How to Use the Gerund for English
Updated: Jan 10, 2022
Explanation
Gerunds are the words that are formed with verbs but act as nouns. Gerunds can be easily identified as a verb with ing in the end. There are no exceptions to this rule.
E.g.: “sleeping,” “drawing,” “swimming.”
However, they are not the “-ing” verb forms that we see in the present or past continuous tense. They look the same, but gerunds are actually verb forms used as nouns.
(Important note: Present participles also end in ing; however, present participles do not act as nouns. Instead, they act as modifiers or complete progressive verbs.)
e.g.:
Going to a picnic is fun.
We will go dancing at the club tonight.
I’ve been thinking of summer all this time
All grammar rules for forming the Gerunds
Gerunds after the following specific verb
Admit- e.g.: Joe admitted having driven the car too fast.
Carry on e.g.: If we carry on playing like this, we may miss the bus.
Avoid-e.g..: It is better to avoid going on vacation on weekends
Consider- e.g.: Dad is considering buying a new car
Deny- e.g.: Cassie denies hitting her brother
Delay- e.g.: I delayed returning Max the book
Gerunds after special phrases
To be busy- e.g.: He is busy writing the thesis
Feel like- e.g.: I feel like having noodles for dinner
How about-e.g.: How about walking home instead of taking the car?
What about-e.g.: What about going to the movie?
There's no point-e.g.: There's no point in going now
Worth-e.g.: The movie is worth watching
Sentence patterns for Gerunds
Gerunds for Negative Sentences
Here, not usually comes before the gerund:
e.g.: There is no point in applying for the grant.
Situations in which Gerunds are used
Gerunds may be used exactly as nouns are used. Their most common uses are-
a) Gerunds can be used as a subject of a sentence.
e.g.:
Walking is good for health.
Making friends is difficult in a new school
b) Gerunds can be used as objects of a sentence
e.g.:
I enjoy painting
Gerunds are used after prepositions
e.g.:
I talked him out of taking that job.
Here, the gerund “taking” follows the preposition “of.”
