062 : Verb + preposition + -ing (succeed in -ing / insist on -ing etc.)

   A   

Many verbs have the structure verb + preposition (in/for/about etc.) + object. For example:

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:

verb +	preposition	+ object
We talked	about	going to South America.
You must apologise	for	not telling the truth.

 

Some more verbs with this structure:

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.

 

You can also say 'approve of somebody doing something', 'look forward to somebody doing something' etc :

• I don't approve of people killing animals for fun.
• We are all looking forward to Andy coming home.

 

 

   B   

The following verbs can have the structure verb + object + preposition + -ing:

 

	verb +	+ object	preposition	+ -ing (object)
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?
stop (from)	The rain didn't stop	us	from	enjoying our holiday.
suspect (of)	Nobody suspected	the general	of	being a spy.
thank (for)	I forgot to thank	them	for	helping me.

 

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.

The following examples are with not -ing:

• They accused us of not telling the truth.
• Excuse me for not replying to your email until now.

 

 
Some of these verbs are often used in the passive. For example:

• We were accused of telling lies.
• The general was suspected of being a spy.

Note that we say 'apologise to somebody for ... ':

• I apologised to them for keeping them waiting. (not I apologised them)

 

 

 

※ approve : 

 

approve : 

 

1. to think that somebody/something is good, acceptable or suitable

• I told my mother I wanted to leave school but she didn't approve.
• Do you approve of my idea?
• approve of somebody doing something // She doesn't approve of me leaving school this year.

 

2. to officially accept (an idea, action, plan, etc.)

• The committee unanimously approved the plan.
• We hope that the proposals will soon be approved by the committee.
• Your supervisor must approve the report before it can be sent.

 

 

※ swear : 

 

swear (어원 answer): 세게 답하다(누군가에게) : 욕설하다  /  굳게 답하다(무엇을) : 맹세하다

 

1.  to use rude or offensive language, usually because you are angry

• I don't like to hear children swearing.
• He heard her swear under her breath.
• She was shouting, swearing, and acting in an aggressive manner towards the staff
• Why did you let him swear at you like that?

 

2. to make a serious promise to do something

• swear something // He swore revenge on the man who had killed his father.
• swear (that)... // I swear (that) I’ll never leave you.
• swear to do something // She made him swear not to tell anyone.
• swear to somebody/on something (that)… // I swear to God I had nothing to do with it.
• swear on something // Witnesses were required to swear on the Bible [= to put a hand on the Bible and make a formal promise to tell the truth] before they testify.