14/05/2020
ing forms after verbs: I enjoy travelling.

1
verbs that can be followed by -ing forms
After some verbs we can use an -ing form (gerund), but not normally an infinitive.
I enjoy travelling. (NOT I enjoy to travel.)
He’s finished repairing the car. (NOT He’s finished to repair …)
She’s given up smoking. (NOT … given up to smoke.)
The doctor suggested taking a long rest. (NOT The doctor suggested to take …)
Some common verbs that are normally followed by -ing forms:
admit
appreciate
avoid
burst out (crying/laughing)
consider
contemplate
delay
deny
detest
dislike
endure
enjoy
escape
excuse
face
fancy
feel like
finish
forgive
give up
(can’t) help
imagine
involve
keep (on)
leave off
mention
mind
miss
postpone
practise
put off
resent
resist
risk
(can’t) stand
suggest
understand
Some verbs can be followed by both -ing forms and infinitives ▶ (100.4 below).
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to decide which structures are possible after a particular verb. It is best to check in a good dictionary.
2
verb + object + -ing form: I dislike people telling me …
Some of the verbs listed above, and some others, can be followed by object + -ing form.
I dislike people telling me what to think.
I can’t imagine him working in an office.
Nobody can stop him doing what he wants to.
He spends all his time gardening.
I caught the next-door children stealing my apples.
We found a dead mouse lying on the kitchen floor.
Stop (in an informal style) and prevent are often followed by object + from + -ing form.
Try to stop/prevent them (from) finding out.
Note that after many verbs we can use possessive + -ing form rather than object + -ingform, especially in a formal style. ▶ (94.3 for details.)
3
-ing form with passive meaning: Your hair needs cutting.
After deserve, need and require, the -ing form has a passive sense. This structure is more common in British than American English.
I don’t think his article deserves reading. (= …d
