oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

PAGE 165
132 Preposition + gerund
7 The pattern my success in finding out
Some verbs and adjectives can take a preposition + gerund, e.g. succeed in doing,
grateful for having. We can also use a preposition + gerund after a related noun.
I noticed Jeffs success in getting the price reduced.
We expressed our gratitude for having had the opportunity.
Some other nouns can also take a preposition + gerund.
How would you like the idea of living in a caravan?
There's a small advantage in moving first.
We can use these expressions:
advantage of/in excitement about/at possibility of
aim of/in expense of/in problem of/in
amazement at par of prospect of
anger about/at gratitude for purpose of/in
annoyance about/at idea of question about/of
anxiety about insistence on reason for
apology for interest in satisfaction with
awareness of job of success in
belief in matter of surprise at
boredom with objection to task of
danger of/in pleasure of/in work of
difficulty (in) point of/in worry about
effect of
8 The pattern before leaving
a
Please switch off the lights before leaving.
Instead of landing at Heathrow, we had to go to Manchester.
The picture was hung upside down without anyone noticing it.
She succeeded in business by being completely single-minded.
How about coming round this evening?
I still feel tired in spite of having slept eight hours.
Despite your reminding me, I forgot.
We can use a gerund after these prepositions:
after besides in on account of
against by in addition to since
as a result of by means of in favour of through
as well as despite in spite of what about
because of for instead of with
before how about on without
NOTE
a A similar pattern is conjunction + participle. • 139(3)
Although having slept eight hours, I still feel tired.
b On and in have special meanings in this pattern.
On turning the corner, I saw a most unexpected sight.
(= As soon as I had turned the corner,...)
In building a new motorway, they attracted new industry to the area.
(= As a result of building a new motorway,...)
c We cannot use a passive participle.
The new drug was put on the market after being approved by the government.
NOT after approved and NOT after been approved