Post #722

🔰The -ing form 🔻The –ing form can be used like a noun, like an adjective or like a verb. 🔹Smoking is forbidden. 🔹I have a long working day. 🔹I don't like dancing. 🔻When it is used like a noun it may or may not have an article before it. 🔹Marketing is a very inexact science. 🔹The marketing of the product will continue for a few months yet. 🔻It can also be part of a 'noun phrase'. 🔹Speaking to an audience is always stressful. 🔹Swimming after work is very relaxing. 🔻In formal English, we would use a possessive with the –ing form. In informal English, many people do not. 🔹I'm angry about his missing the meeting. 🔹Do you mind my coming? 🔻As an adjective, the –ing form can be used before a noun. 🔹I was met by a welcoming party at the airport. 🔹Let's go to the meeting room. 🔻The –ing form is used after prepositions. 🔹Before leaving, you need to speak to Sarah. 🔹After discussing it with her, I've changed my mind. 🔹Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, do some work for charity. 🔻Notice that when 'to' is used as a preposition, it is followed by the –ing form. 🔹I don't object to working this Sunday. 🔹I'm looking forward to seeing him again. 🔹I'm used to working long hours. 🔻There are many verb + -ing combinations. Here are some common ones: 🔹I admit telling her. 🔹I appreciate having the raise. 🔹I avoid speaking to him. 🔹I consider blowing your nose in public to be wrong. 🔹I delayed coming until the last possible moment. 🔹He denied telling her. 🔹I detest going to parties. 🔹I enjoy dancing. 🔹I feel like having a party. 🔹I've finished writing the report. 🔹I've given up going to the gym. 🔹I can't help thinking about it. 🔹I can't imagine ever leaving this company. 🔹I don't mind doing that. 🔹He put off talking to her as long as he could. 🔹I can't stand drinking grapefruit juice. 🔻Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with different meanings. Here are some common ones: 🔹I stopped smoking last month. (I no longer smoke.) 🔸I stopped to smoke a cigarette. (I stopped what I was doing and had a cigarette.) 🔹I remember telling him. (A memory of the past.) 🔸I must remember to tell him. (Something to remember for the future.) 🔹I'm interested in finding out more details. (Interested about the future.) 🔸I was interested to read his report. (Interested in the past.) 🔻Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with the same meaning. Here are some common ones: 🔹I love to go shopping. 🔸I love going shopping. 🔹I'm afraid to fly. 🔸I'm afraid of flying. 🔹I started to learn English 5 years ago. 🔸I started learning English 5 years ago. @EnglishGrammarSecrets