Here's a breakdown of the types of verbs that typically work with present participles:
1. Verbs of Perception: These verbs describe seeing, hearing, feeling, noticing, etc.
* see: I see her *dancing*.
* hear: I hear the birds *singing*.
* feel: I feel my heart *beating*.
* notice: I noticed the dog *barking*.
* watch: We watched the children *playing*.
* observe: Scientists observed the animals *interacting*.
2. Verbs of Continuation: These verbs describe an action that continues over time.
* keep: She kept *smiling*.
* continue: They continued *talking*.
* go on: The music went on *playing*.
* stop: Stop *worrying*.
* start: Start *working*.
3. Verbs of Motion: These verbs describe movement or action.
* come: The train came *rushing*.
* go: She went *running*.
* run: They ran *laughing*.
* walk: He walked *humming* a tune.
4. Verbs of Mental Activity: These verbs describe thinking, feeling, or perceiving.
* find: I find myself *thinking* about her.
* imagine: I imagine the sun *shining*.
* consider: We're considering *moving*.
* remember: I remember *meeting* you here.
* forget: Don't forget *locking* the door.
5. Verbs of Causation: These verbs describe causing someone or something to do something.
* get: I got him *washing* the dishes.
* have: Have the children *playing* outside.
* make: Don't make me *wait*!
Important Notes:
* Some verbs can be used with either the present participle or an infinitive (to + verb). For example: "I like to dance" or "I like dancing."
* The context of the sentence will often determine which form is more appropriate.
* There are some verbs that cannot be followed by a present participle (e.g., "want", "need", "love").
I hope this explanation is helpful!