Page 133 - Basic English Usage

133 . 180

Common verbs which are followed by an -ing form are:
avoid forgive practise
consider give up put off
delay go risk
dislike (can’t) help (can’t) stand
enjoy imagine spend time/money
excuse keep suggest
feel like mind understand
finish miss

Examples:
| dislike arguing about money.
Forgive my interrupting you.
Let's go swimming.
| can't understand his being so /ate.
After some verbs, we can use either an -ing form or an infinitive. For
example: like, start, try, remember, forget.
How old were you when you Started to play/playing the piano?
With some verbs, the two structures have different meanings. For
details, see 182.
4 After verb (passive meaning)
After need and want, an -ing form has a passive meaning.
Your hair needs cutting. (= ... needs to be cut.)
The car wants servicing. (= ... needs to be serviced.)
5 After preposition
After prepositions we use -ing forms, not infinitives.
Check the oil before starting the car. (NOT ... befereto-start ...
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You can get there faster by going on the motorway.
When to is a preposition, we use an -ing form after it. (See 181.)
| look forward to hearing from you. (NOT ... tehearfrom-yot-)
6 it... -ing

We can use /f as a ‘preparatory subject’ for an -ing form (see 187).
It’s nice being with you.
This is common in the structures /f's no good ... -ing and /t's no use
. Ing.
It’s no good talking to him — he never listens.
It’s no use expecting her to say thank-you.
For It’s (not) worth ... -ing, see 368.