 | When a verb is followed by another verb, the second verb must be either an infinitive with 'to' such as 'to do', 'to make', 'to go' etc. or an -ing form such as 'doing', 'making', 'going'. In this episode of The Flatmates, the police officer says 'Would you mind answering a few questions...?' The form of the second verb depends on the first verb, and/or the speaker's intended meaning.
Some of the rules about verb + verb-ing are given here.
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| Verb-ing is used after these verbs:
| admit | avoid | consider | deny | fancy | | finish | hate | imagine | mind | love | | postpone | regret | risk | stop | suggest |
Examples:
The children admitted taking the sweets.
I considered becoming a singer when I left school.
Do you fancy going to see a movie tonight?
Would you mind opening the window? It's rather hot in here.
He suggested eating out, but I had already prepared dinner at home.
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| Verb-ing is used after these phrasal verbs:
| carry on | give up | go on | keep on | put off |
Examples:
The children carried on playing even though it had started to rain.
I gave up smoking 3 years ago.
The teacher went on talking even though some of the students weren't listening.
Why do you keep on eating fatty food when you know it's bad for you?
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To make the -ing verb negative, use not:
Would you mind not making so much noise?
I like not having to get up early at weekends.
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| It is possible to use the structure verb + somebody + verb-ing:
I can't imagine you living in a foreign country.
I don't like you telling me what to do all the time.
In the passive form, use being and the past participle:
I don't like being told what to do all the time.
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| authenticity (n)
the quality or condition of being real, trustworthy, or genuine
in doubt
under question, not fully believed
at some length
thoroughly, completely or repeatedly; for a long time
as it happens
this is an informal expression which means 'actually'
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