6A Grammar Lesson - Verb patterns followed by gerund (-ing) and infinitive (to ...)

Question 1

I Verbs followed by a gerund

1. If a VERB IS FOLLOWED BY A PREPOSITTION AND AFTER THAT GOES A VERB, in which form will it be?

Answer 1

Right, it will then be followed by a gerund. For example:

• We’re going to start by looking at verbs followed by a gerund.
  SO, start by looking at.

Question 2

You can use this rule - that the verb followed by a preposition will have a verb in a gerund form after that, for phrasal verbs, which nearly always end in a preposition:

I’m going to give up (to smoke)

You need to carry on (to write)

Answer 2

I’m going to give up smoking.

You need to carry on writing.

Question 3

2) Followed by a gerund:

‘not worth’ or ‘it’s not worth’.

Answer 3

It’s not worth buying a new packet – let’s just use what we have.

I don’t think that’s worth doing.

Question 4

2. Phrases

There are certain phrases that are always followed by a gerund, too.

These phrases are really useful in English and can make you sound like a native speaker.

1) The first is ‘A WASTE OF TIME’ or ‘TO WASTE TIME’:

It’s a waste of time (to try) to change her mind.

Don’t waste time (to stare) out of the window.

Answer 4

It’s a waste of time trying to change her mind.

Don’t waste time staring out of the window.

Question 5

3) Followed by a gerund:

‘it’s no good’ and ‘it’s no use’.

Answer 5

It’s no good pretending not to see the mess. Clean it up, now!

• NO GOOD means something is useless or has no value, no worth.
  NOT GOOD means something is bad or undesirable.

Shoes are no good if they let in water.

This essay is not good, please rewrite it!!!

It’s no use crying over spilt milk.

Question 6

Followed by a gerund:

4) ‘can’t bear’ /beə(r)/ /ber/
and ‘can’t stand’.

Answer 6

I can’t stand being cold. - не могу терпеть мерзнуть.

I can’t bear seeing my daughter upset.

Question 7

II Verbs followed by to + gerund

Some verbs are followed by ‘to’ and a gerund.

This can be confusing at first glance, but it happens when ‘to’ acts as a preposition.

You know this rule from the structure ‘to look forward to’, for example,

1. Я с нетерпением жду отпуска:

Answer 7

I’m looking forward to going on holiday.

Question 8

Verbs followed by to + gerund

2. признаваться, что сделал что-то.
   Она призналась, что съела все печеньки.

Answer 8

to confess to doing - She confessed to eating all of the biscuits.

Question 9

Verbs followed by to + gerund
3. признать

Он признал (ся), что ненавидит пьесу.

Answer 9

to admit to doing - He admitted to hating the play.

Question 10

Verbs followed by to + gerund

4. To make use of something, especially something bad, as a means of achieving something, often because there is no other possible solution

• прибегнуть к, обратиться к, пойти на
  Synonyms are:
  to turn to;
  to bring into play;
  to employ;
  to utilize;
  to make use /juːs/ of.

Answer 10

to resort to doing sth - I had to resort to taking a loan from my parents.

also resort to sth

Question 11

Verbs followed by to + gerund

5.to begin to do something as a habit

Answer 11

to take to doing

*I’ve taken to waking up very early.

• You also saw an example of this in the reading text this week:
  Britons have taken well to eating spicier curries. - Which means Британцы хорошо приняли более острое карри. Или: Британцам полюбилось более острое карри.

Question 12

Verbs followed by to + gerund

5 = confess

признаться в
сознаться в

Answer 12

to own up to doing - Jerry owned up to making the mess and offered to clean up.

I’m still waiting for someone to own up to the breakages.
Why don’t you just own up and hope she forgives you?