Wecan use aboutafter ask, complain, dream, speak, talk, think,and wonder.

They're talking about building a new swimming-pool.

С Verb + object + preposition + ing-form

After some verbs we can put an object (e.g. Matthew).

Emma accused Matthew of not caring about her.

Higher prices will discourage customers from buying.

The fire-fighters prevented/stopped the fire (from) spreading.

The club has punished its players for fighting during a match. Also: blame... for, congratulate... on, thank... for

We can use this structure in the passive.

Matthew was accused of not caring. The customers will be discouraged from buying.

D Adjective + preposition + ing-form

People were annoyed at not being able to see properly. I'm bored with waiting. Vicky is excited about going to America. I'm fed up with living in this awful place. Tom is good at telling jokes. The man was found guilty of stealing from his employers. I'm pleased about/at winning a prize. Also: capable of, fond of, interested in (see Unit 71B), keen on, tired of

70 Exercises

1 Verb + preposition + ing-form (A-B)

Complete the conversation between Claire and her sister Sophie.

Put in the verbs with these prepositions: for, in, like, of, on

Sophie: Where's that little radio of yours?

Claire: Oh, it got broken. Henry knocked it off the table.

Unfortunately he hasn't succeeded (►) in getting (get) it to work again.

Sophie: Oh, what a pity.

Claire: It was only a cheap thing. In fact I'd been thinking (1)...................................... (buy) a new one.

But Henry not only apologized (2).......................................... (break) it, he

insisted (3).......................................... (buy) me a much nicer one. It's in the dining-room.

Sophie: Henry is such a gentleman.

Claire: He didn't really need to buy me a new one, but I didn't feel (4)....................................... (argue).

2 Verb (+ object) + preposition + ing-form (A-C)

Comment on these situations. Join each pair of sentences using a preposition and an ing-form. ► The police prevented the crime. It didn't take place. The police prevented the crime from taking place.

1 Laura blamed Trevor. He forgot the tickets.

Laura...........................................................................................................................................................................

2 The doctors succeeded. They saved the driver's life.

The doctors................................................................................................................................................................

3 The customers complained. They didn't receive the goods.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4 Emma has accused Matthew. She says Matthew broke his promise.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5 Melanie is insisting. She's going to cook a meal for David.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6 A new traffic scheme has stopped cars. They can't go into the town centre.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7 Everyone congratulated Claude. He won the quiz competition.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

8 Some football fans were arrested. They attacked a policeman.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3 Verb/Adjective + preposition + ing-form (A-D)

Complete Emma's letter to her friend Kirsty. Put in a preposition and an ing-form.

Thank you (►) for inviting (invite) me to come and see you next month. I'm already excited

(1)........................................ (see) you again.

You must be very pleased (2)....................................... (get) the job you wanted. Congratulations. Personally,

I wouldn't be keen (3)......................................... (travel) forty miles to work.

I apologize (4)........................................ (not write) sooner, but a week in bed with flu has prevented me

(5).......................................... (do) anything. I haven't even felt (6)........................................... (write) letters

until today. I must be getting better because I'm starting to feel bored (7)......................................... (do)

nothing. I'm thinking (8).......................................... (go) back to work tomorrow.

71 Afraid to do or afraid of doing?

A Afraid

David is afraid to climb the ladder. David is afraid of falling.

(= He doesn't want to climb the ladder because (= He is afraid because he might fall.)

he is afraid.)

Here are some more examples.

I was afraid to say anything in front 1 was afraid of sounding foolish, you see.

of all those people.

Claire was afraid to wander too far She was afraid of getting lost.

from the hotel.

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