Prepositions + -ing
If a verb comes after a preposition (in / at / with / about, etc.), the verb ends in -ing.
The children are excited about going on vacation.
I bought a new motorcycle instead of going on vacation.
Notice the use of the following prepositions + -ing:
before -ing and after -ing:
Before going out, I called Sue.
What did you do after leaving school?
By -ing (to say how something happens):
You can improve your English by reading more.
without -ing
They climbed through the window without anybody seeing them. (or without being seen)
to -ing:
I prefer driving to traveling by bus. (not to travel)
Are you looking forward to seeing Mary again? (not looking forward to see)
Adjective + to
Compare these sentences:
Joe doesn't speak very clearly.
1) It is difficult to understand him.
2) He is difficult to understand.
The sentences above have the same meaning.
But note that we say: "He is difficult to understand.” (not He is difficult to understand him)
You can use the structures above with: difficult, easy, hard, impossible, dangerous, safe, expensive, cheap and a number of other adjectives.
It's nice of you to
You can use this structure to say you think of what somebody does:
It was nice of you to take me to the station. Thank you very much.
You can use many other adjectives in this way: kind, clever, sensible, mean, silly, and stupid, careless, unfair, considerate:
It's silly of Linda to give up her job when she needs the money.
I'm sorry to
You can use this structure to say how somebody reacts to something:
I was sorry to hear that your mother is sick.
You can use many other adjectives in this way: happy, glad, pleased, delighted, sad, disappointed, surprised, amazed, astonished and relieved:
Was Tim surprised to see you when you went to see him?
Phrases with -ing
It's no use… / It's no good…
There's nothing you can do about the situation, so it's no use worrying about it.
There's no point in…
There's no point in having a motorcycle if you never use it.
It's not worth…
I live only a short walk from here, so it's not worth taking a taxi.
Have difficulty -ing
I had difficulty finding a place to live.
We usually say "have difficulty” (not have difficulties):
I'm sure you'll have no difficulty passing the exam. (not have no difficulties)
We use –ing after: a waste of money… / a waste of time…
It was a waste of time reading that magazine. It was terrible.
It's a waste of money buying things you don't need.
Spend / waste (time)…
He spent hours trying to repair the car.
I waste a lot of time daydreaming.
Be busy…
She said she couldn't see me. She was too busy doing other things.
We use go -ing for a number of activities (especially sports). For example, you can say:
go swimming, go sailing, go fishing, go climbing, go skiing, go jogging, go shopping, go sightseeing etc.
I'd like to go skiing.
You can also say "come swimming / come skiing" etc.:
Why don't you come swimming with us?