Gerunds after prepositions
verbs placed immediately
after prepositions must be in the gerund form:
He left without paying his bill.
I apologize/or not writing before.
She insisted on paying/or herself.
Before signing the contract, read the small print.
A few noun + preposition + gerund combinations may also be noted:
There's no point in taking your car if you can't park.
What's the point of taking your car if you can't park?
Is there any chance/likelihood of his changing his mind?
Have you any objection to changing your working hours?
I am in favour of giving everyone a day off.
B
The exceptions to the gerund rule are except and but
(preposition), take (bare infinitive)
I could do nothing except agree.
He did nothing but complain.
However, if but is used as a conjunction, it can be followed
directly by either full infinitive or gerund:
Being idle sometimes is agreeable, but being idle all the time
might become monotonous.
To be idle sometimes is agreeable, but to be idle all the time
etc.
Prepositions/adverbs
Many words can be used as either prepositions or adverbs:
He got off the bus at the comer. (preposition)
He got off at the comer. (adverb)
They were here before six. (preposition)
He has done this sort of work before. (adverb)
Peter is behind us. (preposition)
He's a long way behind. (adverb)
She climbed over the wall. (preposition)
You 'II have to climb over too. (adverb)
When the meeting was over the delegates went home. (adverb; here
over = finished)
The shop is just round the comer. (preposition)
Come round (to my house) any evening. (adverb)
He ran up the stairs. (preposition)
He went up in the lift. (adverb)
Many of these words are used to form phrasal verbs
The plane took off. (left the ground)
He came round. (recovered
consciousness)
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