68 like, dislike and other verbs + gerund • Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or a noun, including the following: like dislike prefer love hate miss finish stop give up start enjoy begin Note: like, love, prefer, and start are sometimes followed by the infinitive. Practice Write these sentences, changing the verbs into gerunds. 1 Do you like (make) cakes? Do you like making cakes? 2 I dislike (get up) at seven o'clock every morning. 3 I started (work) here eight or nine years ago. 4 Do you prefer (travel) by plane or by ship? 5 I hate (write) 'thank you1 letters. 6. | Gerunds and infinitives 68 like dislike and other verbs gerund Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or a noun including the following like love finish start dislike hate stop enjoy prefer miss give up begin Note like love prefer and start are sometimes followed by the infinitive. Practice Write these sentences changing the verbs into gerunds. 1 Do you like make cakes Do you like making cakes 2 I dislike get up at seven o clock every morning. 3 I started work here eight or nine years ago. 4 Do you prefer travel by plane or by ship 5 I hate write thank you1 letters. 6 I gave up drive after I had a bad accident. 7 I miss be able to visit my family. 8 I love sit here by the sea in the evenings. 9 I think it s time to stop play football. 10 What time did you finish read last night 11 Why don t you like go to discos 12 I think I ll start pack my suitcase. 97 Gerunds and infinitives 69 Prepositions gerund When a verb follows an preposition it takes the gerund We thought about leaving early. 1 was worried about getting home. I m interested in hearing more about your offer. I m tired of hearing Ids excuses. After closing the door he looked up and down the street. Check your passport before leaving. NOTES Note That to can be a preposition or part of an infinitive decided to leave early to infinitive I m looking forward to seeing them again to gerund A gerund behaves like a noun. Where a gerund can be used a noun can also be used. I m looking forward to going on holiday. I m looking fonvard to my holiday. Practice Complete these sentences putting the verbs into the gerund and using one of the following prepositions. Some of them are used more than once. about of in to after by for on at without 1 We talked .about going_ go to France for our holiday. 2 I look forward. see you again next year. 3 She s tired. work for the company. 4 I m very parents . come home. 5 . open the front door I walked slowly through it. 6 We got into the house. climb through a window. 7 I m
