The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Reporting verb + gerund

VERB (+ PREPOSITION) + GERUND

Examples of reporting verbs used with a gerund:

accuse somebody of, admit (to), apologise for, confess (to), complain about, deny, insist on, prohibit, suggest

Angela: I think it was you who told my secret.

Angela

accused me of

telling her secret.

Mario: Yes, I bumped your car.

Mario

admitted (to)

bumping my car.

Student to professor: I am sorry for being late.

The student

apologised (to the professor) for

being late.

Julie to her neighbour: Yes, it was me who started that ugly rumour about you. I'm sorry.

Julie

confessed (to)

starting an ugly rumour about her neighbour.

Student to his friend: I hate having to write tons of essays every semester.

The student

complained (to his friend) about

having to write a lot of essays.

Francesco: No, I didn't bump your car.

Francesco

denied

bumping my car.

Wife to husband: I do want to invite Dan and Margaret as well.

The wife

insisted on

inviting Dan and Margaret as well.

Museum sign: No smoking

They

prohibit

smoking in the museum.

Jill: What about going to the sauna tonight?

Jill

suggested

going to the sauna.

Related topics:

The forms of the gerund

Verb + gerund

Preposition + gerund