OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR
70 VERB/ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + ING-FORM
Introduction
Claire: I'm thinking of going to Turkey.
Travel agent: Are you interested in travelling around the country, or would
you like to stay in one place?
Claire: / don't want to do a lot of travelling.
Some verbs and adjectives can have a preposition after them (see Units 125-
126). /
apologized for my mistake. Laura is keen on photography.
Sometimes we can use an ing-form after the preposition.
PREPOSITION ING-FORM
I apologized for making a mistake.
Laura is keen on taking photos.
I'm thinking of going to Turkey.
Are you interested in traveling around?
We're tired of not having a place to live.
We can use not before the ing-form, e.g. not having.
B Verb + preposition + ing-form
Don't you believe in discussing things openly? Laura doesn't feel like
cooking tonight.
Unfortunately Tom insisted on telling us all about United's win. I'm looking
forward to seeing
my friends again. I've succeeded in getting hold of the CD I wanted. Also:
agree with,
apologize for, concentrate on, object to, rely on, think of
We can use about after ask, complain, dream, speak, talk, think, and
wonder.
They're talking about building a new swimming-pool.
C Verb + object + preposition + ing-form
After some verbs we can put an object (e.g. Matthew).

(4)…………………………… (argue).
2 Verb (+ object) + preposition + ing-form (A-C)
Comment on these situations. Join each pair of sentences using a preposition
and an ing-form. ►
The police prevented the crime. It didn't take place. The police prevented the
crime from taking
place.
1 Laura blamed Trevor. He forgot the tickets.
Laura
………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
2 The doctors succeeded. They saved the driver's life.
The doctors
...........................................................................................................................
.................
3 The customers complained. They didn't receive the goods.
4 Emma has accused Matthew. She says Matthew broke his promise.
5 Melanie is insisting. She's going to cook a meal for David.
6 A new traffic scheme has stopped cars. They can't go into the town centre.
7 Everyone congratulated Claude. He won the quiz competition.
8 Some football fans were arrested. They attacked a policeman.
3 Verb/Adjective + preposition + ing-form (A-D)
Complete Emma's letter to her friend Kirsty. Put in a preposition and an ing-
form.
Thank you (►) for inviting (invite) me to come and see you next month. I'm
already excited
(1)………………………………………………………….(see) you again.
You must be very pleased (2)...........................................(get) the job you
wanted. Congratulations. Personally,
1 wouldn't be keen (3).......................................... (travel) forty miles to work.