Verb + ing-form
Introduction
| Mark: | Who suggested going on a camping holiday in October? |
| Julie: | I did. But I didn’t know it was going to rain. I don’t enjoy putting up a tent in the rain. |
After some verbs we can use an ing-form, for example: suggested going, enjoy putting.
• I usually avoid driving in the rush hour.
• Have you finished reading that book?
• They’ll have to practice singing together.
• Julie says she’s given up jogging.
We can sometimes put not before an ing-form.
• I cannot imagine not jogging.
• Imagine not having anything to eat.
• Try not singing for a while.
With some other verbs we use to-infinitive, not an ing-form.
• I don’t want to put up a tent in the rain.
MIND
We use mind + an ing-form mostly in negative statements and questions.
• Rupert doesn’t mind having lots of work. He quite likes it. (= He doesn’t dislike having lots of work.)
• Do you mind keeping an eye on her for a while? -No, that’s fine.
• I wouldn’t mind seeing that film again.
Verbs with CAN’T
Note can’t or couldn’t with help, resist, face and stand. We can put an ing-form after these verbs.
• She likes John, and can’t help laughing at his jokes.
• The book sounded interesting, and Jill couldn’t resist buying it.
• Let’s go home, I can’t face another office party.
• I can’t stand blustery days, I don’t like wind.
KEEP (ON) and CARRY ON
We use keep or keep on + an ing-form to talk about something continuing, or when it happens again and again.
• Judy keeps inviting me to theatre.
• Keep stirring the mixture until it boils.
• The joggers kept on running despite the snow.
Carry on means something continuing.
• Carry on stirring the mixture until it boils.
• Carry on running even if you think you can’t.