Verb + Gerund- Reading and Writing- Grammar Focus

?If these verbs are followed by another verb, the structure is usually verb + -ing:

■ Stop talking!

■ I’ll do the shopping when I’ve finished cleaning the apartment.

■ I don’t miss working late every night.

■ Have you ever considered going to live in another country?

■ I can’t imagine George riding a motorcycle.

■ When I’m on vacation, I enjoy not having to get up early.

?The following expressions also take -ing:

• • give up (= stop)
  • go on (= continue)
  • put off (= postpone)
  • keep or keep on (= do something continuously or repeatedly)

■ Are you going to give up smoking?

■ He kept (on) interrupting me while I was speaking.

?Note the passive form (being done / being seen / being told, etc.):

■ I don’t mind being told what to do.

?You cannot normally use the infinitive (to do / to dance, etc.) after these verbs and expressions:

■ I enjoy dancing. (not to dance)

■ Would you mind closing the door? (not to close)

■ Jill suggested going to the movies. (not to go)

?When you are talking about finished actions, you can also say having done / having stolen, etc. But it is not necessary to use this form. You can also use the simple -ing form for finished actions:

■ He admitted stealing (or having stolen) the money.

■ They now regret getting (or having gotten) married.

?With some of the verbs (especially admit, deny, regret, and suggest) you can also use a that… structure:

■ He denied that he had stolen the money. (or denied stealing)

■ Jill suggested that we go to the movies. (or suggested going)

1- Complete the sentences with these verbs:

Example: Do you miss playing tennis every afternoon?

1. Could you please stop _________ so much noise?
2. I don’t enjoy_________ letters.
3. Does your job involve _________ a lot of people?
4. I considered _________ the job, but in the end I decided against it.
5. If you use the shower, try and avoid _________water on the floor.
6. Jack gave up _________to be an actor and decided to become a teacher.
7. Have you finished _________ your hair yet?
8.  The phone rang while Ann was having dinner. She didn’t answer it; she just went on _________ .
9. She admitted _________the car but denied _________ it dangerously.
10. Why do you keep on_________ at me like that?
11. They had to postpone _________ away because their son was sick.
12. If you cross the street without looking, you risk_________ over by a car.

2-Read each sentence and write a second sentence with the same meaning. Begin your sentence in the way shown.

Examples: Do you have to travel in your job? Does your job involve traveling? He is sorry now that he didn’t study harder when he was in college. He now regrets not studying harder when he was in college.

1. Maybe I’ll go out this evening. I wouldn’t mind _________
2. Are you sorry you didn’t take the job? Do you regret _________?
3. Why don’t you go away tomorrow instead of today? Why don’t you put off_________until _________?
4. It’s not a good idea to travel during the rush hour.  It’s better to avoid _________
5. Could you turn the radio down, please? Would you mind _________?
6. The driver of the car said it was true that he didn’t have a license. The driver of the car admitted _________
7. Sue said, “Let’s have fish for dinner.” Sue suggested _________

3-Now make your own sentences. Complete each sentence using ‘-ing’. Send your sentences to be corrected.

Example: I really enjoy going for long walks in the country.

1. On weekends I enjoy_________
2. I dislike_________
3. I often regret_________
4. Learning English involves _________
5. I think people should stop _________

Source: Grammar In Use

Check your answers⇓.

1

1 making

2 writing

3 meeting

4 taking

5 splashing

6 trying

7 washing

8 eating

9 stealing… driving

10 looking

11 going

12 being run (passive)

2

1 I wouldn’t mind going out this evening.

2 Do you regret not taking the job? (or … that you didn’t take…)

3 Why don’t you put off going away until tomorrow?

4 It’s better to avoid traveling during the rush hour.

5 Would you mind turning the radio down, please?

6 The driver of the car admitted not having a license. (or … that he didn’t have a license.)

7 Sue suggested having fish for dinner. (or … suggested that we have fish/ suggested that we should have fish…)

3- Sample answers. 

1 On weekends I enjoy sitting in the garden (if it’s warm).

2 I dislike going out to eat in fancy restaurants.

3 I often regret not traveling more when I was younger.

4 Learning English involves speaking as much as you can.

5 I think people should stop watching television so much.