A.
Look at these examples:
I enjoy reading. (not I enjoy to read)
Would you mind closing the door?
(not mind to close)
Sam suggested going to the movies.
(not suggested to go)
After enjoy, mind, and suggest, we use –ing (not to . . . ).
Some more verbs that are followed by –ing:
Stop Postpone Consider Admit
Finish Avoid Imagine Deny
Quit Risk Miss Recommend
Suddenly everybody stopped talking. There was silence.
I’ll do the shopping when I’ve finished cleaning the apartment.
He tried to avoid answering my question.
Have you ever considered going to live in another country?
The negative form is not –ing:
When I’m on vacation, I enjoy not having to get up early.
B. We also use –ing after:
Give up (= stop)
Put off (= postpone)
Go on (= continue)
Keep or keep on (= do something continuously or repeatedly)
B. Continuation . . .
Paula has given up trying to lose weight.
Jenny doesn’t want to retire. She wants to go on working.
You keep interrupting when I’m talking! Or You keep on interrupting . . .
C. With some verbs you can use the structure verb + somebody + -ing:
I can’t imagine George riding a motorcycle.
“Sorry to keep you waiting so long.” “That’s all right.”
Note the passive form (being done/seen/kept, etc.):
I don’t mind being kept waiting. (= I don’t mind people keeping me waiting.)
D. When you are talking about finished actions, you can say having done / stolen / said, etc.
They admitted having stolen the money.
But it is not necessary to use having (done). You can also say:
They admitted stealing the money.
I now regret saying (or having said) what I said.
For regret, use Unit 54B.
E. After some of the verbs on this page (especially admit/deny/suggest), you can also use
that . . .
She denied that she had stolen the money. (or She denied stealing . . . )
Sam suggested that we go to the movies. (or Sam suggested going . . . )
Exercises
51.1 Complete each sentence with one of the following verbs (in the correct form):
1. He tried to avoid ____________________
answering my question.
2. Could you please stop ______________________________ so much noise?
3. I enjoy _____________________________ to music.
4. I considered _______________________ for the job, but in the end I decided against it.
5. Have you finished ____________________ the newspaper yet?
6. Let’s buy a house. I don’t want to go on ____________________ rent every month.
7. I don’t mind you _______________________ the phone as long as you pay for all your calls.
8. My memory is getting worse. I keep _____________________ things.
9. I’ve put off ____________________ the letter so many times. I really have to do it today.
10. What a mean thing to do! Can you imagine anybody ____________________ so mean?
11. Sarah gave up ________________ to find a job in this country and decided to go abroad.
12. If you invest your money in the stock market, you risk ______________________ it.
51.2 Complete the sentences for each situation using –ing.
1. She suggested _______________
going to
What should We could go
we do? to the movies.
the movies
______________________________.
2. You were You’re right. She admitted ________________
driving too fast. Sorry! ______________________________.
Let’s go She suggested _______________
3. Good idea!
swimming.
______________________________.
You broke my
4. No, I didn’t! He denied ___________________
DVD player.
______________________________.
Can you wait a
5. few minutes?
Sure, no problem. They didn’t mind _____________
______________________________.
51.3 Complete the sentences so that they mean the same as the first sentence. Use –ing.
1. She doesn’t really want to retire.
working
She wants to go on _________________________________________________________________.
2. It’s not a good idea to travel during rush hour.
It’s better to avoid __________________________________________________________________.
3. Should we leave tomorrow instead of today?
Should we postpone _____________________________ until ______________________________.
4. Could you turn the radio down, please?
Would you mind ____________________________________________________________________.
5. Please don’t interrupt me all the time.
Would you mind ____________________________________________________________________.
51.3 Complete the sentences so that they mean the same as the first sentence. Use –ing.
1. She’s a very interesting person. I always enjoy ________________________________________.
talking to her
2. I’m afraid there aren’t any chairs. I hope you don’t mind _____________________________.
3. It was a beautiful day, so I suggested ________________________________________________.
4. It was very funny. I couldn’t stop _____________________________________________________.
5. My car isn’t very reliable. It keeps ____________________________________________________.
