Why the second verb takes -ing
Combine two actions in one construction: enjoy reading, finish cooking, avoid arguing. In these patterns, the second action uses an -ing form.
This form is traditionally called a gerund. Here it names an action as the first verb’s content and does not establish tense itself: enjoys reading expresses a present preference; enjoyed reading expresses a past one.
The pattern depends on the meaning and the first verb. Learn the whole combination, such as enjoy doing, rather than an isolated word.
Enjoy / finish / mind / avoid / suggest / keep / practise + verb-ing.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V-ing / -ing —
- The verb form ending in -ing: working, going. Its role depends on the construction.
My sister enjoys cycling to work.
My sister enjoys cycling to work.
Enjoy takes -ing when the action immediately follows it.
He finished tidying the kitchen an hour ago.
He finished tidying the kitchen an hour ago.
Finish + -ing reports completion rather than a planned intention.
We avoid driving through the city centre at rush hour.
We avoid driving through the city centre at rush hour.
Avoid + -ing: the action avoided appears in the -ing form.
Seven useful combinations
You cannot work out the choice of -ing purely from a verb’s meaning: it is part of the particular verb pattern to learn. This lesson covers seven verbs: enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, keep and practise.
Use -ing for the second action in these patterns: I enjoy swimming, rather than I enjoy to swim. The verbs also have other constructions, such as suggest that we leave and enjoy the music. This is therefore not a ban on everything except -ing.
Other verbs follow other patterns: want to leave, decide to stay. Like, start and continue can take both forms, with meaning differences or restrictions depending on context.
Would you mind closing the window?
Would you mind closing the window?
In this polite request pattern, mind takes an -ing complement.
Our guide suggested taking the shorter path.
Our guide suggested taking the shorter path.
Use suggest doing rather than suggest to do or suggest someone to do.
The children kept asking the same question.
The children kept asking the same question.
Keep + -ing means continuing to do something, often repeatedly.
She practises singing every evening before dinner.
She practises singing every evening before dinner.
Both verb spellings are accepted: practise in British English and practice in American English.
How to form -ing correctly
Usually add -ing to the base form: cook → cooking, talk → talking, read → reading.
Common changes include make → making (a final silent e is usually dropped), swim → swimming (the final consonant doubles), and tie → tying (ie becomes y). Final w, x and y do not double: snowing, fixing, playing. There are exceptions, such as dye → dyeing.
The same spelling rules apply in different -ing constructions. Pay attention to letters and stress; check an unfamiliar doubtful form in a dictionary.
Read → reading; make → making; swim → swimming; tie → tying.
He avoids leaving his phone at home.
He avoids leaving his phone at home.
Leave → leaving: the silent final e is dropped.
I don't mind sitting at the back of the bus.
I don't mind sitting at the back of the bus.
Sit → sitting: this short verb doubles its final consonant.
They enjoy trying new recipes at the weekend.
They enjoy trying new recipes at the weekend.
Try → trying: y after a consonant does not change in the -ing form.
Negation: don’t/doesn’t/didn’t + the first verb
To negate a preference or completion in the present/past simple, add don’t/doesn’t/didn’t to the first verb: I don’t enjoy swimming. Swimming remains unchanged.
I enjoy not swimming is also grammatical, but means something different: the speaker enjoys avoiding swimming. The position of not determines what is negated. For example, I enjoy not having to hurry expresses enjoyment of freedom from the need to hurry.
I don't mind sharing a desk with a new colleague.
I don't mind sharing a desk with a new colleague.
Do not + mind + -ing; the -ing form stays unchanged.
He doesn't enjoy flying.
He doesn't enjoy flying.
Does not + enjoy + -ing with a third-person singular subject.
We didn't finish packing before midnight.
We didn't finish packing before midnight.
Did not + finish + -ing: negation in the past.
Questions: the auxiliary moves forward; -ing stays in place
In questions, auxiliary do/does/did moves before the subject; use be instead when the first verb is in a continuous form. The first verb and its -ing complement retain their order.
In wh-questions, place the question word before the auxiliary: What do you enjoy doing at the weekend?
Do you mind sharing your notes with me?
Do you mind sharing your notes with me?
Do + subject + mind + -ing forms a polite request.
What did she suggest changing in the plan?
What did she suggest changing in the plan?
Question word + did + subject + suggest + -ing.
Why does he keep forgetting his keys?
Why does he keep forgetting his keys?
Why + does + subject + keep + -ing describes a repeated present action.
A gerund complement versus the present continuous
In She is cooking, am/is/are + verb-ing forms the present continuous. In She enjoys cooking, cooking names a favourite activity. Not every -ing form after be is automatically continuous: My hobby is cooking identifies an activity.
An -ing form after one of these seven verbs is an action complement; the sentence can use different tenses: She enjoys cooking (present simple), She enjoyed cooking (past simple), She has enjoyed cooking (present perfect).
Both constructions can appear in one sentence: She is enjoying reading this book. Is enjoying is the first verb’s present continuous, while reading is its gerund complement. Two different roles for -ing in one sentence are normal.
They are painting the fence this afternoon.
They are painting the fence this afternoon.
This is simply present continuous, without a first verb from the list; there is no gerund complement here.
They avoid painting the fence in the rain.
They avoid painting the fence in the rain.
Avoid + -ing: a gerund complement in a present-simple sentence, rather than a continuous tense.
My neighbour is practising playing the drums right now.
My neighbour is practising playing the drums right now.
Is practising is the first verb’s continuous form; playing is the gerund complement after practise.
Boundaries with related verb patterns
Compare want to check with finish checking. The first verb indicates the pattern for the second action.
Both forms are often possible after start and begin: start reading / start to read. Do not apply one verb’s pattern to all others.
She finished checking the report before the meeting.
She finished checking the report before the meeting.
For this action-complement pattern, finish from the lesson’s list takes -ing.
She wants to check the report again tomorrow.
She wants to check the report again tomorrow.
Want belongs to a related pattern with to + base form and is included only for contrast.
Conversation: reasons, habits and replies
Gerund complements after these verbs commonly occur when explaining habits or preferences (enjoy, practise), describing completed or repeated actions (finish, keep), and making polite suggestions or requests (suggest, mind).
In a dialogue, a reply with a gerund complement often follows up the other speaker’s contribution. If someone asks about a habit or advice, repeat the first verb and add your own -ing complement.
"What do you usually avoid eating before a race?" "I avoid eating anything heavy."
"What do you usually avoid eating before a race?" "I avoid eating anything heavy."
The reply repeats avoid and adds its own -ing complement.
"What would you suggest changing in this design?" "I'd suggest changing the colours."
"What would you suggest changing in this design?" "I'd suggest changing the colours."
Suggest + -ing is preserved in both turns.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I enjoy to cook on Sundays.
Correct:I enjoy cooking on Sundays.
Enjoy takes -ing for the second action in this pattern.
Incorrect:She finished to clean her room.
Correct:She finished cleaning her room.
Finish takes -ing in this pattern; the action is complete.
Incorrect:He avoids to argue with his neighbours.
Correct:He avoids arguing with his neighbours.
Avoid takes -ing in this pattern.
Incorrect:They suggested to delay the trip.
Correct:They suggested delaying the trip.
Suggest takes -ing here; it also does not take a person followed by a to-infinitive: suggest someone to do is incorrect.
Incorrect:Would you mind to open the door?
Correct:Would you mind opening the door?
Mind takes -ing in this polite request pattern.
Incorrect:We keep to forget the address.
Correct:We keep forgetting the address.
Keep meaning “continue” takes -ing for the second action in this pattern.
Incorrect:I enjoy swiming every morning.
Correct:I enjoy swimming every morning.
Swim is a short verb with one vowel before the final consonant; double that consonant: swimming rather than swiming.
Incorrect:She doesn't enjoy to swim in cold water.
Correct:She doesn't enjoy swimming in cold water.
Form the negative with does not before enjoy, while the complement remains -ing rather than to + base form.