3. Prepositions

3. Prepositions

1. 3.2. Verb + Preposition + -ING (succeed in -ing/accuse somebody of - ing etc.)

   • 1. MANY VERBS HAVE THE STRUCTURE: VERB + PREPOSITION + OBJECT
     • We TALKED ABOUT the problem. You must APOLOGISE FOR what you said.
       • If the object is another verb, it ends in -ING
         • We TALKED ABOUT GOING to South America. You must APOLOGISE FOR not TELLING the truth.
           • EXAMPLES
             • APPROVE (OF)
               • He doesn't APPROVE OF SWEARING.
             • DECIDE (AGAINST)
               • We have DECIDED AGAINST MOVING to London
             • DREAM (OF)
               • I wouldn't DREAM OF ASKING them for money
             • FEEL (LIKE)
               • Do you FEEL LIKE GOING out tonight?
             • INSIST (ON)
               • They INSISTED ON PAYING for the meal.
             • LOOK FORWARD (TO)
               • I'm LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING her.
             • SUCCEED (IN)
               • Have you SUCCEEDED IN FINDING A JOB YET?
             • THINK (OF/ABOUT)
               • I'm THINKING OF/ABOUT BUYING a house.
   • 2. ANOTHER STRUCTURE: preposition + SOMEBODY + verb -ING + object
     • I don't approve OF PEOPLE KILLING animals for fun. We are LOOKING FORWARD TO ANDY COMING home
   • 3. VERBS THAT CAN HAVE THE STRUCTURE: VERB + OBJECT + PREPOSITION + -ING (OBJECT)
     • EXAMPLES
       • ACCUSE (OF)
         • They ACCUSED us OF TELLING lies.
       • CONGRATULATE (ON)
         • We all CONGRATULATED Lisa ON WINNING the first prize
       • EXCUSE (FOR)
         • EXCUSE me FOR PHONING you so late.
       • PREVENT (FROM)
         • What PREVENTED you FROM COMING to see us?
       • SUSPECT (OF)
         • Nobody SUSPECTED the general OF BEING a spy.
       • THANK (FOR)
         • I forgot to THANK them FOR HELPING me
       • STOP (FROM)
         • The rain didn't STOP us FROM ENJOYING our holiday.
         • You can say "stop somebody doing" or "stop somebody from doing"
           • You can't STOP me DOING what I want. or You can't STOP me FROM DOING what I want.
     • NEGATIVE
       • not -ING
         • They accused us of NOT TELLING the truth.
     • PASSIVE
       • We WERE ACCUSED OF TELLING lies. The general WAS SUSPECTED OF BEING a spy.
     • VERB: APOLOGISE
       • We say "apologise TO SOMEBODY for..."
         • I apologised TO THEM for keeping them waiting

2. 3.3. TO... (afraid TO DO) and Preposition + -ING (afraid OF -ING)

   • 1. I am AFRAID TO DO something = I don't want to do it because it is dangerous or the result could be bad.
     • We use AFRAID TO DO for things we do intentionally, we can choose to do them or not
       • This part of town is dangerous. People are AFRAID TO WALK here at night.
   • 2. I am AFRAID OF something HAPPENING = it is possible that something bad will happen
     • We do not use AFRAID OF -ING for things we do intentionally
       • The pain was icy, so we walked very carefully. We were AFRAID OF FAILLING.
   • 3. I'm INTERESTED IN (do)ING something
     • I'm INTERESTING IN DOING something = I'm thinking of doing it, I would like to do it
       • Let me know if you're INTERESTED IN JOINING the club.
   • 4. INTEREST TO (do)
     • To say how somebody reacts to what they HEAR/SEE/READ/LEARN/KNOW/FIND. This structure is the same as SURPRISED TO... / GLAD TO ...
       • "I was INTERESTED TO HEAR it" = I heard it and it was interesting for me.
   • 5. SORRY TO (do)
     • 1. to say we regret something that happens
       • I was SORRY TO HEAR that Nicky lost her job
     • 2. to apologise at the time we do something
       • I'm SORRY TO PHONE you so late, but I need to ask you something.
   • 6. SORRY FOR/ABOUT (do)ING something
     • To apologise for something you did before
       • I'm SORRY FOR (or ABOUT) SHOUTING at you yesterday. / or / I'm SORRY I SHOUTED at you yesterday.
   • I WANT TO (do) / I'D LIKE TO (do)
     • but I'm THINKING OF (do)ING / I DREAM OF (do)ING
     • I FAILED TO (do)
       • I ALLOWED them to (do)
         • I PREVENTED them FROM (do)ING / I STOPPED them FROM (do)ING
       • but I SUCCEEDED IN (do)ING

3. 3.1. Preposition (in/for/about etc.) + -ING

   • 1. MAIN STRUCTURE
     • If a preposition (in/for/about etc.) is followed by a verb, the verb ends in -ing
   • 2. COMMON PREPOSITIONS
     • IN
       • Are you interested IN WORKING for us?
     • WITH
       • Sue must be fed up WITH STUDYING.
         • fed up = farto, cansado
     • AT
       • I'm not good AT LEARNING languages.
     • OF
       • What are the advantages OF HAVING a car?
     • FOR
       • Thanks very much FOR INVITING me to your party.
     • ABOUT
       • How ABOUT MEETING for lunch tomorrow?
     • INSTEAD OF
       • Why don't you go out INSTEAD OF SITTING at home all the time?
         • instead of = em vez de
     • IN SPITE OF
       • Amy went to work IN SPITE OF FEELING ill.
         • in spite of = apesar de
     • BEFORE
       • BEFORE GOING out, I phoned Sarah
         • Can also say "Before I went out..."
     • AFTER
       • What did you do after finishing school?
         • Can also say "...after you finisehd school"
     • BY
       • to say HOW something happens
         • The burglars got into the house BY BREAKING a window and CLIMBING in.
     • WITHOUT
       • We rain kilometres WITHOUT STOPPING.
       • TO
         • when is a preposition (look forward to doing something, etc)
           • I prefer driving to travelling by train.
           • Are you looking forward TO GOING on holiday?
   • 3. ANOTHER STRUCTURE: preposition + SOMEBODY + verb -ING + object
     • Instead of somebody doing something.
     • I'm fed up with people telling me what to do.