Gerunds

B1 · IntermediateGerunds & Infinitives

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun: Swimming is fun. I enjoy swimming. I'm good at swimming.

What you'll learn

A gerund (verb + -ing) can act as the subject of a sentence
Some verbs (enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest, mind, quit...) are always followed by a gerund, never a to-infinitive
After ANY preposition, the verb that follows is always a gerund
A gerund can start a longer gerund phrase that still works as one noun unit

The -ing form acting as a noun

A gerund looks exactly like the -ing form used in continuous tenses, but it behaves like a noun instead of a verb — it can be the subject of a sentence or the object of a verb or preposition.

"Swimming is great exercise."

"I'm interested in learning Spanish."

Gerund as the subject

A gerund, or a longer gerund phrase, can be the subject of a sentence — the thing the sentence is about.

"Eating vegetables every day improves your health."

"Reading calms me down."

Gerund as the object of certain verbs

A fixed group of common verbs — enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest, mind, quit, consider, practice, risk, imagine — are always followed by a gerund, never a to-infinitive. There's no shortcut for which verbs these are; they simply have to be learned as a group.

"We enjoy hiking on weekends."

"He finished writing the report."

"They quit smoking last year."

Gerund after a preposition

This rule has no exceptions: whenever a verb comes directly after a preposition (in, at, about, for, of, to as a preposition, etc.), it takes the -ing form.

"She's good at solving puzzles."

"Thank you for helping me move."

"I'm afraid of flying."

Real English

"I look forward to seeing you."

"We're used to living in a small apartment."

"She's excited about starting her new job."

"He suggested waiting until Monday."

Watch out

✗I'm interested in learn Spanish.

✓I'm interested in learning Spanish.

After a preposition (in, at, about, for...), always use the -ing form, never the base verb or to-infinitive.

✗We enjoy to hike on weekends.

✓We enjoy hiking on weekends.

Enjoy, like avoid, finish, and suggest, is always followed by a gerund — never to + verb.

✗Eat vegetables every day improves your health.

✓Eating vegetables every day improves your health.

A verb used as the subject of a sentence needs the -ing (gerund) form, not the bare base form.

Real life — Making weekend plans

"What are you into these days?"

"I've gotten really into cooking. I love trying new recipes."

"Nice! I'm more into hiking myself — I never get tired of exploring new trails."

"We should go together sometime."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — gerund as the subject.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — gerund after a preposition.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — gerund after a preposition.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — enjoy always takes a gerund.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — finish always takes a gerund.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — avoid always takes a gerund.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — gerund phrase as subject.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — gerund after a preposition.

Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence

Complete with the gerund: 'She's thinking about ___ (change) jobs.'

Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence

Complete with the gerund: '___ (Travel) alone taught me a lot about myself.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

Running is fun.

I'm afraid of flying.

He suggested waiting.

They quit smoking last year.

I'm tired of waiting.

Reading calms me down.

0 / 6 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun.
It can be the subject of a sentence or the object of certain verbs (enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest...).
After any preposition, the following verb is always a gerund.
A gerund phrase still counts as one noun unit in the sentence.

IntermediateGerunds & Infinitives

Infinitives

Learn how to + verb expresses purpose, follows certain adjectives, and completes a large group of common verbs.

IntermediateGerunds & Infinitives

Verb Patterns

Learn the three groups of English verbs — gerund only, infinitive only, and verbs that allow both — and how to tell them apart.

IntermediateGerunds & Infinitives

Verb + Object + Infinitive

Learn the pattern verb + person + to-infinitive, used with want, ask, tell, advise, and many other verbs.

IntermediateGerunds & Infinitives

Bare Infinitive

Learn when the infinitive drops 'to' — after modal verbs, after let and make, and in a few fixed expressions.