Verb + verb ing

Diana L. Portillo

September 2014

ing after specific verbs

DislikeEnjoyFeel likeFinish Keep on (continue)Hate *Like *Love * * No difference in

meaning. ing = more emphasis.

I love listening to Scottish pipes.

ing after specific verbs

(don´t) mindPractice Spend timeStart * (no difference

in meaning).

It started raining. It started to rain.

ing after specific verbs

Stop (change of meaning).

She stopped having a break = She didn´t have a break anymore (give up).

She stopped to have a break = She stopped in order to have a break (reason).

ing after specific verbs

Try (change of meaning).

Why don´t you try doing yoga? (experiment).

Try to ski (to make an effort or attempt)

ing after specific verbs

Remember (change of meaning).

I remember going for long walks (going to the past about memories).

Remember to buy milk (not forget what you have to do).

ing as subject of a sentence

Swimming makes me feel good.

Smoking is bad for your health.

Fishing is boring.

ing after prepositions

He left without saying goodbye.

We were all happy about celebrating the New Year.

I´m sick of eating hamburguers.

ing as adjective

Common adjectives with ing:

Amusing.Interesting.Shocking.Worrying.Dissapointing.Boring.

Fishing is a boring activity.

ing as adjective

Surprising.Exciting.Terrifying.Frightening.Tiring.Annoying.

That movie was completely frightening.

Sources British Council: adjectives –ed and –ing

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/adjectives-ed-and-ing Retrieved on September 21st, 2014.

Capel, Annette and Sharp, Wendy. (2013). Objective Proficiency. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Oxenden, Clive and Latham-Koenig, Christina. (1997). American English File 2. New York, USA: Oxford University Press.

Oxenden, Clive and Latham-Koenig Christina. (2009). New English File Upper-intermediate students. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

dnospraka@yahoo.com