ING forms in English
We use the -ING form in clauses:
1. to show that two actions occurred at the same time, or that one happened immediately after the other.
The escalators became central to the composition of the building, falling and rising diagonally.
2. to suggest a cause, reason or result. In these clauses, we can use stative verbs, not usually used in the continuous.
Believing that everyday objects should be useful or beautiful, I made the home a work of art.
3. to replace adverbial clauses of time or contrast. We introduce the participle clause with a conjunction.
Although working on a tight budget wasn't easy, I enjoyed redecorating my house.
Common words and expressions + -ING
be a master/genius at:
Mia is a genius at renovating houses.
be blame for:
Eve was to blame for ruining my picture.
for fear of/for the sake of:
for the sake of preserving old buildings
for/with the purpose of:
for the purpose of adapting the building for a new tenant.
in addition to
in spite of/despite
instead of:
Instead of employing tradesmen, I did the work myself.
be worth
be no good/use
the best way/the idea of (doing sth)
there's no hope of
there's no point in
there's no prospect of
through
with a view to
with the purpose of
without
Would you mind?
I don't mind...
Adjectives + prepositions + -ING
accused of:
The developers were accused of wrecking a historical building.
accustomed to:
Wealthy developers are accustomed to getting their own way.
based on:
Approval of the plans was based on the facade remaining intact.
better at:
Architects are no better at predicting the future than the rest of us.
better of
capable of
committed to
excited/enthusiastic about
guilty of
justified in
keen on
opposed to
prone to
responsible for
sorry for
tired of
worried about
Verb phrases + -ING
be charged with (= made responsible for something)
be feted/honoured for:
Architects are often feted/honoured for designing buildings whose form follows function.
be fined for
be no likelihood of
be/get landed/stuck with
can't help
can't stand
consider the possibility of
feel like
hate the thought of
have a reason for
have an /no excuse for
have difficulty in
have no intention of
have no objection to
have no regrets about
have no/little chance of
have/take rensponsibility for
keep (sb) waiting
take advantage of
come/result from
plan on
Verb + preposition + -ING
Some verbs are followed by a preposition and then the -ING from of the verb.
believe in:
I believe in making things by hand.
benefit from
come/result from
compliment sb on:
They complimented the architects on their innovative design.
depend on:
My renovation depended on finding cheap furniture.
dream of/about:
I dreamed of/about restoring her own house.
plan on
pride yourself on:
I prided herself on keeping to a budget.
specialise in:
I specialise in creating patterns from nature.
succeed in:
I succeeded in changing the relationship between my siblings.
Phrasal verbs + -ING
burst out:
Mary burst out crying when she saw the damage.
cut back/down on
cut out (for)
end up
feel up to
get over
give up:
Mia decided to give up painting.
go into (time/money/effort/hard work):
A great deal of time, money and hard work went into decorating the house.
keep on:
I will keep on renovating houses.
look after
be responsible for
look into:
The committee looked into extending the airport.
make up for (compensate)
put off (delay)
set about:
I set about finding cheap things on eBay.
take to
take up:
I decided to take up renovating houses as a full-time job.
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