Adjectives + Preposition + -ING
Verbs + -ING
Verbs + Preposition + -ING
Nouns + Preposition + -ING
Fixed Expressions + -ING
Prepositions + -ING
Expressions That Can Take Both -ING and Infinitive
Common Spoken Expressions
Adjectives + Preposition + -ING
good at
bad at
great at
terrible at
interested in
excited about
afraid of
scared of
worried about
tired of
bored with
proud of
nervous about
careful about
Verbs + -ING
enjoy
dislike
don't mind
finish
keep
practise
suggest
miss
mind
can't stand
feel like
spend time
waste time
Verbs + Preposition + -ING
think about
talk about
worry about
dream about
care about
Nouns + Preposition + -ING
interest in
chance of
way of
fear of
habit of
pleasure of
reason for
Fixed Expressions + -ING
go + activity (go swimming, go shopping)
be busy
have fun
spend money
Prepositions + -ING
before
after
without
Expressions That Can Take Both -ING and Infinitive
| Expression | Meaning / usage |
|---|---|
| start | no real meaning difference in most contexts |
| begin | no real meaning difference in most contexts |
| like | -ing = general preference; would like + to-infinitive for a specific occasion |
| love | -ing = general preference; would love + to-infinitive for a specific occasion |
| hate | -ing = general preference; would hate + to-infinitive for a specific occasion |
Common Spoken Expressions
how about
what about
do you mind
I can't stand