Verb + preposition + -ing

UNIT 57   Verb + preposition + -ing

A.   Many verbs have the structure verb (v) + preposition (P) + object. For example, talk about:

• We talked about the problem. (the problem is the object)

If the object is another verb, it ends in -ing:

• We talked about going to Japan. (V + P + -ing)

Here are some more verbs that have the structure V + P + -ing

succeed in                             Has Tom succeeded            in             finding a job yet?
feel like                                  I don't feel                           like           going out tonight.
think about/of                     Are you thinking           of/about      buying a house?
dream of                                I've always dreamed         of              being rich.
approve disapprove of     She doesn't approve           of              smoking.
look forward to                  I'm looking forward           to              meeting her.
insist on                                 She insisted                         on             buying me a cup of coffee.
decide against                      We decided                     against        moving to California.
apologize for                        He apologized                     for            keeping me waiting.


''I feel like doing'' = I'd like to do, I'm in the mood to do.                       

We say ''apologize to someone for something'':

• He apologized to me for keeping me waiting. (not he apologized me)

With some of these verbs you can also use the structure verb + preposition + someone + -ing. For example:

• We are all looking forward to Peter (or Peter's) coming home.

• She doesn't approve of her son (or son's) staying out late at night.

• They insisted on me (or my) staying with them.

B.   These verbs have the structure verb + object + preposition + -ing:


accuse               They accused             me                    of            telling lies.
suspect              Did they suspect       the man           of            being a spy?
congratulate     I congratulated        Ann                  on           passing the exam.
prevent              What prevented       him                from         coming to the wedding?
stop                    We stopped                everyone      from         leaving the building
thank                  I thanked                   her                   for           being so helpful.
forgive               Please forgive           me                   for           not writing to you.
warn                  They warned              us                against       buying the car.


Some of these verbs are often used in the passive:

• I was accused of telling lies.

• was the man suspected of being a spy?

• We were warned against buying it.