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Unit 53 · -ing and to …

Verb + -ing (enjoy doing / stop doing etc.)

Study

A

We say:

›

I enjoy reading. (not I enjoy to read)

›

Would you mind closing the door?

(not mind to close)

›

Chris suggested going to the cinema.

(not suggested to go)

After enjoy, mind and suggest, we use -ing (not to …).

Some more verbs that are followed by -ing:

stop recommend admit avoid imagine
finish consider deny risk fancy
›

Suddenly everybody stopped talking. There was silence.

›

I'll do the shopping when I've finished cleaning the flat.

›

He tried to avoid answering my question.

›

I don't fancy going out this evening. (= I'm not enthusiastic about it)

›

Have you ever considered going to live in another country?

›

They said they were innocent. They denied doing anything wrong.

The negative form is not -ing:

›

When I'm on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.

B

We also use -ing after:

give up (= stop)
put off (= delay until later)
go on or carry on (= continue)
keep or keep on (= do something continuously or repeatedly)
›

I've given up buying newspapers. I don't read them any more.

›

You shouldn't put off telling him what happened. You need to tell him now.

›

Katherine doesn't want to retire. She wants to go on working. or … to carry 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:

›

You can't stop people doing what they want.

›

I can't imagine George riding a motorbike.

›

Did she really say that? I don't remember her saying that.

›

Sorry to keep you waiting so long.

D

When you talk 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 say:

›

They admitted stealing the money.

›

I now regret saying that. or I now regret having said that.

E

Other structures are possible with admit, deny, suggest and recommend. For example, you can say:

›

They denied (that) they had done anything wrong. (= They denied doing …)

›

Chris suggested (that) we go to the cinema. (= Chris suggested going …)

›

I recommend (that) you travel by train. (= I recommend travelling …)

suggest → Unit 34 being done (passive) → Unit 44B Verb + to … → Unit 54 Verb + to … and -ing → Units 55C, 56–58 remember / regret / go on → Unit 56B go on / carry on / keep on → Unit 141A

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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53.1

Complete the sentences for each situation. Use -ing.

  1. 1
    What shall we do? We could go to the zoo.
    She suggested to the zoo.example
  2. 2
    Do you want to play tennis? No, not really.
    He didn't fancy .
  3. 3
    Let's go for a walk. Good idea!
    She suggested .
  4. 4
    You caused the accident. No, I didn't.
    He denied .
  5. 5
    Can you wait a few minutes? Sure, no problem.
    They didn't mind .
  6. 6
    You didn't tell the truth. That's right. I didn't.
    She admitted .
53.2

Complete the sentences. Choose from these verbs (in the correct form):

answerapplyforgetinterruptlistenlivelosemakepayreadtraveltry
  1. 1
    He tried to avoid my question.example
  2. 2
    I'm trying to concentrate. Please stop so much noise!
  3. 3
    I enjoy to music.
  4. 4
    I considered for the job, but in the end I decided against it.
  5. 5
    Have you finished the newspaper yet?
  6. 6
    We need to change our routine. We can't go on like this.
  7. 7
    It's better to avoid during the rush hour.
  8. 8
    My memory is getting worse. I keep things.
  9. 9
    I've put off this bill so many times. I really must do it today.
  10. 10
    I've given up to learn Japanese. I was making no progress.
  11. 11
    If you gamble, you risk your money.
  12. 12
    Would you mind not me all the time? Let me speak!
53.3

Put the words in the right order.

  1. 1
    Did she really say that?
    I (that / remember / her / saying / don't). I .example
  2. 2
    It's OK if you want to drive my car.
    I (driving / don't / it / you / mind). I .
  3. 3
    What a stupid thing to do!
    Can (imagine / so stupid / being / you / anybody)? Can ?
  4. 4
    We can't control the weather.
    We (raining / stop / it / can't). We .
  5. 5
    I'll be as quick as I can.
    I (waiting / want / keep / you / don't / to). I .
53.4

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use -ing.

  1. 1
    She's a very interesting person. I always enjoy .example
  2. 2
    I'm not feeling very well. I don't fancy .
  3. 3
    I'm afraid there aren't any chairs. I hope you don't mind .
  4. 4
    It was a beautiful day, so I suggested .
  5. 5
    The movie was very funny. I couldn't stop .
  6. 6
    My car is unreliable. It keeps .