Page 653 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

2 a million dollars' worth of ...
A possessive can be used before worth in expressions with numbers.
They've ordered a million dollars' worth ofcomputer software.
3 It's worth talking to Joe; Joe's worth talking to
To talk about the value of an activity, we can use an -ing form with wonh. The -ing clause cannot be the subject; we often use preparatory it.
It's worth talking to Joe. (NOT Talking t6 }ae is Wfjr1h.) It Isn't worth repairing the car.
Is it worth visiting Leicester?
We can also use a structure in which the object of the -ing form Uoe, the car, Leicester) is made the subject of the sentence.
Joe's worth talking to.
The car isn't worth repairing. (NOT TM ed,. is",'t Wfjl'th repl!i,;ltt: it. OR
The ear isn't WfjFth la be reptfireti.) Is Leicester worth visiting?
For more about structures in which the object of a verb is the subject of the sentence (e.g. She's easy 10 amuse), see 284.4.
4 It's worth it
We often use It's (not) wonh it to say whether something is worth doing. Ifyou pay a bit more you get a room to yourself. I think it's worth it. Shall we go and see the castle?- No, it's not worth it.
S worthwhile
Worthwhile (or worth while) is sometimes used instead of worth, particularly to express the idea 'worth spending time'.
Is it worthwhile visiting Leicester? Infinitives are also possible after worthwhile.
We thought it might be worthwhile to compare the two years' accounts. Note also the structure worth somebody's while.
Would you like to do some gardening for me? I'll make it worth your while.
(= •.• I'll pay you enough.) 6 well worth
Worth can be modified by well.
Leicester's well worth visiting. (NOT ••• very Wfj,.th ...)
633 would: various uses 1 forms
Would, the past form of will, is a modal auxiliary verb (see 353-354). Questions and negatives are made without do; after would, we use an infinitive without to.
Would your daughter like to play with my little girl? Contractions are 'd, wouldn't.
I'd like some advice, please.
I wish she wouldn't take things so seriously.
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would: various uses 633
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