1.6 Special Expressions Followed By -ing

-ing forms follow certain special expressions:

have fun/a good time + -ing

have trouble/difficulty + -ing

have a hard time/difficult time + -ing

Examples:

(a)  We had fun

      We had a good time

(b)  I had trouble

       I had difficulty

       I had a hard time

       I had a difficult time

Spend + expression of time or money + -ing

Waste + expression of time or money + -ing

Examples:

(c) Sam spends most of his time studying

(d) I waste a lot of time watching TV

Sit + expression of time or money + -ing

Stand + expression of place + -ing

Lie + expression of place + -ing

Examples:

(e) She sat at her desk writing a letter

(f)  I stood there wondering what to do next

(g) He is lying in bed reading a novel

Find + (pro) noun + -ing

Catch + (pro) noun + -ing

(h) When I walked into my office, I found Georger using my telephone.

(i ) When I walked into my office, I caught a thief looking through my desk drawers.

In (h) and (i): both find and catch mean “discover.” Catch often express anger or displeasure.

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