At a glance
Where gerunds go
- SubjectSwimming is good exercise.
- ObjectI enjoy cooking.
- After a prepositionShe is good at drawing.
- ComplementMy hobby is painting.
- In fixed phrasesIt's no use crying.
- Start
- Can you put "it" or a noun in its place?YesGerund (a noun)Swimming is fun. (= It is fun.)
- Does it describe a noun, or is it part of a continuous verb?YesParticiplea swimming fish / She is swimming.
- Look at its job in the sentencenoun job = gerund
Gerunds in a sentence
Swimming is fun. (subject)
I love cooking. (object)
She is good at drawing. (after a preposition)
My hobby is reading. (complement)
Verbs + gerund
These verbs take -ing: enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, keep, practise, miss, suggest, consider, imagine, deny, admit, risk, give up, can't help, can't stand.
- Do you mind opening the window?
- He kept talking in class.
- I can't help laughing!
Preposition + gerund
- After a preposition, always use -ing: interested in learning, tired of waiting, thank you for helping, before leaving, without saying, instead of going.
- Sometimes to is a preposition, so -ing follows: look forward to seeing, be used to driving, object to paying, with a view to buying.
Fixed phrases
| Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| It's no use… | It's no use crying. |
| It's worth… | This film is worth watching. |
| There's no point (in)… | There's no point waiting. |
| spend time / waste time… | I spent the day reading. |
| have fun / trouble… | We had fun playing in the snow. |
| go + activity | Let's go swimming / shopping. |
Not + gerund, my + gerund
I regret not studying harder.
Do you mind my opening the window? (formal; everyday: me opening)
Practice
Answer the questions. Get 7 out of 10 to finish this lesson.