Verb + -ing (enjoy doing / stop doing etc.)
Look at these examples:
•  I enjoy dancing, (not 'I enjoy to dance')
•  Would you mind closing the door? (not 'mind to close')
•  Ian suggested going to the cinema, (not 'suggested to go') After enjoy, mind and suggest, we use -ing (not to...).
Here are some more verbs that are followed by -ing:
stop          delay              fancy            consider        admit        miss        involve
finish        postpone        imagine        avoid            deny         risk         practise
•   Suddenly everybody stopped talking. There was silence.
•   I'll do the shopping when I've finished cleaning the flat.
•   He tried to avoid answering my question.
•   I don't fancy going out this evening.
•   Have you ever considered going to live in another country? Note the negative form not -ing:
•   When I'm on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.
We also use -ing after:
give up (= stop)			
put off (= postpone)			
carry on / go on	= continue)		
keep or keep on	= do something	continuously or repeatedly)	
•   Paula has given up smoking.
•   We must do something. We can't go on living like this! (or ...carry on living...)
•   Don't keep interrupting me while I'm speaking, (or Don't keep on interrupting...)
With some verbs you can use the structure verb + somebody + -ing:
•  I can't imagine George riding a motorbike.
•  You can't stop me doing what I want.
•   'Sorry to keep you waiting so long.'    'That's all right.'
Note the passive form (being done/seen/kept etc.):
•   I don't mind being kept waiting. (= I don't mind people keeping me...)
When you are talking about finished actions, you can say having done/stolen/said etc.:
•   She admitted having stolen the money.
But it is not necessary to use having (done). You can also use the simple -ing form for finished actions:
•   She admitted stealing the money.
•   I now regret saying (or having said) what I said. For regret, see Unit 55B.
After some of the verbs on this page (especially admit/deny/suggest) you can use that...:
•   She denied that she had stolen the money, (or She denied stealing...)
•   Ian suggested that we went to the cinema, (or Ian suggested going...) For suggest, see also Unit 34.
Verb + to... - IfflHSEl     Verb + to... and -ing -»■ limil^i-ffFl      Regret/go on -> lll)IH4<il
UNIT
EXERCISES                                                                                                    52
52.1     Complete each sentence with one of these verbs:
answer      apply      be      be      listen      make      see      try      use      wash      work      write
1   He tried to avoid ...answering... my question.
2   Could you please stop................................so much noise?
3   I enjoy................................to music.
4   I considered................................for the job but in the end I decided against it.
5   Have you finished................................your hair yet?
6   If you walk into the road without looking, you risk................................knocked down.
7  Jim is 65 but he isn't going to retire yet. He wants to carry on.................................
8   I don't mind you................................the phone as long as you pay for all your calls.
9   Hello! Fancy................................you here! What a surprise!
10   I've put off................................the letter so many times. I really must do it today.
11   What a stupid thing to do! Can you imagine anybody................................so stupid?
12   Sarah gave up................................to find a job in this country and decided to go abroad.
52.2     Complete the sentences for each situation using -ing.
jr.""'   mi-.
1                   [What shall we do? J^\ß   'Cil-==CWe could go to the cinemaľ) She suggested...3Q\nQ.......
_    cř                                             ...to.the cinema.
2    [Do you want to play tennis? j> Xp   <T*f <^No, nor really. J                  He didn't fancy................
3       [ You were driving too fast, j* •$ £> fž^Y^x Yes, it's true. Sorry! j           She admitted
<V
4 (Why don't we go for a swim? j> !jfj   ^j^^Good idea! ]                      She suggested
5         [ You broke into the shop.Y jéf   &\ -< No, I didn't!]                 y He denied.............
6  [ Can you wait a few minutes? j> jjp   ^sLľf;     \ Sure, no problem.]         They didn't mind
52.3     Complete the sentences so that they mean the same as the first sentence. Use -ing.
1   I can do what I want and you can't stop me. You ...can't stop me doing what I want......
2   It's not a good idea to travel during the rush hour.
It's better to avoid.............................:................................................................................................................
3   Shall we go away tomorrow instead of today?
Shall we postpone..............................................................until...................................................................?
4   The driver of the car said it was true that he didn't have a licence.
The driver of the car admitted.......................................................................................................................
5   Could you turn the radio down, please?
Would you mind...............................................................................................................................................?
6   Please don't interrupt me all the time.
Would you mind...............................................................................................................................................?
52.4    Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use -ing.
1   She's a very interesting person. I always enjoy ...talking, to.her...
2   I'm not feeling very well. I don't fancy........................................................................................................
3   I'm afraid there aren't any chairs. I hope you don't mind....................................................................
4   It was a lovely day, so I suggested................................................................................................................
5   It was very funny. I couldn't stop.................................................................................................................
6   My car isn't very reliable. It keeps................................................................................................................
105