Leaderboard Banner

Verbs & Other Verbs: Verbs + Other Verbs (#5)

Dennis Oliver
Verbs + Other Verbs (#5):
Verb + -ing Verb:
(Verb + Gerund)

We've already seen that verbs can be connected in the
patterns Verb + to + Verb ("want to leave"), Verb + Object
+ to + Verb ("want him to leave"), and Verb + Object +
Verb ("make him leave"). Another way of connecting verbs
to other verbs is with the pattern: Verb + -ing Verb
(verb + gerund).

Examples:

He denied discussing your situation with anyone.

Do you recall hearing the time of the meeting?

I recommend seeing a doctor as soon as possible.

___________________________________________

There are many other verbs that are used in this way.
Here are some of the most common ones:

admit
advise
anticipate
appreciate
avoid
can't bear
can't help
can't stand
begin
complete
consider
continue
delay
deny
discuss
dislike
enjoy
finish
forget
hate
keep
keep on
like
love
mention
(not) mind
miss
postpone
practice
prefer
quit
recall
recollect
recommend
regret
remember
resent
resist
risk
start
stop
suggest
tolerate
try
understand

______________________________________________

Special Notes:

1. All of the verbs above may be followed by
-ing forms of other verbs (gerunds)Some
of them (can't bear, can't stand, begin, continue,
forget, hate, like, love, prefer, regret, remember,
start, stop, try) may also be followed by to +
a verb. Others (advise, like, prefer, understand)
may be followed by an object + to + verb.
2.

To make verbs in the pattern verb + gerund 
negative, use an auxiliary + not for the first
erb, but make the "connected" -ing verbs
negative by using only not:

don't advise being late for work.

I advise not being late for work.

She doesn't enjoy working.

She enjoys not working.

3.

In sentences such as those above, the first verb
can be in any tense, but the connected verb
is usually a simple -ing form:

He regrets being late.

He'll regret being late.

He regretted being late.

He's regretted being late.

He should have regretted being late.

4.

The verbs bearhelp, and stand are normally
used with can't in negative situations:

He can't bear waiting in line.

She can't stand cleaning the bathroom.

He can't help being late.

5.

Some of the verbs in the list above have
different meanings when they are followed by
to + verb and when they are followed by
an -ing verb :

regret (-ing verb) = be sorry about (-ing verb)
regret (to verb) = be sorry (to verb).

remember (-ing verb) = have a memory of
(-ing verb)
remember (to verb) = not forget

(to verb).

stop (to verb) = stop in order (to verb)
stop (verbing) = quit (verbing) / no longer (verb).

6.

Gerunds (-ing forms) are also used after
prepositions and phrasal verbs:

I put off doing my work.
She's counting on 
getting a raise.
We look forward to 
seeing you this weekend!
He'll see about 
borrowing some money.

Leaderboard Banner