Gerunds (-ing)
When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a
progressive:
• (It is important to understand that they are not the same)
• When we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, it is
usually a gerund:
Fishing is fun.
• When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verb or
an adjective, it is usually a present progressive:
• Anthony is fishing.
• I saw an interesting movie.
Gerunds (-ing)
When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a present progressive:
• (They are NOT the same)
4 WAYS TO IDENTIFY A GERUND
1. Ends in -ING
2. You can replace all the gerunds with "real" nouns:
• Fishing is fun.  It is fun
I will call you after arriving at the office.  I will call you after my
arrival at the office.
Please have a drink before leaving.  Please have a
drink before your departure.
3. Gerunds go after certain verbs and prepositions.
4. It is NOT the action of the sentence.
• I saw an interesting movie. (Gerund)
• Anthony is fishing. (X)
Where? Preposition + gerund
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I will call you after arriving at the office.
Please have a drink before leaving.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
Do you object to working late?
Tara always dreams about going on holiday.
Notice that you could replace all the gerunds with "real" nouns:
1. I will call you after my arrival at the office.
2. Please have a drink before your departure.
3. I am looking forward to our lunch.
4. Do you object to this job?
5. Tara always dreams about holidays.
We can use gerunds to show likes and dislikes.
We use them after the verbs:
Like, love, enjoy, hate and don´t mind.
I like painting.
She loves skating.
We hate studying.
Where? Verb + gerund
• We can use gerunds after these verbs:
Avoid
Hate
Like
Risk
•
•
•
•
Enjoy
Can’t help
Love
Can’t stand
Go (+ activity)
Keep
Mind
stop
I love being with you.
She enjoys swimming in the afternoons.
I can't help falling in love with you.
I can't stand not seeing you.
Preposition + gerund
I am looking forward to meeting you.
Tara always dreams about going on holiday.
Verb + gerund
We can use gerunds after these verbs:
Avoid
Hate
Like
Risk
Enjoy
Can’t help
Love
Can’t stand
Go (+ activity)
Keep
Mind
stop
I love being with you.
She enjoys swimming in the afternoons.
I can't help falling in love with you.
I can't stand not seeing you.
Peter and Julie enjoy _________ tennis. (play)
John loves _________ . (skateboard)
My mom doesn´t mind __________ every night. (cook)
My sister __________ going to movies. (enjoy)
I ________ talking on the telephone. (hate)
Verbs + -ing / to
• Verb + -ing
Carry on, enjoy, fancy, finish, give up, imagine, keep (on),
mind, suggest.
The students enjoyed going to the stadium.
• Verb + infinitive (to + verb)
Afford, agree, arrange, expect, manage, promise, refuse,
seem.
The bride promised to love him.
• Both ways (same meaning)
Begin, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, start.
I don’t like dancing. /
I don’t like to dance.
• Both ways (different meaning)
I stopped to ask the way. (I stopped moving)
I stopped smoking last year. (I no longer smoke)
I tried to tell her what he was like (I attempted to tell her).
I felt sick and tried taking an aspirin. (I experimented.)
I forgot to take photos. (I didn’t take the photos)
I’ll never forget going to the party. (I’ll always have a clear
memory of the event)
I remembered to buy the present. (I bought it)
I remember falling down. (I have a clear image in my mind of it)