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.
EXERCISES
61.1
Complete each sentence using only one word.
1. Our
neighbours apologized for _making_ so much noise.
2. I
feel lazy. I don't feel like --- any work.
3. I
wanted to go out alone but Joe insisted on --- with me.
4. I'm
fed up with my job. I'm thinking of --- something else.
5. We
have decided against --- a new car because we can't really afford it.
6. I
hope you write to me soon. I'm looking forward to --- from you.
7. The
weather was extremely bad and this prevented us from --- out.
8. The
man who has been arrested is suspected of --- a false passport.
9. I
think you should apologize to Sue for --- so rude to her.
10. Some
parents don't approve of their children --- a lot of television.
11. I'm
sorry I can't come to your party but thank you very much for --- me.
61.2
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. Do
you feel _like going_ out this evening?
2. It
took us a long time but we finally succeeded --- the problem.
3. I've
always dreamed --- in a small house by the sea.
4. The
driver of the other car accused me --- the accident.
5. There
was a fence around the lawn to stop people --- on the grass.
6.
Forgive me --- you but may I ask you something?
7. Where
are you thinking --- your holiday this year?
8. The
guards weren't able to prevent the prisoner ---
9. I
wanted to cook the meal by myself but Dave insisted --- me.
10. I'm
sorry we've had to cancel our game of tennis tomorrow. I was really looking
for-ward ---.
61.3
Complete the sentences on the right.
1. It
was nice of you to help me. Thanks very much.
George
thanked _me for helping him._
2. I'll
drive you to the station. I insister.
TOM
insisted ---
3.
Congratulations!
Jim
congratulated me ---
4. It
was nice of you to come to see me. Thank you.
Mrs Bond
thanked ---
5. Dont
stay at the hotel near the airport.
I warned
---
6. I'm
sorry I didn't phone you earlier.
Mary
apologized ---
7.
You're selfish.
Jane
accused ---
Answer
61.1
2 doing
3
coming/going
4
doing/trying
5 buying
6
hearing
7 going
8 having
9 being
10
watching
11
inviting/asking
61.2
2 in
solving
3 of
living
4 of
causing
5 (from)
walking
6 for
interrupting
7 of
spending
8 from
escaping
9 on
helping
10 to
playing
61.3
2 Tom
insisted on driving Ann to the station.
3 Jim
congratulated me on getting married.
4 Mrs
Bond thanked Sue for coming to see her.
5 I
warned Jack against staying at the hotel near the airport.
6 Mary
apologised to me for not phoning (me) earlier.
7 Jane
accused me of being selfish.
