Gerunds: What Is A Gerund? Useful List & Examples

Gerunds! What is a gerund? Learn how and when to use Gerunds in English with useful grammar rules, example sentences, video and ESL worksheets.

What Is A Gerund?

What is a gerund? Gerunds are verbals that function as nouns and have an –ing ending.

Gerund examples:

I am waiting. (Present Participle)

(This is the present continuous. “Waiting” here is part of the verb. It is not a gerund.)

I don’t like waiting. (Gerund)

(This is present simple, but it contains a gerund. “Waiting” is the direct object of this sentence.)

How to Use Gerunds with Examples

The gerund form of verbs is used as follows:

The Gerund Can be Used as Subject of a Sentence

Examples:

Writing in English is difficult.

Watching TV is my favorite pastime.

 The Gerund Can be Used as Direct Object of a Sentence

Examples:

I like writing in English.

I love going out to restaurants.

The Gerund Can be Used as a Subject Complement

Gerunds Examples:

My cat’s favorite activity is sleeping.

One of his duties is doing homework.

The Gerund Can be Used as an Object of a Preposition

Gerunds examples:

We shall be interested in hearing your comments.

Would you like to walk instead of taking the bus?

The Gerund Can be Used after Certain Expressions

It’s no use, it’s no good, there’s no point in…

Gerunds examples:

It’s no use tying it; you have to glue it.

There’s no point in wasting time.

Gerunds Examples & Usage | Images

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Verbs Followed by Gerunds List

Learn useful list of Verbs Followed by Gerunds in English with example sentences.

Miss

He had missed being elected by a single vote.

Postpone

He postponed returning to Paris.

Practice

Today we’re going to practice parking.

Prefer

Chantal prefers travelling by train.

Quit

She quits worrying about the problem.

Recall

I don’t recall seeing any cars parked outside.

Recollect

I recollect seeing Ryder some years ago in Bonn.

Gerund Verbs List Image

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Recommend

I would never recommend using a sunbed on a regular basis.

Regret

I regret leaving school so young.

Resent

Many conscripts resent having to do their military service.

Resist

She can never resist buying new shoes.

Risk

He risked being caught.

Sanction

They will not sanction copying without permission.

Start

He started tipping the pea pods into a pan.

Stop

I hoped he would stop asking awkward questions.

Suggest

Tracey suggested meeting for a drink after work.

Tolerate

We don’t tolerate smoking in the library.

Try

They decided they would try living in America for a while.

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