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 very good
            Sue must be fed up
    What are the advantages
             Thanks very much
                                 How
         Why don't you go out
             Carol went to work
preposition
in
at
with
of
for
about
inteadof
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 bhe 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 leaving school?
You can also say 'Before I went out...' and ... after you left 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 cause by people driving too fast.

withoug -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 go out.
   - Would you like to meet for lunch tomorrow?

But to is also a preposition (like in / for / about / from etc.). For example:

   - We drove from London to Edinburgh.
   - 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:

   in doing    about meeting    without stopping (etc)

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
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