The gerund is used after certain verbs.
Example :
miss : I miss living in England.
The most important of these verbs are shown below.
Those marked * can also be followed by a that-clause
Example:
VERB |
GERUND |
She admitted... |
breaking the window |
THAT-CLAUSE |
|
She admitted... |
that she had broken the window. |
Note:
Appreciate is followed by a possessive adjective and the gerund when the gerund does not refer to the subject.
Compare :
- I appreciate having some time off work. (I'm having the time...)
- I appreciate your giving me some time off work. (You're giving me the time...)
Excuse, forgive, pardon can be followed by an object and the gerund or for + object and the gerund (both common in spoken English), or a possessive adjective + gerund (more formal and less likely to be said):
- Excuse me interrupting .
- Excuse me for interrupting .
- Excuse my interrupting .
Suggest can be used in a number of ways, but BE CAREFUL .
It is important not to confuse these patterns:
suggest/suggested (+ possessive adjective) + gerund:
- He suggests going to Glastonbury
- He suggested going to Glastonbury
- He suggested/suggests my going to Glastonbury
suggest/suggested + that-clause (where both that and should may be omitted):
- He suggests that I should go to New York
- He suggested that I should go to New York
- He suggested/suggests I should go to New York
- He suggested/suggests I go to New York
- He suggested I went to New York.
suggest/suggested + question word + infinitive:
- He suggested where to go.
Propose is followed by the gerund when it means ' suggest':
- John proposed going to the debate
- but by the infinitive when it means 'intend':
The Government proposes bringing in new laws ..
Stop can be followed by a gerund or infinitive, but there is a change of meaning.
Dread is followed by the infinitive when used with 'think' , in the expression 'I dread to think':
- I dread to think what she'll do next.
Prevent is followed
EITHER by a possessive adjective + gerund:
- You can't prevent my leaving .
OR by an object + from + gerund:
- You can't prevent me from leaving .
Example:
- Normally, a girl wouldn't think of marrying a man she did not love.
- Most people don't like receiving bad news.
- We can't risk getting wet - we haven't got any dry clothes.
- If you take that job it will mean getting home late every night.
- I can't imagine living in that big house.
- If you buy some petrol now, it will save you stopping on the way to London.
- She couldn't resist eating the plum she found in the fridge.
- They decided to postpone painting the house until the weather improved.