A
Many verbs have the structure verb + preposition (in/for/about, etc.) + object.
For example
| verb + | Preposition | + Object |
|---|---|---|
| We talked | about | the problem. |
| You should apologize | for | what you said. |
If the object is another verb, it ends in -ing:
| verb + | Preposition | + -ing (object) |
|---|---|---|
| We talked | about | going to South America |
| You should apologize | for | not telling the truth |
Some more verbs with this structure:
| – | – | – | – |
|---|---|---|---|
| {succeed} | Have you succeeded | in | finding a job yet? |
| {insist (on)} | They insisted | on | paying for dinner. |
| {think (of)} | I’m thinking | of | buying a house |
| {dream (of)} | I wouldn’t dream | of | asking them for money. |
| {approve (of)} | He doesn’t approve | of | swearing. |
| {decide (against)} | We have decided | against | moving to Chicago. |
| {feel (like)} | Do you feel | like | going out tonight? |
| {look forward (to)} | I’m looking forward | to | meeting her. |
You can also say “approve of somebody doing something.” “look forward to somebody doing something”:
– I don’t approve of people killing animals for nun.
– We are all looking forward to Bob coming home.
B
The following verbs can have the structure verb + object + preposition + -ing:
| Verb + | Object + | Preposition | + ing (object) |
|---|---|---|---|
| {congratulate (on)} | Ann | on | getting a new job |
| {accuse (of)} | us | of | telling lies. |
| {suspect (of)} | the general | of | being a spy |
| {prevent (from)} | you | from | coming to see us? |
| {keep (from)} | me | from | falling asleep. |
| {stop (from)} | us | from | enjoying our vacation. |
| {think (for)} | them | for | helping me. |
| {excuse (for)} | me | for | not returning your call. |
Some of these verbs are often used in the passive. For example:
– We were accused of telling lies.
– The general was suspected of being a spy.
Note that we say “apologize to somebody for …”:
– I apologized to them for keeping them waiting. (not I apologized them)
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