Language tip of the week: worth
Posted by Kati Sule on November 15, 2012
In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. These tips are based on areas of English which learners often find difficult, e.g. spelling, grammar, collocation, synonyms, etc.
This week some advice about the patterns that can follow the adjective worth:
The adjective worth is never followed by an infinitive. Use the pattern worth doing something:
✗ Is it reallyworth to spendfive years of your life studying?
✓ Is it really worth spending five years of your life studying?
✗ The ban on smoking in restaurants isworth to discuss.
✓ The ban on smoking in restaurants is worth discussing.Note also that the active form of the verb is always used, whether the meaning is active or passive. You can say ‘this is worth thinking about’ or ‘it is worth thinking about this’:
✗ History is a subject wellworth being taught.
✓ History is a subject well worth teaching.
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Posted by kursevi engleskog on 16th November, 2012
Great tips, thank you!
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Posted by Language tip of the week: worth « National-Express2011 on 17th November, 2012
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