The Predicative

The main thing Smb’s wish Smb’s job Smb’s duty	is / was doing smth
to feel like (up to) to be for / against	doing smth

e.g. The main thing is getting there in time.

Her job was looking after the children.

I don’t feel like going to the theatre.

Are you for or against staying there?

Also:

1. part of a compound verbal modal predicate with verbs and verbal phrases expressing modality: intend, expect, want, like, feel like, detest, dislike, can’t help, can’t bear / stand, etc. (She intends going there in summer. He couldn’t help admiring the picture.)

2. part of a compound verbal aspect predicate with verbs denoting the beginning, the duration, or the end of the action such as begin, start, go on, keep on, cease, finish, quit, commence, stop, give up, carry on, proceed, resume, continue, etc. (In the night it started raining. He resumed walking. He kept on looking behind.)

The Direct Object

admit anticipate avoid consider delay deny enjoy escape excuse fancy (imagine) forgive involve mind postpone prevent regret remember resent resist risk suggest, etc. to be worth	doing smth
e.g. The film is worth seeing. He admitted taking the money. Sometimes I enjoy being alone.

The Prepositional Object

to think of to suspect smb of to accuse of to be afraid of to object to to be used to to succeed in to be engaged in to insist on to depend on to apologize for to be grateful for to be responsible for to thank smb for to blame smb for to be clever at to prevent smb from, etc.

doing smth being done having done smth having been done

e.g. He apologized for coming late.

She insisted on being treated like a grown woman.

I hope you don’t object to our singing.

We are engaged in discussing this problem.

The Attribute

intention plan idea point sense purpose habit good harm mistake difficulty way opportunity advantage / disadvantage cause		of doing smth
There is no (little) Smb sees no (little)	sense harm difficulty point danger		in doing smth

e.g. She had no intention of staying.

I don’t like his habit of making people wait.

There is no harm in asking her again.

There is little point in refusing.