Level: beginner
Common verbs followed by the -ing form are:
-
verbs of liking and disliking:
| detest | dislike | enjoy | fancy | hate | like | love |
I love swimming but I hate jogging.
They always enjoyed visiting their friends.
-
phrases with mind:
wouldn't mind (= would like)
don't mind (= I am willing to)
would you mind (= will you please …?)
I wouldn't mind having some fish and chips.
I don't mind waiting for a few minutes.
Would you mind holding this for me?
-
verbs of saying and thinking:
| admit | consider | deny | imagine | remember | suggest |
Our leader suggested waiting until the storm was over.
Everyone denied seeing the accident.
-
others:
| avoid | begin | finish | keep | miss | practise | risk | start | stop |
I haven't finished writing this letter.
Let's practise speaking English.
- Verb + -ing form 1
- Verb + -ing form 2
verb + noun + -ing form
Some verbs are followed by a noun and the -ing form:
- verbs of the senses:
| see | hear | listen to | smell | watch | etc. |
We saw everybody running away.
I could hear someone singing.
- others:
| catch | find | imagine | leave | prevent | stop |
I caught someone trying to break in to my house.
We couldn’t prevent them getting away.
- Verb + noun + -ing form 1
- Verb + noun + -ing form 2
- Infinitive or -ing form?
Many of the verbs above are sometimes followed by a passive form of -ing (being + past participle):
I don't like being interrupted.
Our dog loves being stroked under the chin.
Comments
Hi there
I would be grateful if you help.
Which sentence is correct and why?
1) I'm looking forward to walking down the memory lane/red carpet etc?
or
2)I'm looking forward to walk down the memory lane/red carpet etc?
Would appreciate your help!
Thanks n kind regards
1) is correct
the second sentence is correct, the phrase "look forward to"should be followed by
verbs -ing form .
Wonderful, i need more practise
thanks mr Jovazmi. we all get benefit actually from your explanation
Is there any difference between "I like to eat in restaurants", and "I like eating in restaurants"?
Thank you, this is an excellent site.
Hi Jovazmi
There is a really slight difference. Most of the time, when people use either of these two patterns: Like + verb-ing or Like + infinitive
The meaning is the same. However, there is a little difference, a subtle difference. Consider the two sentences.
In both of these sentences, the verb like simply expresses my feeling about pizza and watching action films - they both make me happy!
These two are slightly different:
In the first sentence, the verb like expresses more than my feeling. Getting up early does not make me happy. I think it's a good idea and so I like to do it. Staying in bed does make me happy. I don't think it's a very good idea but I like doing it anyway.
If this isn't clear or you would like some more examples, please let me know.
Jack
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you very much, very helpful explanation. I understand perfectly, it's clear.
this is wonderful
I am more confident then ever
I need more exercises
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