Sole preposition

Examples: John admitted stealing the jewels.

Would you mind not smoking in this office?

Verbs that can be followed by either the INFINITIVE or the GERUND

With no change in meaning

begin start continue cease

love like hate can’t bear

intend bother prefer

advise recommend allow permit

Examples: He started to study after dinner. Or:

He started studying after dinner.

Verbs that can be followed by either the INFINITIVE or the GERUND

but the meaning changes

stop go on remember forget try regret mean

Examples: He stopped smoking three years ago.

He stopped for a minute to smoke.

Don’t worry. I remember turning the gas off.

I was very busy but I remembered to post your letter.

I am sorry. I regret being so rude to you last time.

I regret to say but we can’t give you the job.

I tried to call her but she was out.

The radio doesn’t work. Try changing the batteries.

I mean to leave my job soon (=intend)

If you want to get a good seat, it means standing in the queue all night. (=involve)

IMPORTANT: Any time a preposition is followed directly by a verb,

the verb must be in the GERUND form

Adjective + preposition

be accustomed to be afraid of be interested in be capable of be fond of be tired of be keen on be good at be sorry for be fed up with be intent on be insistent on

Verb + preposition

talk about succeed in insist on think of think about dream of approve of decide against feel like look forward to give up rely on worry about count on keep on depend on put off carry on object to confess to call for apologise for complain about believe in forget about suffer from ask for

Verb + object + preposition

congratulate on accuse of suspect of prevent from stop from thank for forgive for warn against

Examples: Nobody suspected the man of being a spy.

Thank you very much for helping me.

Please, forgive me for not calling you.

Noun + preposition

choice of possibility of excuse for intention of reason for method of

Examples: There is no reason for leaving so early.

You don’t have any excuse for not writing to me.

Sole preposition

before after

instead of in spite of (despite)

without by

Examples: I ran ten kilometers without stopping.

You can improve your English by reading more.

Special expressions that are always followed by the GERUND

be used to get used to have difficulty (in) be busy

It’s (there’s) no use It’s (there’s) no good There’s no point in It’s (not) worth

It’s a waste of time It’s a waste of money What’s the point of

Examples: There’s no use crying over spilt milk.

It was a waste of time reading this book.