Prepositions · CEFR B1 · Independent
Preposition + -ing — English prepositions
A verb straight after a preposition always takes -ing. There are no exceptions worth learning.
The shape
after / without / before / by + verb-ing
Put a verb after a preposition without breaking it.
In Hindi
preposition के तुरंत बाद आने वाली क्रिया में हमेशा -ing लगता है। इसका कोई अपवाद नहीं।
CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.
The mistake to fix first
The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
He left without to say goodbye. | He left without saying goodbye. After a preposition the verb takes -ing, never "to". |
Easy to confuse with
Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.
Questions people ask
- What is the preposition + -ing used for?
- A verb straight after a preposition always takes -ing. There are no exceptions worth learning. In practice: put a verb after a preposition without breaking it.
- How do you form the preposition + -ing?
- after / without / before / by + verb-ing.
- What is the most common mistake with the preposition + -ing?
- Saying “He left without to say goodbye.” instead of “He left without saying goodbye.”. After a preposition the verb takes -ing, never "to".
Where preposition + -ing fits
Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.
Preposition + -ing is a CEFR B1 structure — the independent band — and it belongs to prepositions. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
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