Gerunds are an important part of English grammar. They are verb forms ending in -ing that function as nouns in a sentence. Gerunds are commonly used after certain verbs, after prepositions, after adjectives with prepositions, and in specific fixed expressions. Understanding how gerunds work—and how they differ from infinitives and present participles—helps you avoid some of the most common grammar mistakes.
What Is a Gerund?
A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. Because gerunds act as nouns, they can be used as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
- As a subject: Playing football is fun.
- As an object: I enjoy reading before bed.
Present participles also end in -ing, but they do not function as nouns. Instead, they act as adjectives or form continuous verb tenses.
- Gerund (noun): Swimming is good exercise.
- Participle (adjective): The swimming child waved at us.
- Participle (verb): She is swimming right now.
Verbs Commonly Followed by Gerunds
Verbs Expressing Avoidance or Delay
- avoid, postpone, delay, quit, resist, risk
Verbs of Mental Process or Reaction
- admit, deny, consider, imagine, recall, resent, understand
Verbs of Suggestion or Discussion
- suggest, recommend, discuss, propose
Verbs That Can Take Both Gerunds and Infinitives
Some verbs can be followed by both a gerund and a to-infinitive. In some cases, the meaning stays almost the same; in others, the meaning changes significantly.
- begin / start / continue – little or no change in meaning
- like / love / hate / prefer – often interchangeable in everyday English
- stop / remember / forget / try – meaning changes depending on the form
- He stopped smoking. (He quit the habit.)
- He stopped to smoke. (He paused in order to smoke.)
Gerunds After Prepositions
When a verb follows a preposition, it must be in the gerund form.
- She apologized for arriving late.
- They are interested in learning English.
- We talked about moving abroad.
Gerunds After Verbs of Perception
Gerunds can be used after verbs of perception (see, hear, watch, notice) to emphasize that an action was in progress.
- I saw him crossing the street.
- We heard her singing in the next room.
Use the gerund to emphasize an action in progress, and the bare infinitive to emphasize a completed action (e.g., I saw him cross the street).
Common Fixed Expressions Followed by Gerunds
Some fixed expressions are always followed by gerunds and are a frequent source of mistakes.
- can’t help + gerund: I can’t help laughing.
- can’t stand + gerund: She can’t stand waiting.
- it’s no use + gerund: It’s no use arguing.
- look forward to + gerund: I look forward to meeting you.
- be used to + gerund: He is used to working late.
Gerund Examples in Sentences
- I enjoy talking to you.
- He was embarrassed to admit making a mistake.
- We don’t tolerate smoking in the library.
- Please stop worrying about their marriage.
- Children often dislike being told what to do.
- You should avoid driving during rush hour.
- She couldn’t resist laughing at the joke.
Gerund Summary Table
| Category | Structure | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerund as subject | V-ing + verb | Learning English takes time. | Gerund functions as a noun |
| Verb + gerund | verb + V-ing | I enjoy reading. | Common after specific verbs |
| Preposition + gerund | preposition + V-ing | She insisted on paying. | Always required after prepositions |
| Adjective + preposition + gerund | adjective + preposition + V-ing | He is afraid of failing. | Very common learner mistake |
| Verbs that change meaning | verb + V-ing / verb + to + V | stop smoking / stop to smoke | Meaning changes depending on the form |
Last Updated on January 22, 2026
