A preposition can connect a verb to another action.
The idea
After a verb and its dependent preposition, put the following verb in the -ing form: insist on paying, apologise for arriving or succeed in building. Both apologise and apologize are correct.
Examples
- Mina insisted on paying for the meal.
- We talked about planting trees near the school.
- Jon apologised for arriving late.
- The children succeeded in building a small raft.
- I am thinking of changing my timetable.
- They thanked us for helping at the event.
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Watch out
Do not omit the preposition or put to pay after insist on. The preposition belongs to the first verb.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct option. Lena insisted on ___ the bill. (checking / check)
Show answer or example answer
checking
checking follows on and names what Lena insisted on.
Choose the correct option. We apologised for ___ the window open. (leaving / leave)
Show answer or example answer
leaving
leaving names the action for which we apologised.
Choose the correct option. He succeeded in ___ the puzzle. (solving / solve)
Show answer or example answer
solving
solving names the action he managed to complete.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct option. Lena insisted on ___ the bill. (checking / check)
Choose the correct option. We apologised for ___ the window open. (leaving / leave)
Choose the correct option. He succeeded in ___ the puzzle. (solving / solve)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write a sentence about something you insisted on doing and another about something you apologised for doing.