60. Preposition (in/for/about etc.) + -ing ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

60. Preposition (in/for/about etc.) + -ing

A	If a preposition (in/for/about etc.) is followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing: Are you interested I'm not good Sue must be fed up What are the advantages Thanks very much How Why don't you go out Amy went to work preposition in at with of for about instead of in spite of verb (-ing) working learning studying having inviting meeting sitting feeling for us? languages. a car? me to your party. for lunch tomorrow? at home all the time? ill. You can also say 'instead of somebody doing something', 'fed up with people doing something' etc. : ·         I'm fed up with people telling me what to do.
B	Note the use of the following prepositions + -ing: before -ing and after -ing: ·         Before going out, I phoned Sarah. (not Before to go out) ·         What did you do after finishing school? You can also say 'Before I went out ...' and '... after you finished school'. by -ing (to say how something happens): ·         The burglars got into the house by breaking a window and climbing in. ·         You can improve your English by reading more. ·         She made herself ill by not eating properly. ·         Many accidents are caused by people driving too fast. without -ing: ·         We ran ten kilometres without stopping. ·         It was a stupid thing to say. I said it without thinking. ·         She needs to work without people disturbing her. (or ... without being disturbed.) ·         I have enough problems of my own without having to worry about yours.
C	To -ing (look forward to doing something etc.) To is often part of the infinitive (to do /to see etc.): ·         We decided to travel by train. ·         Would you like to meet for lunch tomorrow? But to is also a preposition (like in/for/about/with etc.). For example: ·         We went from Paris to Geneva. ·         I prefer tea to coffee. ·         Are you looking forward to the weekend? If a preposition is followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing: ·         I'm fed up with travelling by train. ·         How about going away this weekend? So, when to is a preposition and it is followed by a verb, you must say to -ing: ·         I prefer driving to travelling by train. (not to travel) ·         Are you looking forward to going on holiday? (not looking forward to go)

EXERCISES

60.1	Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. 1 Why is it useful to have a car? What are the advantages of _________having a car ______________________? 2 I don't intend to apply for the job. I have no intention of ____________________________. 3 Helen has a good memory for names. Helen is good at____________________________. 4 You probably won't win the lottery. You have little chance. You have little chance of____________________________. 5 Did you get into trouble because you were late? Did you get into trouble for ____________________________? 6 We didn't eat at home. We went to a restaurant instead. Instead of____________________________. 7 We got into the exhibition. We didn't have to queue. We got into the exhibition without ____________________________. 8 We played very well, but we lost the game. We lost the game despite ____________________________.
60.2	Complete the sentences using by -ing. Use the following (with the verb in the correct form) : borrow too much money break a window drive too fast put some pictures on the walls stand on a chair turn a key 1 The burglars got into the house ___by breaking a window_________ 2 I was able to reach the top shelf ______________________________. 3 You start the engine of a car ______________________________. 4 Kevin got himself into financial trouble ______________________________. 5 You can put people's lives in danger ______________________________. 6 We made the room look nicer ______________________________.
60.3	Complete the sentences with a suitable word. Use only one word each time. 1 We ran ten kilometres without ___stopping_____. 2 He left the hotel without _____________ his bill. 3 It's a nice morning. How about _____________ for a walk? 4 We were able to translate the letter into English without _____________  a dictionary. 5 Before _____________ to bed, I like to have a hot drink. 6 It was a long trip. I was very tired after _____________ on a train for 36 hours. 7 I was annoyed because the decision was made without anybody _____________ me. 8 After _____________ the same job for ten years, I felt I needed a change. 9 We got lost because we went straight on instead of _____________ left. 10 I like these pictures you took. You're good at _____________ pictures.
60.3	For each situation, write a sentence with I'm (not) looking forward to. 1 You are going on holiday next week. How do you feel? ___ I’m looking forward to going on holiday. ________________________ 2 Kate is a good friend of yours and she is coming to visit you soon. So you will see her again soon. How do you feel? I'm _______________ 3 You are going to the dentist tomorrow. You don't enjoy going to the dentist. How do you feel? I'm not _______________. 4 Rachel hates school but she's leaving next summer. How does she feel? _______________. 5 You've arranged to play tennis tomorrow. You haven't played for a while and you like tennis a lot. How do you feel? _______________.

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