Verb + ing

 

Abhor/Hate

to hate 

What do you abhor doing at work/in life?

I abhor doing tasks that are repetitive and mundane.

 

acknowledge

to recognize what you have done

Do you acknowledge making mistakes quickly?

Yes, I acknowledge making mistakes quickly which is important in order to learn and grow.

 

admit

to say that you have done something

Is it easy for you to admit (to) having made a mistake?

Yes, it is generally easy for me to admit having made a mistake.

 

advise

to give advice

What does the doctor advise doing if you have a fever?

If you have a fever, the doctor will likely advise resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medications

 

allow

to permit

Why don’t they allow smoking in public places?

They don’t allow smoking in public placesfor a variety of reasons. One of the primary reasons is the health risks associated with second-hand smoke, which can cause serious health problems such as asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease.

 

anticipate

to expect to happen

Are there any changes you anticipate happening in society in the near future?

Yes, I anticipate many changes happening in society in the near future. Many of these changes will be driven by advances in technology, such as the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality.

 

appreciate

to be grateful for

Do your friends appreciate you helping them out?

Yes, my friends usually appreciate me helping them out. I try to be supportive and offer my help whenever I can, and I’m happy to see that my friends are usually grateful for my assistance.

 

avoid

to try not to do/try not to come into contact with

What kinds of things do you avoid eating for the sake of your health?

For the sake of my health, I try to avoid eating processed foods, foods high in sugar and saturated fats, and foods with artificial additives.

 

be worth

to be a good idea to spend the time on

What kinds of activities are worth spending your free time on?

There are many different activities that are worth spending your free time on. Some of these activities include reading, writing, exercising, learning a new hobby or skill, spending time outdoors, engaging in creative pursuits such as painting or photography, listening to music, taking part in spiritual practice, spending time with family and friends, volunteering, and developing new relationships.

 

can’t help

to be able to not do

How would you deal with someone who can’t help complaining about everything all the time?

Dealing with someone who is can’t help complaining can be difficult and frustrating, but it is important to remain patient and understanding.

 

celebrate

to party about

How would you celebrate being together with your partner for over 50 years?

To celebrate being together with my partner for over 50 years, I would plan a special day full of activities that are meaningful and important to us both.

 

confess

to admit that you did

How would you get someone to confess to stealing something?

To get someone to confess to stealing something, it is important to be patient and compassionate. It is important to create a safe and non-judgmental environment for them to feel comfortable in. You should ask open-ended questions and listen to their responses without being confrontational. It is also important to remain calm and avoid any aggressive or accusatory language.

 

consider

to think about

What do you normally consider doing at the weekends?

On the weekends, I consider relaxing and spending time with my family and friends. I also like to explore new places and activities, go for walks or hike in nature, and spend time outdoors.

 

defend

to give reasons why you did

How would you defend spending the last big amount that you have spent?

To defend spending the last big amount I have spent, I would explain why the purchase was necessary and how it will benefit me in the long run.

 

delay

to postpone, put off

Why shouldn’t we delay doing something important?

We shouldn’t delay doing something important because it can lead to missed opportunities, setbacks, and potential regret.

 

detest

to hate, despise, abhor

What kinds of things would you detest doing at work?

I would detest doing any task that would require me to be dishonest or unethical.

 

discontinue

to stop doing, to stop providing

Would you carry on shopping at a big store which discontinued providing customer service?

No, I would not carry on shopping at a big store that discontinued providing customer service. I value good customer service, and this would be a deal breaker for me.

 

discuss

to talk about

Who would you discuss doing something life-changing with?

If I were to discuss doing something life-changing, I would discuss it with people I trust and are close to me, such as my family and closest friends.

dislike

to not like

Why do people dislike having to work hard when it is clearly good for them?

People may dislike having to work hard because it can be uncomfortable and demanding, and it requires a lot of effort and dedication.

 

dispute

to say something isn’t true

Can you see through a liar when they dispute having done something? 

No, it is not always possible to see through a liar when they dispute having done something. However, there are certain behaviours and signs that may indicate someone is lying. These include avoiding eye contact, speaking in a monotone voice, using qualifying language, and repeating questions.

 

dread

to fear doing or experiencing

Why do many people dread being under supervision at work?

Many people dread being under supervision at work because they feel as though their autonomy and creativity is being stifled. Supervisors can be overly critical or nit-picky and may not allow employees to take initiative or make decisions on their own.

 

endure

to go through

How long would you be able to last if you had to endure working nonstop for 12 hours in your job?

If I had to endure working nonstop for 12 hours in my job, I would likely not be able to last very long. Working for such a long period of time can be mentally and physically draining, and can lead to fatigue and exhaustion.

 

enjoy

to have a good time doing

What kinds of things do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy doing a wide range of activities, from reading and writing to exploring new places and trying new things. I also enjoy playing board games with family and friends, watching movies, listening to music, and going for walks.

 

escape

to get away from

How would you deal with a colleague who tries to escape doing their part of the work?

If I had a colleague who was trying to escape doing their part of the work, I would first try to have a conversation with them to try and understand their motivations. If they are simply uninterested in the task or unmotivated, I would try to find ways to make it more engaging or motivating.

 

evade

to avoid

What kinds of people you evade talking to at parties?

At parties, I evade talking to people who are overly talkative and don’t seem to be listening to me. I also tend to evade talking to people who are overly negative or who are always trying to one-up me or show off.

 

fancy/feel like

to like very much

What do you fancy doing after class?

After classes, I fancy relaxing and unwinding. I also feel like grabbing a cup of coffee or tea and reading a book or watching a movie.

What do you feel like having for dinner today?

I feel like having something light for dinner today, like a salad or a bowl of soup.

 

fear

to be afraid of

How would you help a person who feared flying in planes?

If I were helping a person who feared flying in planes, I would begin by trying to understand the individual’s fear and identify the underlying causes. Once I have a better understanding of the fear, I would then work with the individual to develop strategies to cope with the fear.

 

feign

to pretend to do

How would you deal with a colleague who feigned not knowing how to do something to get out of having to do it?

If I had a colleague who was feigning not knowing how to do something to get out of having to do it, I would first attempt to have an honest conversation with them about the situation. I would try to understand why they are avoiding the task and discuss potential solutions to the problem.

 

finish

to stop doing

When was the last time you finished watching a movie and decided to watch another one?

The last time I finished watching a movie and decided to watch another one was about a week ago. I had just finished watching the horror classic “The Shining” and was in the mood for something a bit lighter, so I ended up watching the classic romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally”.

 

forgive

to not be angry at someone anymore

How easy/hard is it to forgive breaking a promise/your heart?

It’s hard to forgiving breaking a promise or hurting your heart. It can take time and effort to come to terms with the situation and truly forgive the person who has wronged you. 

 

keep

to continue doing

Can you keep working/focusing even if there are a lot of distractions?

Yes, it is possible to keep working and focusing even if there are a lot of distractions. The key is to develop strategies to help you stay focused and eliminate distractions.

 

mention

to say in passing

What advice would you give a friend who mentioned thinking about breaking up with their partner?

If I had a friend who mentioned thinking about breaking up with their partner, I would first take the time to listen to their concerns and understand their reasons for wanting to end the relationship. I would then ask them to consider the long-term implications of their decision and to think about how it might affect their lives in the future.

 

mind

to object to

Do you mind people smoking around you?

No, I do not mind people smoking around me. I understand that people have the right to make their own decisions about their own health and lifestyle, and I would never judge someone for their choices.

 

miss

to want something you don’t have

Who do you miss being with? What do you miss doing?

I miss being with my family and friends. I miss being able to gather together and spend time talking, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.

 

necessitate

to require to do

How long would you last in a job that necessitates working in shifts?

I’m confident that I would be able to adjust to working in a job that necessitates working in shifts. I’m a very adaptable person and I’m used to working long hours and in a variety of different settings.

 

omit

to leave out, delete

What would you omit discussing in a conversation with your boss about a pay rise?

In a conversation with my boss about a pay rise, I would omit discussing any personal issues or disputes that are unrelated to the pay raise.

 

permit

to allow

Did your parents permit playing loud music in the house?

No, my parents did not permit playing loud music in the house. They believed that loud music could disturb the peace and disrupt our family time.

 

picture

to imagine

Where do you picture retiring to?

I picture retiring to a small town by the ocean. I envision myself living in a cozy cottage, surrounded by beautiful scenery and close to the shore.

 

postpone

to put off, delay

Have you postponed doing anything recently?

Yes, I have recently postponed doing a few things. I had planned to take a weekend trip to visit some friends, but had to postpone it due to the current pandemic. I also planned to start a new exercise routine, but put it off until I have more time to dedicate to it.

 

practice

to do over and over again

Did you ever practice shooting hoops at school?

No, I never practiced shooting hoops at school. Basketball was not a sport that was offered at my school, so I never had the opportunity to practice shooting hoops.

 

recall

to remember

Do you recall learning the alphabet?

Yes, I do recall learning the alphabet. I remember it being one of the first lessons I learned in school.

 

recollect

to remember

Do you recollect playing with your friends as a child?

Yes, I do recollect playing with my friends as a child. We would often play tag, hide and seek, or any other game that we could come up with.

 

recommend

to tell someone they should do something

If the doctor recommended doing more exercise, would your routine let you do it?

Yes, my routine would likely allow me to do more exercise if the doctor recommended doing it.

 

report

to tell about

If your child reported being bullied at school, what would you do?

If my child reported being bullied at school, I would take the situation very seriously. I would listen to my child, validate their experience, and provide emotional and practical support.

 

resent

to not like that something that someone does

If your child/employee resented working hard, what would you do?

If my child/employee resented working hard, I would have an honest conversation with them to try to understand the source of their resentment.

resist

to try to avoid doing

How long could you resist eating your favourite food?

I could probably resist eating my favourite food for a few hours, but it would be difficult. I have a strong sweet tooth and it would be hard to ignore the temptation of something delicious and sugary.

 

resume

to start doing again

If you stopped for a rest while you were working on an important project, after how long of a rest would you resume working?

I would resume working on an important project after a 10-15 minute break. This would give me enough time to de-stress and approach the work with a fresh perspective.

 

risk

to take a chance on

Did you ever risk making your parents angry to get/do what you wanted?

Yes, I have risked making my parents angry to get or do what I wanted. I remember several times as a child when I would make a decision that I knew would make my parents upset, but I felt that it was the right decision.

 

shirk

to not do something you should do

Why do some former husbands shirk from paying alimony?

Some former husbands may shirk from paying alimony because they may feel that they have already given enough to their former spouse during the marriage, or they may not have the financial ability to pay alimony.

 

shun

to avoid contact with

How can you teach kids to not shun being with less communicative kids?

Teaching kids to not shun being with less communicative kids can be a difficult task. One way to achieve this is to create a safe and welcoming environment for all children to express themselves.

 

suggest

to say someone should do something

Which exercises would you suggest doing to lose weight really quickly?

To lose weight quickly, I suggest doing a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises.

 

support

to help someone with words, thoughts or money

Would you support your president’s going for another term in the office?

I would support my president’s going for another term in office if I believed that they were the best person to lead the country and that they had a plan to move the nation forward.

 

understand

to comprehend

Do you understand investing in the stock market?

Yes, I understand investing in the stock market. Investing in the stock market can be a great way to grow your wealth over time.

 

urge

to suggest strongly

If I urged spending more time with your family, would your routine allow it?

If you urged spending more time with my family, it might be difficult to make room for more family time.

 

warrant

to provide the reasons for doing

Does your routine warrant slowing down a bit? 

If I am feeling overwhelmed, it may warrant slowing down and taking some time to rest and recharge.