B. The Gerund as the Indirect/Prepositional Object
1. With the verbs, phrasal verbs, and predicative constructions given below only the gerund is used. It is important to remember not only these verbs etc., but also the prepositions introducing the gerund.
Preposition ‘of’
to accuse of |
to complain of |
to think of |
not to like the idea of |
to approve of |
to consist of/in |
to be ignorant of |
to give up the idea of |
to be afraid of |
to hear of |
to dream of |
to be sure of |
to be aware of |
to learn of |
to be conscious of |
to be proud of |
to be capable of |
to suspect of |
to be tired of |
|
to be incapable of |
to speak of |
to be fond of |
|
Happiness consists largely of having good friends. = Счастье, в большой степени, состоит в том, чтобы иметь хороших друзей. / Щастя, у великій мірі, полягає в тому, щоб мати добрих друзів.
Don’t turn up the volume. I am afraid of disturbing the neighbours.
Have you ever thought of writing a book yourself?
They suddenly became aware of people looking at them.
Preposition ‘for’
to admire smb for |
to forgive smb for |
to praise smb for |
to apologize for |
to thank smb for |
to punish smb for |
to excuse smb for |
to blame smb for |
to sentence smb for |
Thank you very much for sending me the books and pictures.
Tom was punished for going to the cemetery at night.
Will she ever forgive her husband for being unfaithful to her?
Preposition ‘on’
to count on |
to plan on |
to rely on |
to be keen on |
to decide on/against |
to insist on |
to congratulate on |
to be fond of |
to depend on |
to waste time on |
to spend time on |
|
Can we rely on his coming on time?
Dirk Stroeve insisted on Strickland’s painting in his studio.
How can you waste so much time on chatting over the phone?
Preposition ‘to’
to agree to |
to object to |
to be used to |
to get round to |
to look forward to |
to be accustomed to |
to get used to |
in addition to |
We look forward to hearing from you.
The majority agreed to your joining the firm.
Philip is used to walking all the way to work.
Don’t be discouraged! Very soon you’ll get used to living in this heat.
In addition to showing you these diagrams I’m going to pass over these handouts.
Preposition ‘in’
to believe in |
to succeed in |
to result in |
to take pride in |
to be interested in |
to assist in |
to have (no) difficulty in |
to lose (no) time in |
to persist in |
to help in |
to take part in |
|
Can you help me in handing out these papers?
The boy had no difficulty in getting used to the new surroundings.
Let’s not lose time in discussing this obvious issue.
These politics resulted in many elderly and disabled people suffering hardship.
Note: There is a slight difference in meaning in the use of gerund and infinitive with the expression to be interested, though they are often interchanged by native speakers:
