
2. Every morning I spend about an hour --- the newspaper.
3. 'What's Carol doing?' 'She's busy --- letters.'
4. I think you waste too much time --- television.
5. There's a beautiful view from that hill. It is worth --- to the top.
62.6 Complete these sentences with one of the following (with the verb in the correct form):
go skiing go shopping go swimming go sailing go riding
1. Barry lives by the sea and he's got a boat, so he often _goes sailing._
2. There's plenty of snow in the mountains so we'll be able to ---
3. It was a very hot day, so we --- in the river.
4. Margaret has got two horses. She often ---
5. The shops are shut now. It's too late to ---
62.1
2 It's no use asking Tom.
3 There's no point in going out
4 it's no good phoning her now
5 it's not worth complaining (about what happened)
6 I think it's a waste of time reading newspapers.
62.2
2 repairing.
3 visiting.
4 It's worth considering.
5 It's worth reading.
6 They aren't/They're not worth keeping.
62.3
2 There's no point in eating if you're not hungry.
3 There's no point in working if you don't need money.
4 There's no point in studying if you feel tired.
62.4
2 I have difficulty remembering people's names.
3 She had no difficulty getting a job.
4 Do you have difficulty understanding him?
5 You won't have any difficulty getting a ticket for the concert.
62.5
2 reading
3 writing
4 watching
5 climbing/going/walking
62.6
2 go skiing
3 went swimming
4 goes riding
5 go shopping
