Study materials
The -ing form can be more than just doing. It can have its own doer in front of it, and it can take having or being.
I don't mind him staying late.
He denied having taken the money.
I'm tired of being asked the same question.
This article explains a doer of its own before -ing, having with the third form, the passive forms being done and having been done, and the phrases that are always followed by -ing.
A separate doer before -ing
If the action is done by someone other than the subject of the main clause, the doer goes right before -ing. Without it the action is credited to the subject.
I don't mind him staying late.
Conversational.
I don't mind his staying late.
Formal.
Do you mind me opening the window?
The possessive form, his, my or your, sounds formal. In conversation him, me or you are more common.
Having done
If the -ing action came before the main one and you want to stress it, use having with the third form.
He denied taking the money.
The order is clear anyway.
He denied having taken the money.
The same, stressing it came earlier.
She apologised for having forgotten the meeting.
Usually the simple form is enough, because after deny, admit, regret and remember the order is clear. Having done is more common in formal writing.
Passive forms
If the subject receives the action, both forms have a passive.
| Form | When the action happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| being done | at the same time | She hates being interrupted. |
| having been done | earlier | He denies having been told. |
| to be done | at the same time or later | He expects to be invited. |
| to have been done | earlier | He claims to have been misled. |
I'm tired of being asked the same question.
A preposition takes -ing, so being asked.
Phrases followed by -ing
A few fixed phrases are always followed by -ing, although Ukrainian often uses an infinitive there.
| Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| it's worth | The museum is worth visiting. |
| it's no use | It's no use crying. |
| there's no point in | There's no point in waiting. |
| can't help | I couldn't help laughing. |
| look forward to | I look forward to seeing you. |
In look forward to, to is a preposition, so -ing follows: look forward to seeing, not look forward to see.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is a missing doer.
I don't mind staying late, but it's my brother who stays. → I don't mind my brother staying late.
Without the doer it sounds as if I stay.
The second mistake is to be after a preposition.
I'm tired of to be asked. → I'm tired of being asked.
A preposition takes -ing.
The third mistake is to after it's worth.
The museum is worth to visit. → The museum is worth visiting.
Worth takes -ing.
The first mistake shows if you ask who does the -ing action. If not the subject of the main clause, name the doer before -ing. The second and third show in the word before the form. After a preposition, like of or the to in look forward to, and after worth, no use or can't help, -ing follows, and for the passive being with the third form.