Ch 28 · Lesson 16English · Chapter 28 · Lesson 16 · Grammar primer
Suggested taking, apologised for being
Suggest, deny and admit take -ing: she suggested taking a taxi. After a preposition, always -ing: he apologised for being late.
The short version
Suggest never takes a person plus to
.
Why?Hide
She suggested me to go is wrong, however natural it feels. Suggest takes the -ing form or a that-clause instead: she suggested going, she suggested that I go. The mistake is common because advise and remind do take a person + to: she advised me to go.
The preposition is part of the verb
.
Why?Hide
Some reporting verbs only reach the action through a preposition, and after a preposition English allows exactly one form, the -ing form. Learn the verb, the preposition and the -ing as a single unbreakable unit: apologise for doing, insist on doing, accuse somebody of doing, blame somebody for doing.
Verb + -ing: suggest, deny, admit
These verbs take the -ing form:
...booking .
Verb + preposition + -ing
Some verbs need a preposition. After a preposition, the verb always takes -ing:
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
. | |
. | |
| sb | . |
| sb | . |
| sb | . |
| sb | swimming . |
(sb = somebody.) The preposition is part of the verb: not he apologised being late.
Apologise is the usual British spelling; apologize is American. Both are right.
Going further: Verb + to: promise, offer, refuse and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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