Other Verb Difficulties 1 Verbs Followed by '-ing' Words He enjoyed reading that novel.

(Verb + -ing word) The following is a list of verbs which take -ing words. admit appreciate avoid consider delay deny detest dislike enjoy escape excuse finish forgive give up go on imagine keep on leave off mention mind postpone practise put off recollect resent resist stop understand be worth He admitted stealing the book. (Note: The passive takes the infinitive: He was admitted to be a thief.) She appreciated having the opportunity to visit her brother. I avoided crossing the road because of the traffic. He considered leaving school when he was sixteen. (Note: the passive takes the infinitive: She was considered to be the most beautiful girl in the village.) I delayed replying to his letter. he denied having been outside the compound. I detest writing compositions ab out subjects I am not interested in. I dislike having to spend my weekends in school. We enjoyed seeing that film. My brother escaped being hurt when the car crashed. He was excused arriving late. (In the active form the construction is usually: verb + possessive (or object) + -ing: I excused his (him) arriving late.) He finished reading that book before I did. He was forgiven not coming since he wasn't well. (In the active form the construction is the same as excuse above.) She gave up writing poetry. He went on writing after he was told to stop. (Note the expression: He went on to say ... ) Imagine seeing a ghost in your bedroom! (Note: the passive takes the infinitive.) He kept on asking silly questions. It left off raining at four o'clock. The headmaster mentioned receiving some new books. Do you mind switching on the radio. The official postponed visiting the school. He practised typing all yesterday afternoon. They put off coming to see us because of the weather. Do you recollect seeing him? She resented being told to keep quiet. He resisted eating another cake. He stopped smoking on the advise of his doctor. My father does not understand my wanting to go to university It's worth asking him his opinion. There is a common sequence pattern:

suggestMy friend suggested playing tennis tomorrow.

Verbs Followed by the Infinitive She hoped to find a job as a nurse.

Certain verbs are followed by an infinitive, giving the pattern: Verbs of this kind are: care decide deserve expect forget hope learn mean promise want wish 3 He didn't care to come to our party. He decided to leave the meeting early. He deserved to win the race. (Note: -ing can be used with passive meaning: He deserves punishing.) I expected to receive some money today. He forgot to bring his pen. He hoped to live by writing plays. He learnt to ride a bicycle when he was six. (Note: learn may be followed by a skill typing, singing, etc.) (when it is the equivalent of 'intend') He meant to go away for a holiday next week. She promised to meet me yesterday. He wanted to go to America. (Note: like deserve, the -ing form can be used with passive meaning, e.g. The grass wants cutting.) They wished to stay in our house. Verbs followed by an Object + Infinitive His father persuaded him to apologise. He was persuaded to apologise by his father.

Some verbs require an object before the infinitive: In the passive the object is not found: Such verbs are: advise allow cause command encourage force get instruct invite oblige order persuade remind teach tell warn

His uncle advised him to take the examination again. The teacher allowed us to use a dictionary. The rain caused us to cancel the match. The officer commanded his troops to advance. His success encouraged him to continue his studies. The policeman forced the thief to tell the truth. We got him to agree with us in the end. The manager instructed the clerk to write a letter. We invited a well-known writer to address our society. Bad weather obliged us to postpone the visit. The doctor ordered him to rest. The chairman persuaded us to leave the matter to the next meeting. I reminded him to return his library book. My father taught me to read. I told him to spend his money wisely. The president warned the people to be prepared for food shortages.

Verbs Followed by either Infinitive or -ing Word

A number of verbs can take either the infinitive or an -ing word without any noticeable difference in meaning. These verbs are: attempt, begin, cease, continue, dread, hate, intend, like, love, plan, prefer, propose, start. If allow or permit is followed by an object, or is in the passive, it takes the infinitive. If it does not have another object it may be followed by the -ing form. The doctor allowed him to eat. But he was allowed to eat meat. but The new assistant does not allow talking in the library. The headmaster permitted us to go home early. We were permitted to go home early. but The rules do not permit smoking in the cinema. Remember, forget, try, regret, and mean have somewhat different meanings according to whether they are followed by the infinitives or the gerund: I remembered to go to his village. (= I did not forget to go to his village.) I remember going to his village. (= I recall going to his village) I forgot to look the word up in the dictionary. didn't look the word up in the dictionary because of a lapse of memory.) I shall never forget running that race. shall always have the memory of running that race.) He tried to read the book. (= He made an effort to read the book.) He tried reading the book. (= He sampled some of the book) He said he regretted to tell us the news. (= He was sorry to tell us the news, i.e. he said this before or while actually telling us the news.) He said he regretted telling us the news. (= He was sorry he had told us the news.) He meant to go to England last year. (= He intended to go to England last year.) This means doing the work again. (= This makes it necessary to do the work again.) (= I (= I

Verbs Followed by Object + Present Participle or Infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by an object + a present participle or an infinitive. The use of the present participle implies that the action described by it continued after the action of the main verb, the infinitive that it was completed during the action of the main verb. feel I felt the water getting cold. (i.e. it probably continued to get cold after I got out of it.) I felt the water get cold. (i.e. it reached its minimum temperature while I was still in it.) hear She heard him playing the tune. (i.e. she did not hear him play all of the tune.) She heard him play the tune. (i.e. she heard him play all of the tune.) listen to notice observe see watch We listened to the headmaster reading out the results. We listened to the headmaster read out the results. I noticed the weather changing. I noticed the weather change. The students observed the chemical dissolving. The students observed the chemical dissolve. I saw the train arriving. I saw the train arrive. He watched me playing tennis. He watched me play tennis. Note: The possessive is never used before the present participle or the infinitive in this construction. 6 -ing Words with Prepositions Poverty prevented him from continuing his education. After attending the lecture, we went home. Instead of going to school, he studied at home. 7 -ing Words with Possessive or Object I don't like his interfering in our affairs. I don't like John's interfering in our affairs. He appreciated her correcting his work. He appreciated Mary's correcting his work. Alternatively, an object can be used: I don't like him interfering in our affairs. I don't like John interfering in our affairs. He appreciated her correcting his work. He appreciated Mary correcting his work. Pronouns and proper names can come before an -ing: After prepositions the -ing is used:

EXERCISE 39 (Revision of -ing, Present Participle and Infinitive) Change the verb in brackets to -ing, present participle or infinitive as required: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 We hope _________________(pass) the final exam. They avoided ___________________(pay) the fine. She considered _____________________(leave) school when she was sixteen. We don't like him ___________________(call) on us late in the evening. We were obliged __________________(sign) an oath before we were given the scholarship. He was encouraged __________________(enter) the university. My cousin is looking forward to _________________(leave) school at the end of the year. I suggested ___________________(discuss) the matter with the headmaster. The clerk was ordered ________________(file) the letters. I enjoyed ___________________(listen) to that radio programme. I could smell the gas ___________________(escape). Do you mind __________________(open) that window? He warned us __________________(not buy) that house. Instead of __________________(work) for his living he relied on charity. We all finished __________________(write) our compositions before the bell went. The English teacher promised ________________(give) us our final marks today. She has decided __________________(marry) my brother. I saw the bus __________________(arrive) and when all the passengers had got off I went home. I would appreciate _________________(hear) from you as soon as possible. We expect her __________________(arrive) in Hong Kong at six o'clock. He practised ___________________(write) French for half an hour every day. She is accustomed to _________________(spend) her holidays at home. The chairman will object to us _____________________(leave) early. We were advised ___________________(buy) a new radio. She listened to the bird _________________(sing). The boy denied _____________________(steal) the watch. Nobody is allowed ___________________(swim) in the lake. He delayed _____________________(give) his answer to our enquiry for several days. They have invited us ____________________(eat) with them next Wednesday. I remember _____________________(go) to a big town for the first time. Every student remembered ___________________(bring) his textbook with him and could do the exercise. The officer commanded his men __________________(attack) the fort. He mentioned __________________(take) the examination but did not say if he had passed it. He deserves ___________________(get) a good job. I can understand him _____________________(be afraid) of his uncle.

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Without __________________(take) care very little of lasting value can be achieved. The missed ________________(see) the film. I was taught __________________(ride) a horse last summer. The weather caused us _________________(change our plans. I listened to him ___________________(play) the piano but went away before he had finished. He has given up ____________________(study) English. I suggested ___________________(leave) the matter until tomorrow. He objected to my __________________(address) him by his first name. The enemy forced our troops ____________________(surrender). As cigarettes affected his breathing, the doctor told him to try _________________(smoke) a pipe. She tried __________________(do) the exercise but found it too difficult. It is worth ____________________(wait) until he comes. His parents would not agree to his ___________________(leave) school. He was persuaded ___________________(lend) me some money. Nobody was permitted ________________(write) the answers in pencil. The rules do not permit ________________(smoke). She kept on _________________(annoy) me. Hark at the dog _______________(bark). I meant ___________________(give) you the book yesterday but I forgot. I felt the rain _________________(fall) so I quickly put on my coat. The boy admitted _________________(break) the window. Everybody dislikes _________________(pay) taxes. Forgive me ________________(ask) you, but have you forgotten my invitation? His father reminded him __________________(post) the letter. We got the policeman _______________(let) us in after he had seen our passes.