61 Verb + ing-form
After some verbs we can use an ing-form, for example, suggested going, enjoy putting.
/ usually avoid driving in the rush hour. We'll have to practise throwing the ball into the basket. Have you finished typing that letter? Nick says he's given up smoking. We
can sometimes put not before an ing-form.
Imagine not having anywhere to live.
With some other verbs we use a to-infinitive, not an ing-form (see Units 60 and 62). I don't want to put up a tent in the rain.
BMind
We use mind + an ing-form mostly in negative statements and in questions.
Andrew doesn't mind having lots of work. He quite likes it. (= He doesn't dislike having lots of work.) Do you mind waiting a moment? ~ No, that's OK. I wouldn't mind travelling around the world some time.
CVerbs with can't
Note can't or couldn't with help, resist, face and stand. We can put an ing-form after these verbs. / think Tom is very amusing. I can't help laughing at his funny stories. The dress was so beautiful that Claire couldn't resist buying it. Let's eat out, shall we? 1 can't face cooking a meal today. I never go in the bank if it's busy. I can't stand waiting in a queue.
DKeep (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.
Just keep stirring the mixture until it boils. Nick keeps ringing Rita and asking her out. The runners didn't mind the rain. They just kept on running.
For continue see Unit 63C.
Carry on means something continuing.
Just carry on stirring the mixture until it boils.
65D Verb + object + ing-form
61 Exercises
1 Verb + ing-form (A)
Answer the questions using the notes in brackets. ► Mike: |
Is your |
car working now? (they / not / finish / repair / it) You: |
No, they |
haven't finished repairing it yet. |
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1Laura: Have you done the crossword? (I / give up / try) You: No,………………………………………………………
2Daniel: There's a story here in the paper about a 110-year-old man. (1 / can / not / imagine / be)
You: |
Good Lord. ........................................................................................................... |
so old. |
3Tom: Do you like football? (I / enjoy / watch / it / on TV) You: Well,...................................................................
4Rachel: Whose idea was it to invite all these people? (suggest / have / a party) You: I'm not sure. Someone ..................................................................................
2Verbs with can't (C)
Use three words from the table to complete each sentence.
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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can't |
face |
doing |
couldn't |
help |
feeling |
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resist |
having |
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stand |
lying |
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noticing |
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►Rita said she was OK, but I couldn't help noticing how upset she looked.
1 |
I hate holidays by the sea. I……………………………………… |
on a beach all day. |
2 |
[feel really full. I'm afraid I ...................................................... |
a pudding with my lunch. |
3 |
1 was so tired yesterday I just……………………………………… any housework. |
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4 |
Tom's car was stolen, but, as he left it unlocked, I............................…………………. it's his own fault. |
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3 Verb + ing-form (A-D)
Some friends have had a meal together in a restaurant. Put in the ing-forms. Use these verbs: change, discuss, eat, get, miss, ring, try, wait, walk
Vicky: |
Shall we go then? |
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Rachel: |
Daniel hasn't finished (►) eating yet. |
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Daniel: |
It's OK. It's just a piece of chocolate. |
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Matthew: Chocolate? After that enormous meal? |
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Daniel: |
I know. I've eaten too much. When I find something new on the menu, |
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I just can't resist (1) ............................. |
it. |
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Rachel: |
How are we getting home? |
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Vicky: |
I don't mind (2) ............................ |
I feel like some fresh air. |
Rachel: |
You're crazy. It's miles. And we've just eaten. |
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Matthew: I suggest (3)…………………. |
for a taxi. It'll save (4)……………………..around for a bus. |
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Emma: |
Good idea. I couldn't face (5)…………………. cold again after being in the warm all evening. |
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Rachel: |
Yes, the bus journey is too complicated. It involves (6)…………………. buses in the centre. |
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We don't want to risk (7).......................... |
a bus and having to wait half an hour. |
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Daniel: |
Or we could take a taxi to the bus station and then get a bus from there. |
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Matthew: |
Well, you can carry on (8)…………………… the problem, but I'm going to ring for a taxi. |
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62 Verb + to-infinitive or verb + ing-form?
Introduction
Some verbs are followed by a to-infinitive, and some by an ing-form.
VERB + TO-INFINITIVE (Unit 60)
Harriet decided to have a party.
Decide takes a to-infinitive.
VERB + ING-FORM (Unit 61)
Harriet suggested having a party.
Suggest takes an ing-form.
A few verbs take either a to-infinitive or an ing-form (see Units 63-64).
Laura started to paint/started painting a picture.
B To-infinitive or ing-form?
+ TO-INFINITIVE
These verbs are followed by a to-infinitive. agree, aim, appear (see 60B), arrange, ask, attempt, beg, can't afford, can't wait (see C), choose, claim, decide, demand, desire, expect, fail (see 60C), guarantee, happen (see D), help (see 69C), hope, manage (see 60C), offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, prove (see D), refuse, seem (see 60B), tend (see 60C), threaten, turn out (see D), undertake, want, wish
+ ING-FORM
These verbs are followed by an ing-form.
admit, avoid, cant face (see 61C), can't help (see 61C), can't resist (see 61C), can't stand (see 61C), carry on (see 61U), consider, delay, deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, excuse, fancy (see C), finish, give up, imagine, involve, justify, keep {on), (see 61D), mention, mind (see 61B), postpone, practise, put off, resent, risk, save, suggest, tolerate
CCan't wait and fancy
If you can't wait to do something, you are eager to do it.
/can't wait to see the photos you took. (= I am eager/impatient to see the photos.)
If you fancy doing something, you want to do it.
Do you fancy going out for a meal? (= Would you like to go out for a meal?) Fancy is informal.
D Happen, turn out and prove
We use prove to or turn out to when experience shows what something is like. In the end our forecast proved to be correct. Finding Harriet's house turned out to be more difficult than Nick had expected.
Note the meaning of happen to.
I happened to see Sarah in town. (= I saw Sarah by chance in town.)
E Two forms together
We can sometimes use more than one to-infinitive or ing-form together.
The government decided to refuse to give in to the terrorists. I want to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. The man denied threatening to kill a policeman.
65 Verb + object + to-infinitive or ing-form 70 Verb + preposition + ing-form
62Exercises
iTo-infinitive or ing-form? (A-C)
Complete the conversation. Put in a to-infinitive or ing-form.
Matthew: Are we going to have a holiday this year? |
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Natasha: |
Didn't we all decide (►) to spend (spend) our holidays on a Greek island? |
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Matthew: Lovely. I enjoy (►)lying (lie) on the beach. |
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I might manage (1) .......................................... |
(get) a sun tan. |
Daniel: |
I'd love a holiday. I can't wait (2)……………………………….(leave) this place behind. |
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Emma: |
I don't fancy (3)……………………………. |
(stay) in one place all the time. |
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I really dislike (4) ....................................... |
(sit) on the beach all day. |
Natasha: |
Well, I don't mind (5) .......................................... |
(tour) around somewhere. |
Emma: |
Matthew, you promised (6) .......................................... |
(go) to Scotland with me. |
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We were planning (7) ......................................... |
(hire) a car. |
Matthew: Scotland? Are you sure? But I couldn't face (8)………………………………(drive) all the time.
Jessica: |
I'm afraid I can't afford (9)……………………………. . (spend) too much money. |
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Andrew: |
And I can't justify (10) ............................. ... |
(take) all that time off from my studies. |
2 To-infinitive or ing-form? (A-D)
Complete this article from a magazine. Put in the to-infinitive or ing-form of these verbs: accept, argue, be, find, have, insist, lose, plug, repair, say, take, wait
If you buy something from a shop, a new stereo for example, you usually can't wait (►)fo plug it in and put some music on. And of course, you expect (►) to find the equipment in working order. But that doesn't always happen, unfortunately. If the thing doesn't work, you should take it straight back to the shop. If you delay(1)…………………………. it back, you will risk (2) ........ ………………. ... your rights as a customer. And you should prepare (3) ................................ on those rights. You may be one of those people who alwaysavoid(4)………………………….. with people, but in this case you should be ready for an argument. The assistant may prove (5)…………………………. a true friend of the customer - it's not impossible - but first he or she will probably offer (6)………………................ the stereo for you. That's all right if you don't mind (7)……………………… a few weeks, but it isn't usually a good idea. What you should do is politely demand (8) ……………………… your money back immediately. You may want to accept another stereo in place of the old one, but you don't have to. You should refuse (9)…………………………..a credit note, lust keep on (10) ............................. that you want your money back.
3 Two forms together (E)
What might you say in these situations? Write a sentence with both a to-infinitive and an ing-form.
►Your decision to change your holiday arrangements might upset Vicky. You won't risk that. You don't want to. What do you say to Rachel?
I don't want to risk upsetting Vicky.
1You and Melanie want to complain about your meal in a restaurant. You need to see the manager. Melanie won't ask, but you don't mind. What do you say to her?
2Matthew doesn't like the idea of going to Scotland. But he promised. He admitted it. What do you tell Emma?
3The band were playing. They finished just as you arrived. This was quite by chance. What do you tell yourfriends?
Just as I arrived, .............................................................................................................................................