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 favorite 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 favorite 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 favorite occupation is reading. My favorite niece is reading.

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, practice, 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.

Gerund and Infinitive (no difference in meaning)

Gerund/Infinitive - Explanations Gerund/Infinitive - Exercises We use the Gerund or the Infinitive after the following verbs: He began talking. begin He began to talk. They continue smoking. continue They continue to smoke. Do you hate working on Saturdays? hate Do you hate to work on Saturdays? I like swimming. like I like to swim. She loves painting. love She loves to paint. Pat prefers walking home. prefer Pat prefers to walk home. They start singing. start They start to sing. We use the Gerund or the Infinitive after the following verbs. There are two possible structures after these verbs. Gerund: verb + -ing Infinitive: verb + person + to-infinitive They advise walking to town. advise They advise us to walk to town. They do not allow smoking here. allow They do not allow us to smoke here. They encourage doing the test. encourage They encourage us to do the test. They do not permit smoking here. permit They do not permit us to smoke here. We use the following structures with the word recommend: recommend They recommend walking to town. They recommend that we walk to town.

Thanks to Bryan.

Gerund and Infinitive - difference in meaning

Some verbs have different meaning. (when used with Gerund or Infinitive) GERUND He'll never forget spending so much money on his first computer. INFINITIVE Don't forget to spend money on the tickets.

forget

go on

GERUND INFINITIVE Go on reading the text. Go on to read the text. GERUND You have forgotten your homework again. That means phoning your mother. GERUND I remember switching off the lights when I went on holiday. INFINITIVE Stop to read the text. INFINITIVE I meant to phone your mother, but my mobile didn't work.

mean

remember

INFINITIVE Remember to switch off the lights when you go on holiday.

stop

GERUND Stop reading the text.

try

GERUND Why don't you try running after the dog?

INFINITIVE I tried to run after the dog, but I was too slow.

The Infinitive with to

the first after: the last the next Gagarin was the first to fly in a spaceship. Peter was the last to watch the film. He is the next to get his passport. I'm happy to be here. It's better not to smoke.

after: adjectives

after:

certain verbs (agree, choose, forget, hope, learn, promise, regret*, want, )

I learn to drive a car.

* After regret the to-infinitive is used when announcing bad news: We regret to inform you that the flight to Munich has been cancelled. In other cases the Gerund is used. after: question words I don't know what to say. Can you tell me how to get to the bus stop?

after:

want/would like I want you to help me.

verb + object + to-infinitive I helped my dad to clean the car. NOTE!!! I want to help you. I want you to help me.

The Infinitive without to

after auxiliaries/modals
can could may might must mustn't needn't shall should will would He can run very fast. As a boy he could run very fast. I may fly to Africa this summer. I might fly to Africa this summer. I must go now. You mustn't smoke here. You needn't go. We shall sing a song. We should sing a song. She will cook a meal for his birthday. She would cook a meal for his birthday.

after to do
do I don't know.

after the following expressions:

had better would rather would sooner why not why should we why should we not You had better clean up your room. Susan would rather study for her exam tomorrow. I would sooner read a book than watch this film. Why not ask your neighbour for help? Why should we go by car? Why should we not go by car?

after verbs of perception + object (action has finished):

feel hear notice see watch She feels the rain fall on her face. I heard Peter sing a song. Mandy noticed the boy climb the tree. They saw him climb up the roof. He watched the thieves steal a car.

after let + object:

let let's Sandy let her child go out alone. Mother let her daughter decide on her own. Let's go for a walk through the park.

after make + object:

make She made Peggy and Samantha clean the room.