{"id":24317,"date":"2025-07-07T08:42:56","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T08:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ec.itmonks.dev\/en\/?post_type=free_lesson&p=24317"},"modified":"2025-07-07T08:42:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T08:42:57","slug":"prepositions-ing-how-it-works","status":"publish","type":"free_lesson","link":"https:\/\/ec.itmonks.dev\/en\/learn-english-for-free\/grammar\/prepositions-ing-how-it-works\/","title":{"rendered":"Prepositions + -ing: How it works\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a look at the following two sentences. Which one is correct? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you interested in studying English?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you interested in study English?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you chose the first one\u2014well done! But why is the first sentence correct? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Rule <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a preposition<\/strong> (such as in, at, of, for, about, with<\/em>) is followed by a verb, that verb must be in the -ing form<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So instead of study<\/em>, we say studying<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This structure is common in everyday English, and you hear it often when people are talking about interests, habits, and feelings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Examples in daily life <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • I\u2019m scared of <\/em>swimming<\/em><\/strong> in the sea.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Thanks for <\/em>giving<\/em><\/strong> me a ride.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • My brother\u2019s good at <\/em>playing<\/em><\/strong> tennis.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • How about <\/em>taking<\/em><\/strong> the bus?<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • I\u2019m not interested in <\/em>reading<\/em><\/strong> books.<\/em> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In each example, a preposition<\/strong> comes directly before a verb in the -ing form<\/strong>. This is the natural and correct structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Prepositions used before -ing verbs <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some of the most frequent ones: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • in<\/strong> \u2013 She\u2019s interested in travelling.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • at<\/strong> \u2013 He\u2019s great at cooking.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • of<\/strong> \u2013 She\u2019s afraid of flying.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • for<\/strong> \u2013 Thanks for helping me.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • about<\/strong> \u2013 We talked about moving abroad.<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • with<\/strong> \u2013 He\u2019s fed up with waiting.<\/em> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Tip<\/strong>: Using -ing after prepositions<\/strong> is a small detail, but it makes a big difference in how natural<\/strong> your English sounds. Once you start noticing it, you’ll hear it everywhere; in conversations, books, films, and even song lyrics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Take a look at the following two sentences. Which one is correct?  Are you interested in studying English?\u00a0 Are you<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5175,"parent":0,"template":"","free_lesson_category":[281,291],"class_list":["post-24317","free_lesson","type-free_lesson","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","free_lesson_category-grammar","free_lesson_category-verb-tenses"],"acf":{"related_posts":""},"yoast_head":"\nPrepositions + ing: How it works | EC English Schools<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to use the -ing form of verbs after prepositions like in, at, and about. 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