有一读者问： 下面两个句子是否都对：
(1)It's a waste of time arguing about it.
(2)It's a waste of time to talk with him.
这两个句子，一个用动名词 arguing, 一个用不定式 to talk, 但它们都是正确英语。 It's a waste of time 之后可用动名词，亦可用不定式。总的说来，动名词强调动作的进行并往往泛指一般情况，再如：
(3)It was a waste of time doing that.
(4)It's a waste of time trying to talk to her when she's in this mood.
不定式有时也可表一般情况，如例（2），但也常表一种特定的情况，如：
(5)It is a waste of time to argue further.
(6)It's a waste of time to wait any longer.
It is a waste of 之后还可接 money, labour, talent等，实例如：
(7)It seemed a waste of money to buy anything but the best.
(8)It's a bit of a waste of money hiring skis.
(9)It was mere waste of labour to advise him.
(10)It's a waste of John's talents to use him for such an easy job.
