English Language Teacher Education Training.
Anna Murkowska, The English
Grammar Course for Language Teachers
Explaining Verb complementation: in initives and –ing forms
Source: M. Mann & S. Taylore-Knowles 2008 Des na on B1 & B2, Macmillan.
1. Verb + the - ing form
Some verbs are usually followed by the -ing form, e.g. ‘He enjoys making other people laugh.’
These include: admit, avoid, can’t help, deny, discuss, dislike, enjoy, feel like, nish, give up,
men on, mind, miss, prac ce, resist, suggest, understand
A er a preposi on, we usually use the -ing form, e.g. ‘I’m afraid of ying’. ‘I look forward to
hearing from you.’
Some of the verbs in the list above can also be followed by an object before the ‘-ing‘ form e.g. ‘I
can’t stand people chea ng in exam.’
2. Verb + the full in ni ve
Some verbs are usually followed by the full in ni ve, e.g. ‘I decided to apologise to Emma.’
These include: advice, a ord, agree, ask, choose, decide, expect, fail, happen, help, hope, invite,
learn, manage, o er, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, tend, want, wish, would like
3.Verb + the bare in ni ve
Some verbs are usually followed by an object + bare in ni ve. These include: feel, hear, let, make,
no ce, see, watch, e.g. ‘You never let me say the answer’.’ I heard Miss Jenkins tell Julie not to do
that.’ ‘The teacher made me stand in the corner.’
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4. Verb + the - ing form or full in ni ve
Some verbs can be followed by either the -ing form or the full in ni ve.
A) With some verbs the meaning is the same or nearly the same. These include: begin, con nue,
prefer, start. e.g. ‘A er an hour the spectators began to leave/leaving the stadium.’
B) With some verbs the meaning changes. These verb include: go on, remember, forget, stop. try
e.g.
-ing form full in ni ve
REMEMBER
have a memory in your mind do something you are/were planning to
‘Do you remember seeing that comedy?.’ ‘Did you remember to say sorry to Jane?’
FORGET
not be able to remember a past event not to do something you are/were planning
to do
‘I’d forgo en hearing that joke.’ ‘Oh, no! I forgot to invite Sally!’
STOP
stop an ac on interrupt an ac on to do something
else
‘Stop crying –it’s not that bad.’ ‘I was on my way to see Maria and I stopped to
get her some owers.’
TRY
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TASKS
Task 1: Circle the correct word or phrase
1. I really don’t feel like going/to go out tonight. Do you?
2. We discussed turning/to turn the a c into a spare bedroom with the architect.
3. Are you thinking of ge ng/to get a Play Sta on.
4. I’m really looking forward to going/to go on the cruise.
5. Do you mind moving/ to move your car please. You are blocking the road.
6. As we don’t agree about poli cs we generally avoid discussing/to discuss the subject.
7. Please stop interrup ng/to interrupt me when I’m explaining something to you. You can
ask ques ons at the end.
8. I’ve apologized to her but she s ll refuses speaking/to speak to me.
9. I learned swimming/to swim at the age of six.
10. I o en help preparing/to prepare lunch at weekends.
11. Barbara dislikes cleaning/to clean windows.
12. I don’t prac ce speaking/to speak English as regularly as I should.
13. I prefer reading/to read English texts to speaking/speak in English.
14. We con nued to do/doing experiments in the lab this a ernoon.
15. I didn’t want to take/taking the exam.
16. Everyone expected his business falling/to fall within the rst few months.
Task 2: Complete using the correct form (-ing form or full in ni ve) of the verb in brackets.
You may need to use the passive voice.
1. I’ll never forgive June for …………………………….. (lie) to me like that.
2. Daniel’s not very good at ……………………….. (make) friends.
3. I can’t resist …………… (buy) things when they are in sales.
4. We’ve got to encourage students ……….. (study), not blame them for not studying.
5. I don’t know how you managed ………. (persuade) the bank manager to lend you so much
money.
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6. Do you deny ……………….. (steal) the money? Yes or no?
7. I refuse …………………. (accept) that there’s no alterna ve.
8. No one can understand how Jill can a ord …………… (go) on so many holidays each year.
9. He expected …………….. (give) a brand new computer for Christmas, but all he got was a
second-hand watch!
10. I forgot ……………… (take) my medicine this morning.
11. Jackie regrets …………. (say) that to Tom.
12. Taking that job will mean ………… (have) to do a lot of travelling.
13. I regret …………… (say) your credit card has been cancelled by the bank.
14. I’ll never forget …………………… (go) up Mont Blanc.
15. I didn’t mean ……………………(crash) the car, you know!
16. I remember teachers at my school …………………..(hit) children when they were naughty!
17. The car needed ……………………….. (wash).
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