Gerunds

Gerund is a non-finite verb form that functions as a noun, however it retained some properties of a verb too.
i.e. the gerund, or the ‘ING-form’ as it is often referred to, can be modified by adverbs (speaking softly) and is able to take an object. (paying the bill, locking the door)

Gerund has no tense, it does not show the time of the action that it refers to. However, it can show whether this time is the same (1) or earlier (2) than the time of the main verb.

❶ I enjoy watching history movies. (‘watching’ refers to the same time as ‘enjoy’)
I consider taking up a cooking course. (‘taking up ‘ refers to the same time as ‘consider’)

❷ He strongly denied stealing the money. (‘stealing’ refers to a time before ‘denied’)
I vividly remember kissing her for the very first time. (‘kissing’ refers to a time before ‘remember’)

FORMS OF GERUNDS

Present (simple) Gerund V1+-ing

I enjoy walking in the park.
Keep reading until the next paragraph.
She suggested drinking another glass of Margarita.

Present Gerund Passive BEING + V3

I don’t mind being recognized by my fans.
She likes being given presents.
I hate being treated like a child.

Perfect Gerund HAVING +V3 (rare in spoken English)

He denied having been married.
The officer denied being offered a bribe.

Perfect Gerund Passive (HAVING +BEEN + V3) (rare in spoken English)

He complained of having been unfairly treated.
She did it after having been warned about the consequences.

THE USE OF GERUNDS

1

as a subject of a sentence
(can be used on its own or with an object or adverbial)

Smoking kills.
Fast walking is healthier than running.
Buying a new car is completely out of the question now.

2

as an object of the verb

The girls continued shopping, as if there were no tomorrow.
I hate cleaning my apartment after parties.
Even after living for years in the UK, I still hate driving on the left.

3

after prepositions

Without thinking about the consequences, she left the meeting.
You should have apologized for behaving so rudely.
Are you interested in buying my car?
Do you think she is capable of leading such a huge organization?

4

as a subject complement after ‘BE’

Seeing is believing.
What she really hates is getting up early in the morning.
The government’s main goal is reducing poverty.

5

in compound nouns (noun+gerund or gerund + noun)

Book-keeping is not my cup of tea.
Hitch-hiking is the cheapest and probably the most dangerous way of traveling.
The weigh-lifting championship will be held in Istanbul, Turkey in 2020.
A frying-pan was definitely not the present I expected to get for my birthday.
A pair of fancy running-shoes won’t be enough for losing weight.

Common Verbs and Phrases Followed by a Gerund

admit
advise
appreciate
avoid
be used to
can’t help
can’t stand
consider
deny
discuss
dislike

don’t mind
encourage
end up
enjoy
fancy
feel like
finish
forget
get used to
give up
go on

have difficulty
have problems
have trouble
imagine
involve
it’s no use
it’s worthwhile
keep
mention
miss
look forward to

mention
mind
miss
recommend
remember
quit
spend time
stop
suggest
understand
waste time

INFINITIVE OR GERUND

At the first glance, it might look difficult to know when to use an infinitive or a gerund. As a rule of thumb, we can say that we use gerunds for actions that are real or have been completed.

I stopped spending money on unnecessary things.
She enjoys writing novels.

In the first example, spending money happened until I stopped. In the second example, writing novels is real, what she likes doing regularly.

On the other hand, we use an infinitive for actions that are not real or will happen in the future.

At the next gas station, we’ll pull over to have a short break.
I’d like you to think about the proposal.

In both examples, to have and to think describe an action that have not happened yet (will happen in the future).

Verbs that can be followed by a gerund or infinitive with NO (or little) difference in meaning

begin • continue • hate • intend • like • love • prefer • start

She began singing. = She began to sing.
It started raining. = It started to rain.
I’d prefer discussing this issue later. = I’d prefer to discuss this issue later.

There is normally no difference between I like walking or I like to walk.
However, the use of gerund is more common when we talk about ‘enjoyment’ and the use of infinitive is more likely when we talk about habits or preferences. Study the following examples.

I like playing cards with my friends.
She likes singing and dancing.
I like to do my HW early in the morning.
I like to get my teeth checked twice a year.

‘Hate’ is normally followed by a gerund when we want to say what we dislike in general sense.

I hate working late hours.
She hates being criticized.

Hate + infinitive is used when we would prefer not to have to say something. Note that both sentences refer to single actions.

I hate to say it, but I don’t think this plan is going to work.
I hate to interrupt you, but could I use your phone?

Verbs that can be followed by a gerund or infinitive WITH DIFFERENCE in meaning

stop • remember • forget • try • regret • mean • keep

stop + gerund – no longer continue to do something

I stopped talking to her when I found out what she had done.
That phone never stops ringing.
Stop crying and tell me what happened.

stop + to infinitive – to end an activity in order to do something else

We stopped at the gas station to have a short brake.
I stopped to take some pictures of the bay.
She stopped to ask me something.

remember + gerund – refers to the past

I remember switching off the heater when leaving the office.
I still vividly remember playing cards with my grandpa.
Do you remember kissing her for the first time?

remember + to infinitive – not forget to do something

Remember to send me an offer when you get to the office.
Did you remember to do the shopping?
My mom always remembers me to behave politely.

try + gerund – getting results, achieving a successful result

Why don’t you try downloading the latest version?
You should try reducing sugar intake.
I tried taking three pills a day, but it didn’t help.

try + to infinitive – make an effort to do something

I tried to call him a few times yesterday.
Would you turn down the TV, I’m trying to work.
I tried hard not to laugh but couldn’t help it.

regret + gerund to feel sorry about something you have done

I bitterly regretted having mentioned it. (perfect gerund)
She regretted spending her life with him.
We’ve regretted not taking the advantage of the situation.

regret + to infinitive – to say you’re sorry about a situation (formal)

We regret to inform you, that your application has been rejected.
KLM regrets to announce the cancellation of all flights until further notice.

mean + gerund something has to be done to get results

John, you’ve forgotten your homework for the second time this week. This means calling your mother.
The meeting starts at 1PM, that means leaving the office at noon, the latest.

mean + to infinitive – intend to do something (to be intended to)

Stop crying, I didn’t mean to hurt you.
Did she really mean to say ‘sensitive’? Or she meant ‘sensible’?
This exercise was meant to be difficult.
These lithium batteries are meant to last for three days. At least.

keep + gerund – continue doing an action

Keep going as far as the church and then turn left.
She kept crying until she got what she wanted to.

keep+ object + to infinitive – the infinitive form takes on the meaning of ‘in order to’

The attackers kept hostages to prevent the police from entering the building.

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GRAMMAR

Tenses
Passive
Conditionals
Adjectives
Adverbs
Prepositions

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Word Bank
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