oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

15 THE GERUND
PAGE 162
b Sometimes we can use a finite clause. • 262(1)
Someone suggested (that) we might go out for a walk.
But with some verbs this is not possible.
NOT I've finished that I tidy my room.
5 Verb + object + gerund
I hate people laughing at me.
The arrangements involve you/your giving everyone a lift. • 130(2)
How can they justify lives being put at risk?
We can use an object + gerund after these verbs:
avoid (not) forget love prefer risk
can't help hate mean prevent save
dislike imagine mention remember stop
dread involve mind resent tolerate
enjoy justify miss resist understand
excuse like
NOTE
For an object + infinitive after some verbs of wanting and liking, • 122(2d).
I hate people to laugh at me.
132 Preposition + gerund
1 Introduction
a
b
A gerund often comes after a verb + preposition, an adjective + preposition or a
noun + preposition. We do not use a to-infinitive in these patterns.
We believe in giving people the freedom to choose.
My husband isn't very good at cooking.
It's just a matter of filling in a form.
We can also use a gerund after than, as and like expressing comparison.
A holiday is nicer than sitting at a desk.
Walking isn't as good for you as swimming.
We can also use a gerund after as well as, instead of without etc. • (8)
2 The pattern I succeeded in finding out
Jake is thinking of selling his motor-bike.
Sue insists on reading the letter.
Let's get on with addressing the envelopes.
We can use a gerund after these prepositional verbs:
admit to benefit from get on with rely on
(dis)agree with care for insist on resort to
aim at confess to object to succeed in
apologize for count on pay for think of
(dis)approve of depend on put up with vote for
believe in feel like