Unit 52. Verb + -ing (enjoy doing / stop doing etc.)

Look at these examples:

After enjoy, mind and suggest, we use -ing (not to…).

Here are some more verbs that are followed by -ing:

stop
finish

delay
postpone

fancy
imagine

consider
avoid

admit
deny

miss
risk

involve
practise

Note the negative form not -ing:

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:

Note the passive form (being done/seen/kept etc.):

When you are talking about finished actions, you can say having done/stolen/said etc.:

But it is not necessary to use having (done). You can also use the simple -ing form for finished actions:

For regret, see Unit 55.

After some of the verbs on this page (especially admit/deny/suggest) you can use that…:

For suggest, see Unit 34.

verb +to… see Unit 53.

verb +to… and -ing see Unit 54, Unit 55, Unit 56, Unit 57

Regret/go on see Unit 55.