Verbs + Other Verbs #5

Verbs + Other Verbs (#5):

Verb + -ing Verb:

(Verb + Gerund)

We've already seen that verbs can be connected in the

patterns Verb + to + Verb ("want to leave"), Verb + Object

+ to + Verb ("want him to leave"), and Verb + Object +

Verb ("make him leave"). Another way of connecting verbs

to other verbs is with the pattern: Verb + -ing Verb

(verb + gerund).

Examples:

He denied discussing your situation with anyone.

Do you recall hearing the time of the meeting?

I recommend seeing a doctor as soon as possible.

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There are many other verbs that are used in this way.

Here are some of the most common ones:

admit

advise

anticipate

appreciate

avoid

can't bear

can't help

can't stand

begin

complete

consider

enjoy

finish

forget

hate

keep

keep on

like

love

mention

(not) mind

miss

recall

recollect

recommend

regret

remember

resent

resist

risk

start

stop

suggest

continue

delay

deny

discuss

dislike

postpone

practice

prefer

quit

tolerate

try

understand

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Special Notes:

1. All of the verbs above may be followed by

-ing forms of other verbs (gerunds). Some

of them (can't bear, can't stand, begin, continue,

forget, hate, like, love, prefer, regret, remember,

start, stop, try) may also be followed by to +

a verb. Others (advise, like, prefer, understand)

may be followed by an object + to + verb.

2. To make verbs in the pattern verb + gerund

negative, use an auxiliary + not for the first

erb, but make the "connected" -ing verbs

negative by using only not:

I don't advise being late for work.

I advise not being late for work.

She doesn't enjoy working.

She enjoys not working.

3. In sentences such as those above, the first verb

can be in any tense, but the connected verb

is usually a simple -ing form:

He regrets being late.

He'll regret being late.

He regretted being late.

He's regretted being late.

He should have regretted being late.

4. The verbs bear, help, and stand are normally

used with can't in negative situations:

He can't bear waiting in line.

She can't stand cleaning the bathroom.

He can't help being late.

5. Some of the verbs in the list above have

different meanings when they are followed by

to + verb and when they are followed by

an -ing verb :

regret (-ing verb) = be sorry about (-ing verb)

regret (to verb) = be sorry (to verb).

remember (-ing verb) = have a memory of

(-ing verb)

remember (to verb) = not forget

(to verb).

stop (to verb) = stop in order (to verb)

stop (verbing) = quit (verbing) / no longer (verb).

6. Gerunds (-ing forms) are also used after

prepositions and phrasal verbs:

I put off doing my work.

She's counting on getting a raise.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

He'll see about borrowing some money.