3.4. Object

The gerund, like the infinitive, is widely used in this function after a great number of verbs and expressions.

1) Verbs always admit	followed by dislike	the gerund: justify	recollect
adore	endure	mention	report
appreciate	enjoy	mind	require
avoid	entail	miss	resent
burst out	excuse	necessitate	resist
cannot help	fancy	need	risk
contemplate	forgive	postpone	stand
consider	give up	practice	stop (='	prevent')
defer	grudge	put off	suggest
delay	imagine	prevent	tolerate
deny	include	propose	want
detest	involve	recall

He grudged doing extra work.

She missed having somebody to find fault with.

■

.

He contemplated buying a villa in the West Country.

She risks losing all her money.

I appreciated hearing from them.

• He considered moving to another district.

• How do I stop the tap dripping?

• Nothing could stop Tim from being a lawyer.

• He resented having to explain.

Notes:

1) The verbs admit, imagine, mention, propose, recall, recollect, report, suggest are rarely used with a gerundial construction, a that-

clause is preferred, so that we normally have two options — a gerundial phrase or a clause. Compare:

• The girl admitted being his accomplice.

• The girl admitted that she was his accomplice.

• He suggested getting up early.

• He suggested that we should get up early.

2) Two options are possible with excuse:

• Excuse те/my being late.

• Excuse me for being late.

Note that excuse also has the meaning 'exempt': • The headmaster excused him from doing gym.

3) An active gerund with need means the same as the passive infinitive:

• The room needs redecorating = The room needs to be redecorated. Require and want are also sometimes used in this way:

• The dress wants cleaning.

4) Prevent can be used both with and without from:

• The man was instructed to prevent people entering.

• It prevented me from coming in time.