Gerunds

In English, gerunds are a type of verb form that function as nouns.^[1]https://7esl.com/gerunds/#The_Gerund_Can_be_Used_after_Certain_Expressions

Form

Gerunds are formed by taking a verb and adding -ing.

When do you use the gerund?

Subject

The gerund form of verbs is used when it is the subject of a sentence.

For example:

• Learning English is easy!
• Playing video games is my favorite thing to do.
• Swimming is my favorite hobby.

Direct Object

The gerund form of verbs is used when it is the direct object of a sentence.

For example:

• I like eating ice cream.
• She loves swimming in the pool.
• They like going to the movies.

Subject Complement

The gerund of verbs is used when it is the subject complement.

For example:

• My dog’s favorite hobby is sleeping.
• One of their responsibilities is cleaning the dishes.
• Their favorite activity is swimming in the lake.

Object of a Preposition

The gerund of verbs is used when it is the object of a preposition.

For example:

• The teacher said that she would be interested in hearing your excuse as to why you are late to class.
• I was interested in running a marathon.
• She is thinking of changing his job.

After Certain Expressions

The gerund form of verbs is used when it is after certain expressions such as it’s no use, it’s no good, there’s no point in.

For example:

• It’s no use cleaning the floor; it is only going to get dirty again.
• It’s no good only trying a little bit, you will never succeed.
• There’s no point going back.

Gerunds vs. Infinitives

It can be confusing to understand when to use gerunds vs. infinitives.

Infinitives are the “to” form of a verb.

The easiest way to remember the difference between the two is:

1. Gerunds are used with completed, fixed, and real actions.
2. Infinitives are used with future, abstract, and unreal actions.

A Few Common Verbs Used with Gerunds

• Admit: I admit making a mistake.
• Advice: I advise not doing that.
• Anticipate: She anticipates having to study a lot for the tests.
• Began: They began eating at 4 pm.
• Delay: I delayed studying for the exam.
• Enjoy: He enjoys eating ice cream.
• Keep: They keep running stop signs.
• Love: We love running in the rain.
• Prefer: I prefer sleeping on the left side of the bed.
• Recommend: They recommended trying the appetizer.
• Suggest: I suggest studying hard for the test

Practice Exercises