Expressions with -ing (there's no point in -ing, it's worth -ing, etc.)
Common expressions followed by -ing: no point in, worth, have difficulty, spend time, go -ing
There’s no point in -ing / It’s no use -ing / It’s no good -ing
Several expressions mean “this action has no benefit” or “this action will not help.” They all take -ing after them.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| there’s no point in + -ing | the action will not achieve anything |
| it’s no use + -ing | the action will not help |
| it’s no good + -ing | the action will not produce a good result |
- There’s no point in scheduling another meeting if we don’t have the data yet.
- It’s no use complaining to the manager. The decision has already been made.
- It’s no good sending the report now. The deadline was yesterday.
Watch the difference between no point in and the point of:
- There’s no point in rewriting the whole proposal. (no point in)
- What’s the point of rewriting the whole proposal? (the point of)
It’s worth -ing / It’s not worth -ing
Use it’s worth + -ing to say that something is a good use of time or effort. Use it’s not worth + -ing for the opposite.
- The online course covers everything you need. It’s worth taking.
- Our flight was at 5 a.m., so it wasn’t worth going to bed.
- The factory tour only lasts ten minutes. It’s not worth driving two hours for that.
You can also say something is worth it or isn’t worth it (without the -ing verb):
- The certification exam is tough, but it’s worth it.
- We thought about redesigning the logo, but it wasn’t worth it.
You can put worth + -ing directly after what you are describing:
- That’s a proposal worth reading.
- There was nothing in the warehouse worth keeping.
Have trouble / difficulty / a problem + -ing
After have trouble, have difficulty, and have a problem, use -ing (not to + infinitive).
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| have trouble + -ing | I had no trouble finding the office. |
| have difficulty + -ing | Some clients have difficulty understanding the new interface. |
| have a problem + -ing | Did you have a problem connecting to the VPN? |
Note: do not use to here. Say I had trouble finding (not I had trouble to find).
Spend / Waste (time) + -ing
Use spend (time) + -ing and waste (time) + -ing to say how time is used.
- He spent three hours debugging the code.
- I waste too much time answering unnecessary emails.
The expression be busy + -ing works the same way:
- She can’t join the call right now. She’s busy preparing the quarterly report.
Go + -ing (activities)
Use go + -ing for sports and leisure activities.
Common combinations: go swimming, go skiing, go hiking, go shopping, go jogging, go camping, go sailing, go fishing, go surfing, go cycling
- We went hiking in the mountains last weekend.
- How often do you go swimming?
- Mark isn’t at his desk. He’s gone shopping for office supplies.
Quick Self-Check
There's no point in _____ the client again. They already said no.
Select your answer:
The conference is excellent. It's definitely worth _____.
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I had no trouble _____ a hotel near the office.
Select your answer:
She spent the whole afternoon _____ the budget spreadsheet.
Select your answer:
It's a beautiful lake. How often do you go _____?
Select your answer: