Expressions + -ing

UNIT 58   Expressions + -ing

When these expressions are followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing:
It's no use . . .

• It's no use worrying about it, There's nothing you can do.

•  It's no use trying to persuade me, You won't succeed.

There's no point in . . .

• There's no point in buying a car if you don't want to drive it.

• There was no point in waiting, so we went.

It's (not) worth . . .

• My house is only a short walk from here. 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 book is worth reading/a movie is worth seeing, etc.:

Do you think this book is worth reading?
should go and see that movie. It's really worth seeing.

(Have) difficulty/trouble . . .

• I had difficulty finding a place to live (not to find)

• Did you have any trouble getting a visa?

• People often have great difficulty reading my writing.

Remember that we say "difficulty" (not difficulties) and "trouble" (not troubles):

• I'm sure you'll have no difficulty/trouble passing the exam.

You can also say "(have) difficulty in -ing"

• He's shy He has difficulty in talking to people he doesn't know well.                        

A waste of money/time . . .

• It's a waste of time reading that book. It's trash

• It's a waste of money buying things you don't need.

Spend/waste (time) . . .

• I spent hours trying to repair the clock.

• I waste a lot of time daydreaming.

Go -ing

We use go -ing for a number of activities (especially sports):

go shopping            go swimming              go skiing          go fishing
go climbing                go sailing                 go riding       go sightseeing

• How often do you go swimming?

• I'm going skiing next year.

• I have to go shopping this morning.

• I've never been sailing.