Some verbs (enjoy, mind, suggest, avoid, finish, keep, give up and others) are followed by -ing, not to .... The unit also covers verb + somebody + -ing, having done, and the that-clause alternatives after admit, deny, suggest and recommend.
A enjoy, mind, suggest and others + -ing
After enjoy, mind and suggest, use -ing, not to ...:
| Correct | Not |
|---|---|
| I enjoy cooking. | I enjoy to cook |
| Would you mind waiting outside? | mind to wait |
| Zara suggested taking the bus. | suggested to take |
These verbs work the same way:
stop, finish, avoid, consider, admit, deny, imagine, recommend, risk, fancy
fancy means to feel like doing something. In the negative it is a polite way of saying that one has no intention of doing it whatsoever.
The negative is not -ing: I enjoy not having to wear a tie at weekends.
- Everybody stopped clapping and the room went quiet.
- I'll ring you back when I've finished making tea.
- She tried to avoid looking at the bill.
- I don't fancy going to the pub tonight.
- Have you ever considered working from home?
- The two boys denied breaking the greenhouse window.
- On Sundays I enjoy not having to wear a tie.
B give up, put off, go on, carry on, keep (on) + -ing
Use -ing after these as well:
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| give up | stop |
| put off | delay until later |
| go on / carry on | continue |
| keep / keep on | do something continuously or repeatedly |
- I've given up drinking fizzy drinks.
- Don't put off ringing the doctor. Do it today.
- Grandad doesn't want to stop. He wants to go on driving.
- Grandad wants to carry on driving.
- You keep forgetting my birthday.
- You keep on forgetting my birthday.
C Verb + somebody + -ing
With some verbs you can put a person between the verb and the -ing form: verb + somebody + -ing.
- You can't stop teenagers staying up late.
- I can't imagine my dad dancing at a wedding.
- Did Lucy say that? I don't remember her saying it.
- Sorry to keep you waiting.
D having done
For a finished action, you can say having done / having taken / having said etc.
It is not necessary, however. The simple -ing form usually does the same job.
- He admitted having taken the car without asking.
- He admitted taking the car without asking.
- I regret having told her.
- I regret telling her.
E admit, deny, suggest, recommend + that ...
With admit, deny, suggest and recommend, other structures are possible. You can use (that) + clause instead of -ing.
- The two boys denied (that) they had broken the window.
- Zara suggested (that) we take the bus.
- I recommend (that) you book a table in advance.
- I recommend booking a table in advance.
Exercises
53.1 Complete the sentence for each situation. Use -ing.
"What shall we do tonight?" "We could have a barbecue." (She suggested ...)
She suggested having a barbecue.
She suggested having a barbecue.
"Do you want to go swimming?" "No, not really." (He didn't fancy ...)
He didn't fancy going swimming.
"Let's watch a film." "Good idea!" (She suggested ...)
She suggested watching a film.
"You broke the window." "No, I didn't." (He denied ...)
He denied breaking the window.
"Could you sit at the back?" "Sure, no problem." (They didn't mind ...)
They didn't mind sitting at the back.
"You ate the last biscuit." "That's true. I did." (She admitted ...)
She admitted eating the last biscuit.
53.2 Complete the sentences. Choose from these verbs, in the correct form.
borrowcomplaineatexplainlosemoveparkringsingspendtidywalk
He tried to avoid explaining where he had been all night.
He tried to avoid explaining where he had been all night.
I've got a headache. Please stop so loudly!
I've got a headache. Please stop singing so loudly!
I enjoy in the countryside at weekends.
I enjoy walking in the countryside at weekends.
I considered to Australia, but in the end I decided against it.
I considered moving to Australia, but in the end I decided against it.
Have you finished your bedroom yet?
Have you finished tidying your bedroom yet?
We can't go on so much money every month.
We can't go on spending so much money every month.
It's better to avoid in the town centre on a Saturday.
It's better to avoid parking in the town centre on a Saturday.
My sister keeps my clothes without asking.
My sister keeps borrowing my clothes without asking.
I've put off the bank for weeks. I really must do it today.
I've put off ringing the bank for weeks. I really must do it today.
I've given up chocolate. I was having far too much of it.
I've given up eating chocolate. I was having far too much of it.
If you leave your bike unlocked, you risk it.
If you leave your bike unlocked, you risk losing it.
Would you mind not about the weather? It's raining on all of us.
Would you mind not complaining about the weather? It's raining on all of us.
53.3 Put the words in the right order.
Did he really promise that? I (that / remember / him / promising / don't).
I don't remember him promising that.
I don't remember him promising that.
It's fine if you want to use my laptop. I (using / don't / it / you / mind).
I don't mind you using it.
What an extraordinary thing to say! Can (imagine / so rude / being / you / anyone)?
Can you imagine anyone being so rude?
Nobody controls the trains. We (being / stop / them / late / can't).
We can't stop them being late.
I'll be as quick as I can. I (hanging about / want / keep / you / don't / to).
I don't want to keep you hanging about.
53.4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use -ing.
Mick is a very funny man. I always enjoy ...
Example answer: Mick is a very funny man. I always enjoy chatting to him.
I've had a very long day. I don't fancy ...
Example answer: I've had a very long day. I don't fancy cooking tonight.
There's no parking outside the house, I'm afraid. I hope you don't mind ...
Example answer: There's no parking outside the house, I'm afraid. I hope you don't mind walking from the car park.
It was pouring with rain, so I suggested ...
Example answer: It was pouring with rain, so I suggested staying in and playing cards.
The comedian was hilarious. I couldn't stop ...
Example answer: The comedian was hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing.
My laptop is very old. It keeps ...
Example answer: My laptop is very old. It keeps crashing.