Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 53 · B1

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

Some verbs (enjoy, mind, suggest, avoid, finish, keep, give up and others) are followed by -ing, not to .... The unit also covers verb + somebody + -ing, having done, and the that-clause alternatives after admit, deny, suggest and recommend.

Start the lesson

18Steps · about 30 minutes

In this lesson

enjoy, mind, suggest and others + -ingA4 screens of questions
give up, put off, go on, carry on, keep (on) + -ingB1 screen of questions
Verb + somebody + -ingC1 screen of questions
having doneD1 screen of questions
admit, deny, suggest, recommend + that ...E1 screen of questions
Put it together+3 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 5

enjoy, mind, suggest and others + -ing

After enjoy, mind and suggest, use -ing, not to ...:

Correct Not
I enjoy cooking. I enjoy to cook
Would you mind waiting outside? mind to wait
Zara suggested taking the bus. suggested to take

These verbs work the same way:

stop, finish, avoid, consider, admit, deny, imagine, recommend, risk, fancy

fancy means to feel like doing something. In the negative it is a polite way of saying that one has no intention of doing it whatsoever.

The negative is not -ing: I enjoy not having to wear a tie at weekends.

  • Everybody stopped clapping and the room went quiet.
  • I'll ring you back when I've finished making tea.
  • She tried to avoid looking at the bill.
  • I don't fancy going to the pub tonight.
  • Have you ever considered working from home?
  • The two boys denied breaking the greenhouse window.
  • On Sundays I enjoy not having to wear a tie.

Point A · Exercise 53.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentence for each situation. Use -ing.

  1. Example

    "What shall we do tonight?" "We could have a barbecue." (She suggested ...)

    She suggested having a barbecue.

    AnswerShe suggested having a barbecue.

  2. "Do you want to go swimming?" "No, not really." (He didn't fancy ...)

  3. "Let's watch a film." "Good idea!" (She suggested ...)

  4. "You broke the window." "No, I didn't." (He denied ...)

  5. "Could you sit at the back?" "Sure, no problem." (They didn't mind ...)

Point A · Exercise 53.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentence for each situation. Use -ing.

  1. "You ate the last biscuit." "That's true. I did." (She admitted ...)

Point A · Exercise 53.4 · part 1 of 2

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use -ing.

  1. Example

    Mick is a very funny man. I always enjoy ...

    I always enjoy chatting to him.

    Example answerMick is a very funny man. I always enjoy chatting to him.

  2. I've had a very long day. I don't fancy ...

  3. There's no parking outside the house, I'm afraid. I hope you don't mind ...

  4. It was pouring with rain, so I suggested ...

  5. The comedian was hilarious. I couldn't stop ...

Point A · Exercise 53.4 · part 2 of 2

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use -ing.

  1. My laptop is very old. It keeps ...

Point B of 5

give up, put off, go on, carry on, keep (on) + -ing

Use -ing after these as well:

Verb Meaning
give up stop
put off delay until later
go on / carry on continue
keep / keep on do something continuously or repeatedly
  • I've given up drinking fizzy drinks.
  • Don't put off ringing the doctor. Do it today.
  • Grandad doesn't want to stop. He wants to go on driving.
  • Grandad wants to carry on driving.
  • You keep forgetting my birthday.
  • You keep on forgetting my birthday.

Point B · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with the verb in brackets in the -ing form.

  1. I've given up fizzy drinks. (drink)

  2. Don't put off the dentist. Do it today. (ring)

  3. You keep my name. It's Ellie, not Emma. (forget)

Point C of 5

Verb + somebody + -ing

With some verbs you can put a person between the verb and the -ing form: verb + somebody + -ing.

  • You can't stop teenagers staying up late.
  • I can't imagine my dad dancing at a wedding.
  • Did Lucy really say that? I don't recall her saying it.
  • Sorry to keep you waiting.

Point C · Exercise 53.3

Put the words in the right order.

  1. Example

    Did he really promise that? I (that / remember / him / promising / don't).

    I don't remember him promising that.

    AnswerI don't remember him promising that.

  2. It's fine if you want to use my laptop. I (using / don't / it / you / mind).

  3. What an extraordinary thing to say! Can (imagine / so rude / being / you / anyone)?

  4. Nobody controls the trains. We (being / stop / them / late / can't).

  5. I'll be back in two minutes. I (standing / want / leave / you / don't / to / there).

Point D of 5

having done

For a finished action, you can say having done / having taken / having said etc.

It is not necessary, however. The simple -ing form usually does the same job.

  • He admitted having taken the car without asking.
  • He admitted taking the car without asking.
  • I regret having told her.
  • I regret telling her.

Point D · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with having + past participle. The -ing form alone is also right.

  1. He admitted the car without asking. (take)

  2. I regret her my secret. (tell)

  3. She denied the money. (spend)

Point E of 5

admit, deny, suggest, recommend + that ...

With admit, deny, suggest and recommend, other structures are possible. You can use (that) + clause instead of -ing.

  • The two boys denied (that) they had broken the window.
  • Zara suggested (that) we take the bus.
  • I recommend (that) you book a table in advance.
  • I recommend booking a table in advance.

Point E · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with that and the words in brackets.

  1. Zara suggested the bus. (we / take)

  2. The boys denied the window. (they / break)

  3. I recommend a table early. (you / book)

Put it together · Exercise 53.2 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences. Choose from these verbs, in the correct form.

Use these

borrowcomplaineatexplainlosemoveparkringsingspendtidywalk

  1. Example

    He tried to avoid explaining where he had been all night.

    AnswerHe tried to avoid explaining where he had been all night.

  2. I've got a headache. Please stop so loudly!

  3. I enjoy in the countryside at weekends.

  4. We considered to the coast, but house prices there are crazy.

  5. Have you finished your bedroom yet?

Put it together · Exercise 53.2 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences. Choose from these verbs, in the correct form.

Use these

borrowcomplaineatexplainlosemoveparkringsingspendtidywalk

  1. We can't go on so much money every month.

  2. It's better to avoid in the town centre on a Saturday.

  3. My sister keeps my clothes without asking.

  4. I've put off the bank for weeks. I really must do it today.

Put it together · Exercise 53.2 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences. Choose from these verbs, in the correct form.

Use these

borrowcomplaineatexplainlosemoveparkringsingspendtidywalk

  1. I've given up chocolate. I was having far too much of it.

  2. If you leave your bike unlocked, you risk it.

  3. Would you mind not about the weather? It's raining on all of us.

Lesson 53 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Verb + to ... (decide to ... / forget to ... etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. enjoy, mind, suggest and others + -ing–Not checkedB. give up, put off, go on, carry on, keep (on) + -ing–Not checkedC. Verb + somebody + -ing–Not checkedD. having done–Not checkedE. admit, deny, suggest, recommend + that ...–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked