9 Gerunds

Elections
 WHAT IS A GERUND?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verbs used

as a subject or object in a sentence.
GERUND NOT A GERUND

Running is my favorite We are running*.

form of exercise.
*“are running” is a verb.
We like running.
 FORM

A gerund is the base form of a verb + -ing.

+ =
verb
verb -ing
-ing gerund
gerund

+ =
work -ing working
+ =
pay -ing paying
+ =
improve -ing improving
 POSITION OF GERUNDS

Usage Examples
Camping is a popular outdoor activity.
As subject of a sentence
Saving money isn’t easy.

Bob finished studying at midnight.

As direct object of a verb
Suddenly everybody stopped talking.

You can improve your English by reading

As object of a preposition more.
She can run ten miles without shopping.

My job was answering the phone.

As a subject complement
One of his duties is doing homework.
ADMIT
AVOID
CONSIDER DELAY ENJOY FINISH KEEP MENTION MIND MISS QUIT RECOMMEND
STOP SUGGEST
 WHAT IS A GERUND?

A gerund is the –ing form of a verbs used as a subject or object in a

sentence.

Choosing a candidate takes time.

I enjoy
working
for the Do you resent
people. paying
higher
taxes?
 Voting is an important responsibility.

I will
keep
Let’s discuss fighting
improving for a new
our schools. hospital.
Gerunds as Subjects
A gerund can be the subject of a sentence. It is always
singular. Use a third-person singular verb after a gerund.

singular subject

Voting is an important responsibility.

Choosing a candidate takes time.

Be Careful!
Don’t confuse gerunds with the
present progressive verb form.

present progressive

I am voting today.
verb

gerund

Voting is an important responsibility.

subject
Practice 1 Complete the sentences
with gerunds.

Example: Windsurfin
__________ is very exciting.
g

__________ makes me laugh.

__________ gives me a headache.
__________ isn’t polite.
__________ is popular in my country.
__________ destroys the environment.
Not __________ can be dangerous.
References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.
Gerunds as Objects

A gerund can be the object of certain verbs.

verb object

suggest I suggest improving our schools.

verb object

enjoy I enjoy working for the people.

Practice 2 Complete the dialogues
with gerund phrases.

Example:
A: Why do Christophe and Hiro go hiking so often?
watching birds
B: They both enjoy _____________.

1. A: I need a ride to the airport.

B: I don’t mind ____________.

2. A: Dad, can I go outside and play?

B: Have you finished ____________.

3. A: Why did Javier look so sad today?

B: I think he really misses _____________.
Gerunds with Go
We often use go + gerund to describe activities.

Our family goes bowling every Saturday.

Ali went jogging with his dog.

Practice 3 Ask a partner how often he or
she does these activities.

How
Howoften
oftendo
doyou
you I Igo
godancing
dancing
go
godancing?
dancing? every
everynight.
night.

1 2
. .
Practice 4 Ask a partner how often he or
she does these activities.

4
.

3 5
. .
 PRACTICE 1

1. _______ a lot of money isn’t always

necessary.
(A) Make (B) I make
(C) Making (D) To making

1. Would you mind_______the door?

(A) close (B) closing
(C) to close . (D) closed
 CONSOLIDATION

subject

After certain direct object of a

expressions verb
It is no use, There is no, admit, avoid, consider,
can’t help, be worth GERUND delay, enjoy, finish,
go, be busy, feel like keep, mention, mind,
(V-ing) quit, suggest,…

object of a preposition
a subject complement on, in, at, about, of, with,
without, by, after,…