Gerunds (-ing )
When a verb ends in -ing, it
may be a gerund or a present
participle. It is important to
understand that they are not
the same.
When we use a verb in -ing
form more like a noun , it is
usually a gerund:
Fishing is fun.
When we use a verb in -ing
form more like a verb or an
adjective, it is usually a
present participle:
Anthony is fishing .
I have a boring teacher.
Gerunds are sometimes
called "verbal nouns".
Gerunds as Subject, Object
or Complement
Try to think of gerunds as
verbs in noun form.
Like nouns, gerunds can be
the subject, object or
complement of a sentence:
Smoking costs a lot of
money.
I don't like writing.
My favourite occupation
is reading.
But, like a verb, a gerund can
also have an object itself. In
this case, the whole
expression [gerund + object]
can be the subject, object or
complement of the sentence.
Smoking cigarettes
costs a lot of money.
I don't like writing
letters .
My favourite occupation
is reading detective
stories .
Like nouns, we can use
gerunds with adjectives
(including articles and other
determiners):
pointless questioning
a settling of debts
the making of Titanic
his drinking of alcohol
But when we use a gerund
with an article, it does not
usually take a direct object:
a settling of debts ( not a
settling debts)
Making "Titanic" was
expensive.
The making of "Titanic"
was expensive.
Do you see the difference in
these two sentences? In one,
"reading" is a gerund (noun).
In the other "reading" is a
present participle (verb).
My favourite occupation
is reading.
My favourite niece
Gerunds after Prepositions
This is a good rule. It has no
exceptions!
If we want to use a verb
after a preposition, it must
be a gerund. It is impossible
to use an infinitive after a
preposition. So for example,
we say:
I will call you after
arriving at the office.
Please have a drink
before leaving.
I am looking forward to
meeting you.
Do you object to working
late?
Tara always dreams
about going on holiday.
Notice that you could replace
all the above gerunds with
"real" nouns:
I will call you after my
arrival at the office.
Please have a drink
before your departure.
I am looking forward to
our lunch.
Do you object to this job?
Tara always dreams
about holidays.
The above rule has no
exceptions!
So why is "to" followed by
"driving" in 1 and by "drive" in
2?
1. I am used to driving
on the left.
2. I used to drive on the
left.
Gerunds after Certain
Verbs
We sometimes use one verb
after another verb. Often the
second verb is in the infinitive
form, for example:
I want to eat .
But sometimes the second
verb must be in gerund form,
for example:
I dislike eating .
This depends on the first
verb . Here is a list of verbs
that are usually followed by a
verb in gerund form:
admit, appreciate, avoid,
carry on, consider, defer,
delay, deny, detest,
dislike, endure, enjoy,
escape, excuse, face, feel
like, finish, forgive, give
up, can't help, imagine,
involve, leave off,
mention, mind, miss,
postpone, practise, put
off, report, resent, risk,
can't stand, suggest,
understand
Look at these examples:
She is considering having
a holiday.
Do you feel like going
out?
I can't help falling in love
with you.
I can't stand not seeing
you.
Some verbs can be followed
by the gerund form or the
infinitive form without a big
change in meaning: begin,
continue, hate, intend, like,
love, prefer, propose, start
I like to play tennis.
I like playing tennis.
It started to rain.
It started raining.
Gerunds in Passive Sense
We often use a gerund after
the verbs need, require and
want . In this case, the gerund
has a passive sense.
I have three shirts that
need washing . (need to
be washed)
This letter requires
signing. (needs to be
signed)
The house wants
repainting . (needs to be
repainted)
The expression "something
wants doing" is not normally
used in American English.
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