The "-ing form"

The "-ing form"

The -ing form is the verb form with the -ing suffix.

– I like jogging.

● as a noun.

– Swimming is my favourite sport.
– Exercising is good for your health.
– Making soup is a good way of using up leftover vegetables.

● after the verbs like, dislike, love, hate, enjoy, prefer to express general preference.

– I like watching football on TV. –

● after the verbs stop, finish, start, begin.

– She stopped studying last year.
NOTE:
1. We can use the -ing form or the to-infinitive after the verbs start, begin, continue, like, love,
prefer and hate. – He started writing / to write his speech last night.


like/love + -ing form = I enjoy doing something in general.
– I love travelling. (= I enjoy travelling in general.)

● after prepositions.

– I'm thinking of buying a house. – He's interested in writing novels.
– She left the office without warning us. –

● after the verb go when we talk about activities.

(sailing/fishing/shopping/swimming/skiing/climbing)
– They went sailing yesterday. – We often go climbing at weekends.

● after the expressions: be busy, it's no use, it's no good, it's (not) worth, what's the

use of …?, there's no point in … , can’t stand, can't help, be/get used to, have difficulty (in),
have trouble, have a hard/difficult time, etc.
– James is busy practising for the school concert.
– This idea is well worth considering.
– It's no use waiting for Jane. She won't come.
– What's the use of worrying about it?

● after verbs such as: avoid, admit, confess, deny, mind, regret, risk, spend, suggest, consider, fancy, involve, mention, imagine, anticipate (= expect), appreciate, continue, delay, discuss, escape, excuse, forgive, miss, postpone, practise, prevent, quit, recall, recollect, mind, miss, report, resent, resist, risk, save, stand, tolerate, understand, etc.

– Nina avoided answering my question.
– I spent all day working in the garden.
– I suggested going in my car.
– The test will involve answering questions about a photograph.
– Do you fancy going out this evening?
– She imagined walking into the office and handing in her resignation.
– Imagine earning that much money!
– We're considering buying a new car.
– Forgive my interrupting but I really don't agree with that.

● after the verbs such as spend, waste, lose (time, money, etc.)

– You are wasting your time trying to explain to him. – 1 –
● after the preposition 'to' with verbs and expressions such as look forward to, be used to, get