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Verbal  Phrases before Gerunds

Stressed out man
He talks about leaving.
Commenting on activities

 

 

 

Verbs vs. Verbal Phrases Followed by Gerunds
VERB FOLLOWED BY A GERUND VERBAL PHRASE FOLLOWED BY A GERUND

Jack discussed leaving his job.

Jack talked about leaving his job.

Jack continued working overtime.

Jack kept on working overtime.

Jack doesn't like doing the accounting.

Jack doesn't care for doing the accounting.

Jack postpones taking a vacation.

Jack puts off taking a vacation.

 

 

 

Two- and three-word verb expressions

A verbal phrase with a preposition is followed by a gerund (even if it ends in to).

 

ABOUT FROM ON

argue about  We argued about spending money.

refrain from   I refrained from saying anything.

concentrate on  I concentrate on getting experience.

care about  We care about recycling things.

stop from  He was stopping from going in.

congratulate_on  We congratulated them on getting married.

complain about  He complains about getting old.

IN

continue on  He continued on sleeping all day.

forget about  She forgets about calling us.

believe in  She believes in being well-educated.

depend on  We depend on getting help.

talk about  He talks about getting married.

interest in   He is interested in being a scientist.

go on / keep on   We keep on working.

think about   We are thinking about joining them

succeed in  He succeeded in winning the race.

insist on  He insists on coming too.

worry about  She worried about getting lost.

specialize in  He will specialize in making wine.

plan on   She plans on taking a course.

dream about  He dreams about playing ball.

give in/into I won't give into his complaining.

rely on   We rely on their assisting us.

AGAINST LIKE OVER

decide against  We decided against buying a car.

feel like  Do you feel like going out?

think over   He is thinking over moving away.

warn against  They warn against giving out info.

OF

talk over  We talked over buying a new home.

AFTER

accuse of   He was accused of lying.

TO

look after  I will look after buying the tickets.

approve of  They approved of doing that.

adjust to  I adjusted to living in the U.S.

FOR

dream of  He dreams of playing ball.  Solution - lightbulb2/21/2010

look forward to  I look forward to seeing you. Solution - lightbulb3/22/2009

blame for  I was blamed for losing the game.

in charge of  He is in charge of collecting tickets.

object to  I object to doing all the work.

care for  I don't care for wearing shorts.

take care of   I took care of making reservations.

get used to/ be used to  We are used to hearing traffic.

apologize for  I apologized for being late.

think of   We thought of being ghosts for Halloween.

WITH

 

OFF

agree with  He agrees with exercising daily.

 

put off  He put off going to business school.

cope with  She copes with working long hours.

 

 

 

Commonly Confused Verb Expressions
VERB PHRASE VERB PHRASE

care about

I care about helping people to help themselves.
(be concerned)

care for

Do you care for watching game shows? (like)

feel guilty about

I feel guilty about not calling home more often.
(I am regretful.)

be guilty of

He was guilty of stealing other people's credit card numbers. (He was convicted of it.)

 

Think

CONSIDER 
   think about
   think over
 

You should think about your future.
Take some time to think over the problem.
He thought it over and then decide to buy the car. 

PREDICT /
REMEMBER

   think of

I didn't think of the possible problems at that time.
I couldn't think of his name. (come easily to the mind)

FOCUS ON
   think about

Try not to think about your problems right now. (ignore them)
She is the only thing that he can think about.

HAVE AN OPINION
   think of
   think about
 

What did you think of that movie.
We think very highly of that director.  (regard)
What did you think about that movie.
 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Job interviewPractice 1

Complete the Verbal Expression

 

 

  1. Select the preposition that best completes each sentence (about, against, after, for from, in, like, of, off, on, over, to, with)
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.    rely (v.) – depend
5.  
6.
7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12. For now, he is coping