GERUND

GERUND
The gerund looks exactly the same as a present

participle, but it is useful to understand the
difference between the two. The gerund
always has the same function as a noun
(although it looks like a verb).
THE GERUND AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE
• EXAMPLES
• Eating people is wrong.
• Hunting tigers is dangerous.
• Flying makes me nervous.
• Brushing your teeth is important.
• Smoking causes lung cancer.
THE GERUND AS THE COMPLEMENT OF THE
VERB 'TO BE'
• EXAMPLES
• One of his duties is attending meetings.
• The hardest thing about learning English is
understanding the gerund.
• One of life's pleasures is having breakfast in
bed.
THE GERUND AFTER PREPOSITIONS
• The gerund must be used when a verb comes

after a preposition. This is also true of certain
expressions ending in a preposition, for
example the expressions in spite of & there's
no point in.
• EXAMPLES
• Can you sneeze without opening your mouth?
• She is good at painting.
• She avoided him by walking on the opposite side of the
road.
• We arrived in Madrid after driving all night.
• My father decided against postponing his trip to Hungary.
• There's no point in waiting.
• In spite of missing the train, we arrived on time.
THE GERUND AFTER PHRASAL VERBS
• Phrasal verbs are composed of a verb +

preposition or adverb.
• EXAMPLES
• When will you give up smoking?
• She always puts off going to the dentist.
• He kept on asking for money.
• Jim ended up buying a new TV after his old
one broke.
• There are some phrasal verbs that include the word "to"
as a preposition for example to look forward to, to take
to, to be accustomed to, to get around to, & to be used
to. It is important to recognize that the word "to" is a
preposition in these cases because it must be followed
by a gerund. It is not part of the infinitive form of the
verb. You can check whether "to" is a preposition or part
of the infinitive. If you can put the pronoun "it" after the
word "to" and form a meaningful sentence, then the
word "to" is a preposition and must be followed by a
gerund.
EXAMPLES
• I look forward to hearing from you soon.
• I look forward to it.
• I am used to waiting for buses.
• I am used to it.
• She didn't really take to studying English.
• She didn't really take to it.
• When will you get around to mowing the grass?
• When will you get around to it?
THE GERUND IN COMPOUND NOUNS
• In compound nouns using the gerund, it is clear

that the meaning is that of a noun, not of a
continuous verb. For example, with the word
"swimming pool" it is a pool for swimming in, it is
not a pool that is swimming.
• EXAMPLES
• I am giving Sally a driving lesson.
• They have a swimming pool in their back yard.
• I bought some new running shoes.
THE GERUND AFTER SOME EXPRESSIONS
• The gerund is necessary after the expressions can't

help, can't stand, to be worth, & it's no use.
• EXAMPLES
• She couldn't help falling in love with him.
• I can't stand being stuck in traffic jams.
• It's no use trying to escape.
• It might be worth phoning the station to check the
time of the train.
•
VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS
• VERBS WHICH CAN BE FOLLOWED BY NOUNS OR GERUNDS

• Avoid •Enjoy •Mind
• Celebrate •Entail •Miss
• Consider •Escape •Pardon
• Contemplate •Excuse •Postpone
• •Finish •Prevent
Defer
•Forgive •Resent
• Delay •Involve •Resist
• Detest •Keep •Risk
• Dislike •Loathe •Save
• Dread •stop
EXAMPLES
• I avoid going to the dentist.

• I avoid chocolate.
• I miss taking walks in the morning.
• I miss England.
• I have finished working.
• I have finished the cake.
VERBS WHICH CAN BE FOLLOWED BY NOUNS,
GERUNDS, OR A THAT-CLAUSE
• Acknowledge •Mention
• Admit •Propose
• Anticipate •Recall
• Appreciate •Recollect
• Deny •Report
• Imagine •Suggest
• Mean •understand
EXAMPLES
• I can't imagine living in that big house.

• I can't imagine a purple unicorn in my yard.
• I can't imagine that he lied on purpose.
• I understand French.
• I understand fishing pretty well.
• I understand that you would prefer to stay.

GERUND

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GERUND

The gerund looks exactly the same as a present

• The gerund must be used when a verb comes

• Phrasal verbs are composed of a verb +

• In compound nouns using the gerund, it is clear

• The gerund is necessary after the expressions can't

• VERBS WHICH CAN BE FOLLOWED BY NOUNS OR GERUNDS

• I avoid going to the dentist.

• I can't imagine living in that big house.

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