PREPOSITIONS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS

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• Prepositions followed by Gerunds

A preposition is followed by a noun/noun phrase. It implies it can also be followed by a gerund. I have tried to make a small list of those prepositions which often take gerunds. There is also a quiz.

Table of Contents[hideshow]

• 1. Prepositions
  • 1.1. about
  • 1.2. after
  • 1.3. against
  • 1.4. at
  • 1.5. before
  • 1.6. by
  • 1.7. for
  • 1.8. from
  • 1.9. in
  • 1.10. in spite of
  • 1.11. instead of
  • 1.12. of
  • 1.13. on
  • 1.14. like
  • 1.15. to
  • 1.16. with
  • 1.17. without
• 2. Note
  • 2.1. To AS A MARKER FOR AN INFINITIVE vs. To AS A PREPOSITION
  • 2.2. 'LOOK FORWARD TO DO' or 'LOOK FORWARD TO DOING'?
  • 2.3. Difference between 'USED TO DO' and 'BE USED TO DOING'
• 3. Quiz

PREPOSITIONS

IDIOMS FOR SPOKEN ENGLISH

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• Common English Phrases
• Idioms for Spoken English

Table of Contents[hideshow]

• A. Idioms for Spoken English
  • 1. Aback
  • 1.1. Take someone aback
  • 2. Abet
  • 2.1. Aid and abet
  • 3. Accident
  • 3.1. An accident waiting to happen
  • 4. Accord
  • 4.1. Of your own accord
  • 5. Accounting
  • 5.1. There's no accounting for taste
  • 6. Ace
  • 6.1. Have an ace up your sleeve
  • 6.2. Hold all the aces
  • 7. Acid
  • 7.1. The acid test
  • 8. Act
  • 8.1. .......

A. IDIOMS FOR SPOKEN ENGLISH

ABACK

TAKE SOMEONE ABACK

Meaning: to shock or surprise someone (More often than not, it's used in the passive form.

I was a little taken aback by the lack of cleanliness in their house.

The actor was taken aback at the directness of the questions in the press conference.

He was taken aback by her angry reply.

The announcement took us aback.

ABET

AID AND ABET

Meaning: to help someone do something wrong; to encourage someone to commit a crime

His chartered accountant aided and abetted her in the fraud.

How could he aid and abet a fugitive from justice?

ACCIDENT

AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN

Meaning: a potentially dangerous situation

There is always an accident waiting to happen on a busy road.

ACCORD

OF YOUR OWN ACCORD

Meaning: voluntarily; without being asked to do something

She signed of her own accord. No one asked her to sign.

ACCOUNTING

THERE'S NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE

Meaning: One cannot explain why different people like different things, especially those things one does not like.

You like eating raw eggs? Well, there's no accounting for taste.

ACE

HAVE AN ACE UP YOUR SLEEVE

Meaning: secret knowledge that will give you an advantage

He has an ace up his sleeve. He knows their dirty secrets.

HOLD ALL THE ACES

Meaning: have all the advantages

During a crisis, big companies hold all the aces.

ACID

THE ACID TEST

Meaning: a situation which proves if someone/something is useful/useless (or good/bad)

She is a good speaker, but can she make a business presentation? That's the acid test.

......

ACT OF GOD

Meaning:

(WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY 😊👍)

© RB

GRAMMAR TEST DEC 4, 2020

 

 

• Home
• Weekly Grammar Tests
• Question Paper Dec 4, 2020

Friday Grammar
Test

"Sapere aude"

1. "I forgot defrosting the freezer". What does the preceding sentence mean?

I was supposed to defrost the freezer, but I didn't do it. I did defrost the freezer, but I don't remember doing it. I forgot that the freezer should be defrosted regularly. There is a build-up of ice in the freezer.

2. After discussing the socio-political issues, the speaker __________ about the financial condition of the common man.

went on talking discussed discusses went on to talk

3. "I regret to do it". What does the preceding sentence mean?

I did it and now I'm sorry about it. I did it, but I am not sorry. I'm sorry that I have to do it. I did not do it.

4. What if we go bankrupt after only a year in business! It _______________.

doesn't bear talking about doesn't bear thinking about doesn't bear speaking about doesn't bear knowing about

5. You will be late for your flight if you don't try ___________ up earlier.

getting leaving going sleeping

6. I don't mind _________ a cat in the house.

to have have having NONE OF THE ABOVE

7. Which of the following sentences is considered incorrect in British English?

He never practises what he preaches. I need to get some more practice before I take my driving test. She practices speaking German every day. Practice makes perfect.

8. He demanded ___ an answer.

of no preposition required for from

9. He just lacks ___ a little confidence.

in no preposition required of with

10. My father ______ seeing her there.

mentioned said told stated

Your grade is: __

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***VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS***

50 VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS || GRAMMAR LESSONS ONLINE || ENGLISH TUTORIAL

• Home
• English Grammar
• Verbs followed by Gerunds

In my previous article, I had discussed the verbs that do not take prepositions. Do check it out! Today, I am going to talk about those verbs which can be followed by gerunds.

You know why I have highlighted the phrase, "can be followed"? I would like you to remember that there are many grammatical constructions where you will not see these verbs with gerunds.

Table of Contents[hideshow]

• 1. List of Verbs Followed by Gerunds
  • 1.1. Admit
  • 1.2. Advise
  • 1.3. Anticipate
  • 1.4. Acknowledge
  • 1.5. Appreciate
  • 1.6. Avoid
  • 1.7. Bear
  • 1.8. Begin
  • 1.9. Bother
  • 1.10. Complete
  • 1.11. Consider
  • 1.12. Continue
  • 1.13. Defer
  • 1.14. Delay
  • 1.15. Deny
  • 1.16. Die
  • 1.17. Discuss
  • 1.18. Dislike
  • 1.19. Enjoy
  • 1.20. Entail
  • 1.21. Feel
  • 1.22. Finish
  • 1.23. Forget
  • 1.24. Go
  • 1.25. Hate
  • 1.26. Involve
  • 1.27. Justify
  • 1.28. Keep
  • 1.29. Like
  • 1.30. Love
  • 1.31. Mention
  • 1.32. Mind
  • 1.33. Miss
  • 1.34. Postpone
  • 1.35. Practise
  • 1.36. Prefer
  • 1.37. Quit
  • 1.38. Recall
  • 1.39. Recollect
  • 1.40. Recommend
  • 1.41. Regret
  • 1.42. Remember
  • 1.43. Resent
  • 1.44. Resist
  • 1.45. Risk
  • 1.46. Start
  • 1.47. Stop
  • 1.48. Suggest
  • 1.49. Tolerate
  • 1.50. Try
• 2. Note
• 2.1. Difference between 'Advice' and 'Advise'
• 2.2. 'At short notice' or 'On short notice': Which one should you use?
• 2.3. 'Not bear thinking about': Meaning and Use
• 2.4. 'Forget to do' vs. 'Forget doing'
• 2.5. 'Keep going': Meaning and Use
• 2.6. 'Practice' and 'Practise': Difference
• 2.7. 'Go on to do' vs. 'Go on doing'
• 2.8. 'Regret to do' vs. 'Regret doing'
• 2.9. QUIZ

LIST OF VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS

Admit

He finally admitted making a mistake.

Advise

I'd advise going there in person.

Anticipate

The Education Minister anticipates having several candidates for the exam.

Acknowledge

He finally acknowledged having been at fault.

Appreciate

We appreciate your making the effort to come at such short notice.

Avoid

I usually try to avoid going shopping on weekdays.

Bear

She can't bear being bored.

Begin

He began learning to speak French at the tender age of seven.

Bother

Don't bother locking the door.

Complete

She just completed painting the walls.

Consider

Have you ever considered selling your car?

Continue

If he continues drinking like that, someone will have to carry him home.

Defer

Can we defer making the payment until next month?

Delay

We should not delay deciding about the new business plans until next month.

Deny

He denies breaking her glasses.

Die

The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people ... to fight the battles we never could. Phil Coulson died still believing in that idea.

Discuss

She discussed buying a new mobile set.

Dislike

She dislikes walking.

Enjoy

He doesn't enjoy meeting people and seeing new places.

Entail

Repairing the car will entail spending a lot of money.

Feel

I feel like slapping his face.

Finish

haven't yet finished reading that book.

Forget

I forgot locking the door.

Go

We go shopping every Sunday night.

Hate

She hates singing in front of guests.

Involve

Does this operation involve spending a lot of money?

Justify

He couldn't justify hiring his friends.

Keep

We kept hoping that she would win.

Like

He likes playing chess.

Love

She loves dancing.

Mention

My brother mentioned seeing you the other day.

Mind

Would you mind writing it down, please?

Miss

He only just missed being run over by a car yesterday.

Postpone

He had to postpone going to Spain because his wife fell sick.

Practise

I need to practise speaking French.

Prefer

I prefer playing cricket to watching it.

Quit

He quit smoking last year.

Recall

The witness recalled seeing her outside the house on that night.

Recollect

I do not recollect meeting her last week.

Recommend

I'd recommend going through this article.

Regret

Many people regret not having studied harder at school in future.

Remember

I did lock the door. I just don't remember doing it.

Resent

He resents having to explain everything to his parents.

Resist

The spectators couldn't resist laughing at the stupidity.

Risk

He risked losing his house when his company went bankrupt.

Start

They started building the dam in October.

Stop

I can't stop laughing.

Suggest

The parents suggested putting the matter to the school committee.

Tolerate

The Headmaster does not tolerate lying.

Try

You will be late for school if you don't try getting up earlier.

NOTE

Difference between 'Advice' and 'Advise'

The verb, 'advise' (/ədˈvɑɪz/), means "to give someone a piece of advice". There is a 'c' instead of an 's' in 'advice' (n.). The noun, 'advice' (/ədˈvɑɪs/), means "a suggestion about what someone should do". You might have also noticed that the words, 'advise' (v.) and 'advice' (n.), are pronounced differently.

'At short notice' or 'On short notice': Which one should you use?

'On short notice' is used in American English. Now, you tell me which one you should use.

'Not bear thinking about': Meaning and Use

It refers to a thought that is too unpleasant to think about.

For example,

What if we fail in the exam? It doesn't bear thinking about.

Remember that in American English, one "passes/fails exam(s)". The preposition, 'in', is not used there.

'Forget to do' vs. 'Forget doing'

Let's deal with the construction, 'forget + infinitive with to' with an example.

I forgot to lock the door.

It means "I was supposed to lock the door, but I didn't actually do it".

On the other hand, the construction, 'forget + (-ing)', has a different meaning.

For example,

I forgot locking the door.

It means "I did lock the door, but I don't remember doing it".

'Keep going': Meaning and Use

If things keep going like this, we'll have to change our plans.

The phrase, 'keep going', means "to continue in the same manner as before".

'Practice' and 'Practise': Difference

The noun, 'practice'(/ˈpræk.tɪs/), has a 'c' as its penultimate (second from the last) letter. However, its verb, 'practise' (/ˈpræk.tɪs/), we have an 's' there.

In American English, both the noun and the verb are spelt P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E.

'Go on to do' vs. 'Go on doing'

The phrase, 'go on to do something', means "to do something new".

After discussing the grammatical concepts, the teacher then went on to talk about the use of colloquial expressions in novels.

On the other hand, the phrase, 'go on to do something', means "to continue doing the same thing".

He went on talking for an hour.

'Regret to do' vs. 'Regret doing'

I regret to do it.

It means "I'm sorry that I have to do it".

I regret doing it.

It means "I did it and now I'm sorry about it".

QUIZ

ALL THE BEST!😊

© RB

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NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

When you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.