Adjectives + Preposition + -ING
Verbs + -ING
Verbs + Preposition + -ING
Nouns + Preposition + -ING
Fixed Expressions + -ING
Prepositions + -ING
Expressions Using TO as a Preposition
Expressions That Can Take Both -ING and Infinitive
Expressions Whose Meaning Changes (-ING vs Infinitive)
Idiomatic Expressions
Formal Expressions
Academic Expressions
Business English Expressions
Legal English Expressions
Advanced Literary Expressions
Adjectives + Preposition + -ING
apprehensive about
wary of
weary of
resistant to
prone to
susceptible to
averse to
adept at
proficient in
unaccustomed to
intent on
insistent on
adamant about
vocal about
instrumental in
cynical about
Verbs + -ING
contemplate
envisage
entail
necessitate
warrant
condone
forgo
relish
savour
Verbs + Preposition + -ING
embark on
persuade someone into
trick someone into
trap someone into
deceive someone into
manipulate someone into
con someone into
blackmail someone into
scare someone into
pressure someone into
bully someone into
refrain from
deter someone from
dissuade someone from
confess to
Nouns + Preposition + -ING
resistance to
aversion to
approach to
alternative to
key to
secret to
obstacle to
likelihood of
Fixed Expressions + -ING
come near to
Prepositions + -ING
other than
rather than
Expressions Using TO as a Preposition
amount to
resort to
prior to
owing to
due to
with a view to
warm to
come round to
Expressions That Can Take Both -ING and Infinitive
| Expression | Meaning / usage |
|---|---|
| cease | no real meaning difference; formal register |
| attempt | to-infinitive more common; -ing also correct |
| neglect | no real meaning difference |
| omit | no real meaning difference |
Expressions Whose Meaning Changes (-ING vs Infinitive)
| Expression | Meaning / usage |
|---|---|
| advise | advise doing = general recommendation; advise someone to do = recommendation to a specific person |
| allow | allow doing = general rule; allow someone to do = permission for a specific person |
| permit | permit doing = general rule; permit someone to do = permission for a specific person |
| forbid | forbid doing = general prohibition; forbid someone to do = prohibition of a specific person |
| recommend | recommend doing = general suggestion; recommend someone to do = suggestion for a specific person |
Idiomatic Expressions
take the liberty of
run the risk of
stand a chance of
jump at the chance of
seize the opportunity of
not think twice about
have a knack for
have a soft spot for
Formal Expressions
on account of
in view of
in the course of
subsequent to
in accordance with
with respect to
as regards
Academic Expressions
on the basis of
in light of
the likelihood of
the significance of
with a focus on
in conjunction with
Business English Expressions
as opposed to
on behalf of
in preparation for
with the goal of
Legal English Expressions
subject to
by virtue of
with the intent of
in consideration of
in breach of
Advanced Literary Expressions
on the verge of
on the point of
on the brink of
in the act of
far from