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Verbs

Sep 21, 2013

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1

× I’m not a fan of cook, but I have to do it.
√ I’m not a fan of cooking, but I have to do it.

If we use a verb after a preposition, we must always use the -ing form of the verb. ‘I don’t like rock climbing, because I’m afraid of falling.’ ‘I always watch TV after having dinner’.

2

× Speak English is difficult.
√ Speaking English is difficult.

When a verb is the subject of the sentence, we should use the -ing form of the verb. ‘Smoking is not allowed here.’ ‘Drinking alcohol and driving is very dangerous.’ ‘Drinking too many soft drinks can make children behave aggressively’

3

× I living in Barcelona.
× I’m live in Barcelona.
√ I’m living in Barcelona.
√ I live in Barcelona.

The –ing form of a verb CANNOT be used after the subject of the sentence; it is NOT a verb tense. You can use the verb be + the -ing form of another verb to form the present continuous, or you can use the present simple of the verb (depending on the meaning).

Remember that the present simple of a verb is only one word.

4

× We went to the bar to drank a beer.
√ We went to the bar to drink a beer.

× I tried to spoke, but I coulnd’t.
√ I tried to speak, but I coulnd’t.

In a to infinitive verb, the verb after to is always the base form of the verb (the infinitive form).

A lot of verbs can be followed by a to infinitive in English (want, decide, try, offer, start, etc.). If you use another verb after one of these verbs, it must always have the to infinitive form.