Gerunds 1: Spelling

A gerund is the verb+ing form. Normally, it’s very easy to make the gerund and there are no irregular
verbs. We add ‘ing’ to the infinitive.

• be → being • sleep → sleeping

However, there are some spelling changes. When the verb ends with ‘e’, we usually drop the ‘e’
before we add ‘ing’. There are many, many verbs like this.

• share → sharing • ignore → ignoring

• smile → smiling • invite → inviting
• phone → phoning • imagine → imagining
• use → using • give → giving
• wake → waking • smoke → smoking
• write → writing • save → saving
• serve → serving • make → making
• realise → realising • have → having
• practise → practising • take → taking
• move → moving • arrive → arriving
• live → living

Sometimes we have to double the last consonant.

• swim → swimming • prefer → preferring

• run → running • put → putting
• begin → beginning • set → setting
• fit → fitting • sit → sitting
• forget → forgetting • shut → shutting
• get → getting • stop → stopping
• hit → hitting • travel → travelling
• let → letting • win → winning
• plan → planning

When the verb ends in -ie, we change -ie to -y before we add -ing.

• die → dying • lie → lying

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Let's review! Spell the gerund correctly.

1. share → ______________________________

2. put → ______________________________

3. plan → ______________________________

4. write → ______________________________

5. let → ______________________________

6. phone → ______________________________

7. sit → ______________________________

8. forget → ______________________________

9. realise → ______________________________

10. die → ______________________________

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Answers

1. sharing
2. putting
3. planning
4. writing
5. letting
6. phoning
7. sitting
8. forgetting
9. realising
10. dying

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 Gerunds 2: Gerunds as subjects

We often use gerunds (verb+ing) as the subject of a sentence. The verb after a gerund is singular.

• Smoking is not healthy.

• Running is good exercise.
• Cycling can be dangerous in London.
• Writing a book takes a long time.
• Making cakes is very relaxing. (Notice the verb ‘is’ – it’s a singular verb.)

We often see ‘no’ before verb+ing on signs.

• No smoking! (= You are not allowed to smoke here.)

• No running! (= You are not allowed to run here.)
• No parking! (= You are not allowed to park here.)

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Let's review. Use the gerund as the subject.

1. _______________ (ski) can be dangerous.

2. _______________ (smoke) is not allowed inside.
3. _______________ (run) is good exercise.
4. _______________ (garden) is very relaxing.
5. _______________ (eat) is allowed in the theatre.
6. No _______________ (dance)!
7. No _______________ (sit) on the grass!
8. No _______________ (park)!
9. No _______________ (fish)!
10. No _______________ (swim)!

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Answers

1. Skiing can be dangerous.

2. Smoking is not allowed inside.
3. Running is good exercise.
4. Gardening is very relaxing.
5. Eating is allowed in the theatre.
6. No dancing!
7. No sitting on the grass!
8. No parking!
9. No fishing!
10. No swimming!

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 Gerunds 3: Gerunds after prepositions

We always use a gerund (verb+ing) after a preposition. We don’t use ‘to + infinitive’. This includes
after phrasal verbs.

• Thank you for helping me.

• He is worried about missing the train.
• She is interested in learning Swedish.
• Keep on going!
• They are very good at singing.

Be careful, because sometimes the preposition is 'to'. We still need a gerund.

• She's looking forward to going on holiday.

• The key to losing weight is exercise.

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Let's review! Make sentences with the gerund.

1. London is famous for ________________ (have) bad food.

2. She is excellent at ________________ (sing).
3. I think you should carry on ________________ (study).
4. The key to ________________ (speak) good English is lots of practice!
5. Can you talk to Amanda about ________________ (come) early?
6. The class is useful for ________________ (learn) about grammar.
7. I paid James for ________________ (set) up my website.
8. She gave up ________________ (smoke).
9. He's in danger of ________________ (fall)!
10. I'm looking forward to ________________ (see) you.

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Answers

1. London is famous for having bad food.

2. She is excellent at singing.
3. I think you should carry on studying.
4. The key to speaking good English is lots of practice!
5. Can you talk to Amanda about coming early?
6. The class is useful for learning about grammar.
7. I paid James for setting up my website.
8. She gave up smoking.
9. He's in danger of falling!
10. I'm looking forward to seeing you.

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 Gerunds 4: After verbs

When we want to use two verbs together, the second verb is sometimes in the gerund. The verbs
below are always followed by the gerund.

• enjoy: I enjoyed seeing you.

• discuss: We discussed going on holiday together.
• finish: We've finished preparing for the meeting.
• mind: I don't mind coming early.
• suggest: He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.
• practise: I need to practise playing the piano.
• can’t help: I can’t help thinking about you.

We also most often use verb+ing after ‘love’, ‘like’ and ‘hate’.

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Let's review! Add the gerund to these sentences.

1. We discussed ________________________ a party. (have)

2. She loves ________________________ tennis. (play)
3. I finished ________________________ the bathroom. (paint)
4. Would you mind ________________________ here? (sit)
5. The children hate ________________________. (wait)
6. They suggested ________________________ for breakfast. (meet)
7. Have you practised ________________________ the gerund? (make)
8. He can't help ________________________ late. (be)
9. We really enjoyed ________________________ your parents. (see)
10. I like ________________________. (walk)

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Answers

1. We discussed having a party.

2. She loves playing tennis.
3. I finished painting the bathroom.
4. Would you mind sitting here?
5. The children hate waiting.
6. They suggested meeting for breakfast.
7. Have you practised making the gerund?
8. He can't help being late.
9. We really enjoyed seeing your parents.
10. I like walking.

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 Gerund 5: Gerund or infinitive?

This week we've talked about using the gerund, including how sometimes we use the gerund after
verbs. Other verbs are followed by 'to + infinitive'. There's no logic to this - we just have to learn each
one. Here are some verbs that are followed by 'to + infinitive'.

• agree: He agreed to help us.

• decide: They decided to have lunch at home.
• promise: David promised to arrive early.
• expect: I expected to work hard.
• need: She needs to study tonight.
• plan: I plan to get a new car soon.
• hope: They hope to meet Julie later.
• learn: He is learning to speak French.
• want: I want to buy this dress.
• would like: She would like to go on holiday.

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Let's review! Do we need the gerund or the infinitive? Put the verb into the correct form.

1. We agreed _________________________ (meet) later.

2. Do you mind _________________________ (help) me?
3. I enjoyed _________________________ (have) coffee with you.
4. She has decided _________________________ (stay) at home.
5. They promised _________________________ (be) on time.
6. Have you finished _________________________ (read) that book?
7. We didn't expect _________________________ (see) you here!
8. They discussed _________________________ (make) dinner.
9. Do you need _________________________ (get) up early?
10. He suggested _________________________ (meet) at the station.

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Answers

1. We agreed to meet later.

2. Do you mind helping me?
3. I enjoyed having coffee with you.
4. She has decided to stay at home.
5. They promised to be on time.
6. Have you finished reading that book?
7. We didn't expect to see you here!
8. They discussed making dinner.
9. Do you need to get up early?
10. He suggested meeting at the station.

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 Gerunds 6: Gerund or infinitive 2

Let's review verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive. Put the verb into the gerund or the

infinitive.

1. We practised ____________________________ (dance).

2. I'm planning ____________________________ (make) dinner tonight.

3. She hopes ____________________________ (arrive) early.

4. He can't help ____________________________ (sing) out of tune.

5. They are learning ____________________________ (speak) German.

6. Do you want ____________________________ (go) out?

7. He enjoys ____________________________ (cycle).

8. Would you mind ____________________________ (open) the window?

9. The children would like ____________________________ (have) an ice cream.

10. Have you finished ____________________________ (eat)?

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Answers

1. We practised dancing.

2. I'm planning to make dinner tonight.

3. She hopes to arrive early.

4. He can't help singing out of tune.

5. They are learning to speak German.

6. Do you want to go out?

7. He enjoys cycling.

8. Would you mind opening the window?

9. The children would like to have an ice cream.

10. Have you finished eating?

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 Gerunds 7: Review

So far, we have looked at using gerunds

• as the subject of a sentence (smoking is bad for you)

• after prepositions (keep on working)

• after verbs (I enjoy sailing)

Let's review! Put in the gerund of a verb that makes sense. The answers are just suggestions.

1. ________________________ is the best exercise.

2. I'm looking forward to ________________________ you later.

3. She really enjoys ________________________ at home.

4. No ________________________ on the grass!

5. He is worried about ________________________ his wallet.

6. The children practised ________________________ the piano.

7. London is famous for ________________________ bad weather.

8. ________________________ in nature is very relaxing.

9. Would you mind ________________________ the salt?

10. She ate lunch before ________________________ the emails.

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Answers

1. Running is the best exercise.

2. I'm looking forward to seeing you later.

3. She really enjoys relaxing at home.

4. No sitting on the grass!

5. He is worried about losing his wallet.

6. The children practised playing the piano.

7. London is famous for having bad weather.

8. Being in nature is very relaxing.

9. Would you mind passing the salt?

10. She ate lunch before writing the emails.

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