Verb + -ing

When some verbs are followed by another verb, the second verb must take the -ing form (a gerund), not to + verb. The first verb changes for tense as usual; the -ing form stays the same in every tense.

💡In many languages two verbs simply sit side by side. In English the second verb must be -ing or to + verb, and the first verb decides which. So learn them as chunks: enjoy doing, avoid doing, finish doing.

1. Liking, disliking, not minding: enjoy, (not) mind, fancy (= want, feel like — British, informal), can't stand, dislike

• My grandma enjoys growing herbs on her balcony.

• Do you mind sitting at the back?

• I can't stand waiting in long queues.

• Do you fancy getting a bubble tea after class?

2. Finishing, stopping, continuing, delaying: finish, stop, quit, give up, keep (on), go on, carry on, put off, postpone, delay

• Have you finished using the laptop?

• It kept raining the whole weekend.

• My uncle gave up smoking last year.

• We put off booking the hotel, and now everything is full.

3. Avoiding, risking, missing, not being able to stop yourself: avoid, risk, miss, resist, can't help

• I try to avoid driving during rush hour.

• Don't risk losing your photos — back them up.

• I really miss eating my mum's cooking.

• I couldn't help laughing at his joke.

4. Thinking, suggesting, admitting, practising: consider, imagine, suggest, recommend, admit, deny, mention, practise (American spelling: practice)

• Have you ever considered working abroad?

• Lan suggested meeting at the cafe near the station.

• He finally admitted breaking the vase.

• Imagine living right next to the beach!

• I practise speaking English with a friend every evening.

• Negative: put not right before the -ing form: She suggested not telling anyone yet.
• Verb + person + -ing: I can't imagine my dad dancing. / Sorry to keep you waiting. / Do you mind me sitting here? (more formal: my sitting)
• keep / keep on + -ing = do something again and again, often with annoyance: My laptop keeps freezing.
• With admit, deny you can use having + past participle to stress that the action came first, but plain -ing is usually enough: He denied taking the money. = He denied having taken the money.
• suggest, recommend, admit, deny can also take a that-clause: Lan suggested (that) we meet at the cafe (British English also: we should meet). But not “suggested us to meet”.
• stop and go on can also take to + verb, but the meaning changes — see the lesson “-ing or to: remember, forget, stop, try, need”.

Verbs with similar meanings don't always take the same form. Compare each pair below (see also the lesson “Verb + to-infinitive”):

• I enjoy swimming, but today I want to stay at home.

• We're considering moving to Da Nang. We plan to go in May.

• He avoided answering at first, then refused to say anything.

• I don't mind helping. I've already agreed to help on Saturday.

💡A rough memory aid (not a rule): verbs with to often look ahead to something not done yet (want, hope, plan, decide, promise); many verbs with -ing are about something happening or already experienced (enjoy, finish, stop, miss, admit). But consider, suggest and imagine are about the future and still take -ing — so in the end you have to learn each verb.

• ✗I enjoy to listen to podcasts.

  ✓I enjoy listening to podcasts.

  enjoy + -ing, not to.

• ✗Would you mind to turn the music down?

  ✓Would you mind turning the music down?

  mind + -ing.

• ✗She suggested us to take a taxi.

  ✓She suggested taking a taxi. / She suggested (that) we take a taxi.

  suggest doesn't take person + to.

• ✗He keeps forget his keys.

  ✓He keeps forgetting his keys.

  After keep, use -ing, not the base form.

• ✗I'm considering to change jobs.

  ✓I'm considering changing jobs.

  consider + -ing; two -ing forms in a row are fine here.

• ✗Have you finished to pack?

  ✓Have you finished packing?

  finish + -ing.