Using Gerunds

A gerund is the base form of the verb + -ing. It is used in the same way as a noun and
can be in the subject or object position in a sentence. Gerunds are used:

1. as the subject of sentences

a) Playing video games can enhance problem-solving skills. Taking pictures is one
of my sister’s hobbies.
b) Exercising 20 minutes every day leads to good heart health.

c) Learning a foreign language fosters our cultural knowledge.

d) Posting on social media increased our brand awareness.

Auchumpkee Creek
Covered Bridge
e) Not taking time to relax increases one’s stress level.
Thomaston, GA, USA

EXERCISE 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct gerund form of the verb.

1. _________________ (take) vitamins is an important part of many people’s daily routine.

2. _________________ (walk) her dog twice a day is what keeps my mother-in-law active.

3. _________________ (volunteer) is one of the ways to acquire job experience.

4. _________________ (major) in any kind of engineering was not his main interest.

5. _________________ (stay) up late is a common habit of teenagers.

6. _________________ (eat) fruits and vegetables could add six years of life.

7. ________________ (find) cures for cancer is the goal of many medical researchers.

8. _______________ (look) for a job is not something you do once or twice in your lifetime.

9. _______________ (cut) your food into small pieces may help you eat less.

10. _______________ (use) technology to improve student comprehension of complex

subjects is one of many methods instructors employ in the classroom.

11. _________________ (learn) about a foreign country’s customs can help visitors avoid

behaving impolitely when traveling.

12. Not _________________ (study) for the final test makes her fail the course.

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 2. as the object of certain verbs

a) Some people dislike speaking in public for several reasons. My neighbors enjoy
traveling to Malaga in
b) Would you mind closing the door? Thanks. August.

c) What time did you finish eating supper last night?

d) They admitted being responsible for the environmental issue.

Malaga, Spain
e) His daughter kept hoping that things will better for her.

EXERCISE 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct gerund form of the verb.

1. Our uncle mentioned ________________ (take) a cab to the office instead of walking.

2. I wanted to become a biologist, but my dad suggested _____________ (study) physics.

3. Some students avoid ______________ (make) outlines before they begin to write their

mid-term papers.

4. Did Benjamin miss ________________ (spend) last Christmas with his family?

5. I will definitely consider _______________ (go) with you.

6. Let’s postpone _________________ (leave) until next Monday.

7. Santiago finally complete __________________ (update) their Instagram last night.

8. People enjoy ______________ (dine) on insects in many parts of the world.

9. My little cousin is a blabbermouth. He can’t resist ______________ (tell) everyone the

problem I had at work.

10. Critics strongly recommend _________________ (study) Othello by William Shakespeare

because of its tragic hero and other interesting characters.

11. After almost two weeks, Sandra admitted _______________ (be) responsible for the

problem.

12. Our cousins just started a new business. They risk _______________ (lose) everything if

it doesn’t succeed.

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 3. as the object of a preposition

a) Thank you so much for helping me out with my assignment. Laura has been looking
forward to visiting Petra.

b) The point of meditating is to relax the mind and body.

c) The study focused on finding new methods to teach Spanish.

d) Those customers complained about waiting so long.

Petra, Jordan
e) I am interested in getting the position the company is offering.

EXERCISE 3: Fill in the blanks with the correct gerund form of the verb.

1. His wife finally succeed in ________________ (get) her driver’s license.

2. Miguel was worried about not ________________ (write) a good résumé.

3. Researchers were interested in ______________ (learn) about the positive and negative

effects of high-protein diet on the body.

4. Fear of failure is one reason people put off _____________ (do) things that need to be

done.

5. Are they thinking about ______________ (buy) his apartment downtown?

6. Advertising on social media has the advantage of _______________ (reach) millions of

potential customers.

7. Local law enforcement is responsible for ______________ (investigate) crimes, and

______________ (protect) the local population.

8. Thank you for _______________ (carry) my heavy suitcases.

9. We didn’t planned on _____________ (see) the sights during our business trip to Bolivia.

10. If you have a ‘green thumb’, it means that you are good at ______________ (garden).

11. Nelson had a choice between ______________ (take) a job at a bank in his hometown or

______________ (become) a ski instructor.

12. The automotive industry, both domestic and foreign, is involved in ______________

(make) self-driving cars.

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 4. after by (to explain how something is done)

a) You can achieve your goals by working hard. Marcos improved his
English by spending a
year Canada.
b) Sara avoided him by walking on the other side of the street.

c) We gathered the data by conducting some interviews.

d) I learned how to use this machine by reading the instructions.

Butchart Garden

e) Can children develop their creativity by drawing? BC, Canada

EXERCISE 4: Fill in the blank with the correct gerund form of the verb.

1. You can open it by _______________ (remove) the wrapping paper.

2. Forest service personnel want to improve the ecosystem by ________________ (oversee)

controlled burns of forests.

3. Studies indicate that by ______________ (review) the questions in an exam before

answering them, students achieve higher scores.

4. Elena wants to learn how to dance Latin American rhythms by ____________ (take) some

lessons.

5. My dad learned how to navigate public transportation in Bogota by ___________ (go)

downtown almost every day.

6. Students limit their chances of obtaining gainful employment by _____________ (drop)

out of college before getting a degree.

7. Many people are kinesthetic learners, meaning that they learn something by ___________

(do) it.

8. By _______________ (read) many recipes, I learned how to cook Mexican dishes.

9. The skier hoped to survive a possible avalanche by ______________ (use) her new safety

device and air bag that inflated after pulling a cord.

10. My nephew improved his work performance by ____________ (receive) valuable

feedback from his boss.

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 5. with go (go + gerund)

Go is followed by a gerund in some idiomatic expressions to talk mainly about leisure

activities that we do in our free time.
1. backpacking 16. deep water soloing 31. parasailing 46. skiing
2. BASE jumping 17. fishing 32. people watching 47. skydiving
3. biking 18. fly boarding 33. rafting 48. skinny-dipping
4. birdwatching 19. fruit picking 34. rappelling 49. sledding
5. boating 20. glamping 35. rock climbing 50. spearfishing
6. bowling 21. hiking 36. rollerblading 51. snorkeling
7. bungee jumping 22. hitch-hiking 37. roller skating 52. snowboarding
8. camping 23. horseback riding 38. running 53. snowshoeing
9. canoeing 24. hunting 39. sailing 54. surfing
10. canyoning 25. jogging 40. scrambling 55. swimming
11. caving 26. kayaking 41. scuba diving 56. trekking
12. cliff diving 27. kitesurfing 42. shopping 57. walking
13. cliff jumping 28. mountain climbing 43. sightseeing 58. water skiing
14. coasteering 29. parachuting 44. skateboarding 59. window shopping
15. dancing 30. paragliding 45. skating 60. windsurfing

EXERCISE 5: Write affirmative/negative sentences and questions using go + gerund.

EXAMPLE: I have never gone glamping, but I am really looking forward to doing it soon,

1. __________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________________________

6. __________________________________________________________________________

7. __________________________________________________________________________

8. __________________________________________________________________________

9. __________________________________________________________________________