Verbs taking toV or Ving without a change in meaning

Begin

continue

intend + toV / Ving

start

(However, we don’t normally have two –ing forms together)

The baby began crying / to cry.

The days are beginning to get longer.

advise

allow

encourage + sb + toV

permit

recommend

require

advise

allow

encourage + Ving

permit

recommend

require

be advised

be allowed

be encouraged + toV

be permitted

be recommended

be required

The teacher doesn’t allow us to eat in class.

They don’t allow eating in class.

We aren’t allowed to eat in class.

need Passive

require + toV / Ving / to be+Ved meaning

want

You need to polish your shoes. Your shoes need polishing. Your shoes need to be polished.

be excited

be worried about doing sth

complain

talk about / of doing sth

think

dream

apologize

blame (sb)

forgive ( sb) for doing sth

have an excuse

be responsible

thank ( sb)

insist on doing sth

keep (sb)

prevent (sb) from doing sth

prohibit (sb)

stop (sb)

believe

be interested

participate in doing sth

succeed

be accused

be capable

for the purpose

be guilty of doing sth

instead

take advantage

take care

be tired

be accustomed

in addition

be commited

be devoted

look forward to doing sth ( to = prep)

object

be opposed

be used

get used

Go + Ving

Did you go shopping?

We went fishing yesterday.

Go is followed by a gerund in certain idiomatic expressions to express, for the most part, recreational activities.

go birdwatching go dancing go mountain climbing go skaterboarding

go boating go fishing go running go skiing

go bowling go hiking go sailing go swimming

go camping go hunting go sightseeing go window shopping

go canoeing/ kayaking go jogging go skating go shopping

Special expressions followed by Ving

have fun / a good time

have trouble / difficulty + Ving

have a hard time / difficult time

We had fun/ had a good time playing football. He had trouble/difficulty/a hard time finding the house.

spend + expression of time or money + Ving

waste + expression of time or money

Sam spends most of his time studying. She wastes a lot of time watching TV.

sit + expression of place

stand + expression of place + Ving

lie + expression of place

She sat at her desk writing a letter. I stood there wondering what to do next. He is lying in bed reading a novel.

find + (pro)noun

catch + (pro)noun + Ving

When she walked into her office, she found George using her telephone. They caught a thief looking through their desk drawers.