ESL Forums

GERUND: What is a Gerund? Important Gerund Examples

Posted on Last updated: January 3, 2024

GERUND: What is a Gerund? Important Gerund Examples

Sharing is caring!

What is a gerund? Important gerund examples in English! This page provides the definition of gerund and gerund examples for ESL learners to master their English grammar.

Table of Contents

Understanding Gerunds

Gerund

Definition of Gerunds

A gerund is a verb form ending in  -ing  that functions as a noun . It is formed by adding  -ing  to the base form of a regular verb.

Formation of Gerunds

To create a gerund, we simply take the base form of a verb and append the suffix  -ing . Here’s a quick reference:

Functions of Gerunds 

Gerunds can play multiple roles within a sentence:

  • As Subjects:   Walking  is a good exercise.
  • As Objects:  We enjoy  reading .
  • As Complements:  His favorite activity is  swimming .
  • After Prepositions:  They talked about  traveling .

Usage of Gerunds

In our discussion on gerunds, we’ll focus on how these versatile -ing forms of verbs function as nouns in different capacities within a sentence.

Gerunds as Subjects

When we use gerunds as subjects, we allow an action to take center stage in the sentence. For example:

  • Reading  is an excellent way to spend your time.
  • Swimming  has been proven to improve cardiovascular health.

Gerunds as Objects

Just as typical nouns can be objects, so can gerunds. They often follow action verbs and answer the question “What?”. Observe these cases:

  • We enjoy  reading  before bed.
  • They discussed  moving  to a new city.

Gerunds After Prepositions

After prepositions, we rely on gerunds to carry the meaning of actions. Look at these examples:

  • They talked about  traveling .
  • She is good at  dancing .

Gerunds in Compound Nouns

Gerunds sometimes partner with other words to form compound nouns, where they describe a specific object or activity:

  • A  swimming pool  is a place designed for swimming.
  • Running shoes  are footwear made for the activity of running.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

List of verbs followed by gerunds in English.

Verb + Gerund

  • acknowledge

Verb + Preposition + Gerund

  • apologize for
  • forgive for
  • worry about
  • take part in
  • complain about
  • suffer from
  • disapprove of
  • discourage from
  • look forward to
  • participate in
  • result from
  • prepare for
  • profit from
  • prohibit from
  • think about
  • there’s no point in

Be + Adjective + Preposition + Gerund

  • be accustomed to
  • be happy about
  • be interested in
  • be afraid of
  • be concerned with
  • be critical of
  • be useful for
  • be worried about
  • be discouraged from
  • be angry about
  • be ashamed of
  • be capable of
  • be certain about
  • be enthusiastic about
  • be familiar with
  • be famous for
  • be known for
  • be nervous about
  • be perfect for
  • be proud of
  • be glad about
  • be tolerant of
  • be upset about
  • be responsible for
  • be sad about
  • be successful in
  • be suitable for
  • be tired of

Interactive Exercises

Exercise 1: Identifying Gerunds in Sentences

Determine whether the highlighted word in each sentence is a gerund. Write “Yes” if it is a gerund, and “No” if it is not.

  • I enjoy  swimming  in the ocean.
  • They are  running  to catch the bus.
  • My favorite hobby is  painting  landscapes.
  • She avoided  talking  to him after the argument.
  • The cat keeps  jumping  on the table.
  • Winning  the championship is their ultimate goal.
  • He stopped to help her with  tying  her shoelaces.
  • Laughing  is a good stress reliever.
  • Are you interested in  learning  a new language?
  • The bird was  singing  outside my window.
  • Yes (swimming)
  • No (running is part of the verb phrase “are running”)
  • Yes (painting)
  • Yes (talking)
  • No (jumping is part of the verb phrase “keeps jumping”)
  • Yes (winning)
  • Yes (tying)
  • Yes (laughing)
  • Yes (learning)
  • No (singing is part of the verb phrase “was singing”)

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Gerund Form

Choose the correct gerund form of the verb in parentheses to complete each sentence.

  • I find (to read / reading) very relaxing.
  • She mentioned (to have / having) seen that movie before.
  • We discussed (to go / going) on a trip next summer.
  • He admitted (to cheat / cheating) on the exam.
  • They are looking forward to (to visit / visiting) us next weekend.
  • Avoid (to make / making) loud noises in the library.
  • She can’t stand (to be / being) in a messy room.
  • My brother is good at (to fix / fixing) cars.
  • They kept (to talk / talking) during the entire movie.
  • I am interested in (to learn / learning) how to bake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary functions of a gerund in a sentence?

Gerunds serve six key functions in a sentence: as a subject, direct object, subject complement, object of a preposition, appositive, or occasionally as a noun modifier. Their versatility allows them to fit into many different grammatical roles.

Can you provide some examples of sentences where gerunds are used as the subject?

Certainly! Here are a couple:

  • “Swimming is a great way to stay fit.”
  • “Reading enriches the mind.”

What’s the difference between a gerund and a participle?

A gerund functions as a noun, whereas a participle acts as an adjective to modify nouns or pronouns. For example, in ‘Learning is fun’, ‘learning’ is a gerund serving as the subject. In contrast, ‘The learning child was curious’, ‘learning’ is a present participle modifying ‘child’.

How can I recognize a gerund when reading or constructing a sentence?

A gerund can be recognized by its -ing ending and its function in the sentence as a noun. It can usually be replaced with another noun without altering the sentence structure significantly.

Could you explain the different types of gerunds and their uses?

Gerunds can be simple or possessive. A simple gerund, like ‘dancing’, can act as the subject, object, or complement. A possessive gerund, such as ‘my dancing’, shows ownership and is most commonly used when the gerund has a modifier.

What are some tips for using gerunds correctly in English grammar?

To use gerunds correctly, remember that they should not be confused with present participles, they always end in -ing, and they cannot be pluralized. Always check if the -ing word is acting as a noun in the sentence to confirm it’s indeed a gerund.

AbuWael Al Abbas

Tuesday 27th of June 2023

Useful lesson . . Thank you so much . . .

Monday 24th of October 2022

it's has been very helpful for me in understanding this area of grammar. thanks-

Omonefe Ariyo

Tuesday 19th of October 2021

Good grammar in English

Mekides Mengesha

Wednesday 12th of May 2021

mr potatohead

Wednesday 17th of March 2021

IMAGES

  1. Best Tips and Help on How to Write a Conclusion for Your Essay

    good conclusion sentence for essay

  2. How to write a good conclusion for argumentative essay

    good conclusion sentence for essay

  3. How to Write a Strong Conclusion for Your Essay

    good conclusion sentence for essay

  4. 17 Essay Conclusion Examples (Copy and Paste)

    good conclusion sentence for essay

  5. How To Write a Conclusion for an Essay: Expert Tips and Examples

    good conclusion sentence for essay

  6. 3 Ways to Write a Concluding Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay

    good conclusion sentence for essay

VIDEO

  1. 5 Other Ways to Say In Conclusion at End of Essay or End of Paragraph

  2. Grade 3 Topic Sentence Lesson 1

  3. Opinion

  4. My pet dog essay

  5. 10 lines essay on Technology in English

  6. 5 tips for a mic-drop essay conclusion 🎤