enjoy / finish + -ing

Using an Action as a Complement

Level 3

Enjoy reading and finish cooking are useful shared English verb-complement frames in Singlish. Their availability does not imply that every local verb must take -ing or that bare-verb complements never occur.

How It Works

An action can be the complement of a verb. Enjoy reading identifies the activity enjoyed, and finish cooking identifies the activity completed. These familiar -ing frames are useful shared constructions in local speech.

Complement choices belong to particular verbs and constructions. Enjoy reading does not mean every verb takes -ing, and a local bare form should not be rejected merely by copying an unrelated Standard English rule. Keep the intended meaning clear: I stopped cooking means the cooking stopped, while I stopped to cook can describe pausing another activity in order to cook.

Examples (4)

  1. I enjoy cooking for my friends.

    Cooking for my friends gives me pleasure.

  2. She finished packing already.

    She has finished packing.

  3. We enjoy walking along the river.

    We enjoy the activity of walking along the river.

  4. Can finish washing before lunch?

    Can you complete the washing before lunch?

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

enjoy / finish + -ingLevel 3Using an Action as a Complement

Learn This First

Recognize an action complement before choosing an established -ing complement frame.