A. Many verbs have the structure verb + preposition (in/for/about etc.) + object.
For example: verb + preposition + object We talked about the problem. You must apologize for what you said.
If the object is another verb, it ends in ~ing: verb + preposition + ~ing (object) We talked going to America. She apologized for not telling the truth.
Here are some more verbs with this structure: succeed (in) Have you succeeded in finding a job yet? insist (on) They insisted on paying for the meal. think (of) I'm thinking of buying a house. dream (of) I wouldn't dream of asking them for money. approve(of) She doesn't approve of gambling. decide (against) We have decided against moving to London. feel (like) Do you feel like going out tonight? look forward (to) I'm looking forward to meeting her.
We say 'apologize to somebody for...': * She apologized to me for not telling the truth. (not 'she apologized me')
B. With some of the verbs in A, you can use the structure verb + preposition + somebody + ~ing: verb + preposition somebody + ~ing She doesn't approve of me gambling. We are all looking forward to Liz coming home.
C. The following verbs can have the structure verb + object + preposition + ~ing: verb + object + preposition + ~ing congratulate (on) I congratulated Ann on passing the exam. accuse (of) They accused me of telling lies. suspect (of) Nobody suspected the man of being a spy. prevent (from) What prevented him from coming to see us? stop (from*) The police stopped everyone from leaving the building. thank (for)
I forgot to thank them for helping me. forgive (for) Please forgive me for not writing to you. warn (against) They warned us against buying the car.
You can also say 'stop somebody doing' (without from). So you can say: * You can't stop me doing what I want. or ... stop me from doing what I want.
Some of these verbs are often used in the passive. For example: * I was accused of telling lies. * The man was suspected of being a spy. * We were warned against buying the car.
GAP FILL EXERCISE
Complete each sentence using only one word.
1. I feel lazy. I don't feel like -------- any work. 2. I wanted to go out alone but Joe insisted on --------- with me. 3. I'm fed up with my job. I'm thinking of ----------- something else. 4. We have decided against ----------- a new car because we can't really afford it. 5. I hope you write to me soon. I'm looking forward to ---------- from you.
GAP FILL EXERCISE Complete the sentences using a preposition + one of the following verbs (in the correct form): cause escape go help interrupt live play solve spend walk
1. It took us a long time but we finally succeeded --------- the problem. 2. I've always dreamed ---------------- in a small house by the sea. 3. The driver of the other car accused me ------------- the accident. 4. There was a fence around the lawn to stop people ----------- on the grass. 5. Forgive me --- you but may I ask you something? GAP FILL EXERCISE
Complete the sentences so that they mean the same as the sentence(s) in brackets.
1. (Why is it useful to have a car?) What are the advantages of _having a car_? 2. (I don't intend to lend you any money.) I have no intention of --- 3. (Helen has a good memory for names.) Helen is good at --- 4. (Mark won't pass the exam. He has no chance.) Mark has no chance of --- 5. (Did you get into trouble because you were late?) Did you get into trouble for --- 6. (We didn't eat at home. We went to a restaurant instead.) Instead of --- 7. (Tom thinks that working is better than doing nothing.) Tom prefers working to --- 8. (They got married. They didn't tell any of their friends.) They got married without --- 9. (Our team played well but we lost the game.) Our team lost the game in spite of ---
Sharon: What will you do this coming weekend? Peter: I will go skiing this weekend. Sharon: Can I come with you? Peter: Only if you뭠l enjoy skiing with my friends. Sharon: Of course I will. I met them already and they were nice. Peter: We will go skiing, making snowman, snowball fighting and many more! Sharon: Sounds like fun. Count me in!
1. What is your favorite season of the year? 2. How do you spend your winter season? 3. What do you usually do during spring season? 4. Where do you spend your summer vacation? 5. What do you enjoy doing on autumn season?
