Gerunds in English

Do you enjoy swimming? “Swimming,” in this question, is a gerund, which is an important part of English grammar, especially if you are an advanced learner focusing on more challenging aspects of language learning. Then, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the grammar of infinitives and gerunds. These forms come naturally to native speakers but require a more profound understanding for most English learners. In this article, we will take a closer look at the gerund: what is a gerund, its meaning, examples, types, and how to use it in everyday communication. Let's start learning!

What is a Gerund?

Look at the sentence: “His favorite activity is hacking.”  The example ends with the verb “hacking,” but it's not just a verb – it's a gerund. In this sentence, the word does not describe an action as verbs usually do. 

A gerund is a verb form that ends in “ing” and acts as a noun in a sentence, for example:

• learning
• walking
• driving
• being 

Gerund form allows you to switch the focus from an action to a thing. That is why a gerund can be the subject, complement, or adjunct of a sentence. For example, in the sentence “Reading is a great way to relax,”  the word “reading” is the gerund, and it is used as a complement. So, it is not enough for a verb to have the ending “ing” to be recognized as a gerund. The most precise definition of a gerund is that it is a verb form with the “ing” end that acts as a noun. However, to really understand gerunds, we need to look at their meaning and examples of gerunds.

Gerund Definition

So, what is the gerund? A gerund is used in sentences as a noun and helps to express an action or state. If you want to understand gerund form, it is important to consider the context of the sentence in which it is used. 

For example, in the sentence “Cooking breakfast every morning can be tiring,”  the gerund “cooking” is used as a complement, which means that the speaker is tired of the action of cooking.

Gerunds can also express a state of being. For example, in the sentence “Being a good listener is an important skill,”  the gerund “being” is used as the subject, which means that the speaker finds it rewarding to be a great listener.

However, you need to keep in mind that present participles are not gerunds when they refer to an action in a sentence, for instance:

• She is running every morning to stay fit.
• They were laughing at the joke when the teacher entered.
• He has been studying for hours without a break.

Gerund Sentence Examples

Now that we've clarified the meaning of the gerund let's look at some examples of how to use it in sentences.

• Playing the piano is soothing.
• Reading is a great way to relax.
• Singing is a great way to express yourself.
• Swimming is a great exercise.
• Studying can be challenging but rewarding.

These gerunds examples show how this form can be used as the subject, object, or complement in your sentence. How about writing your own gerund sentence in the comments to reinforce this form? 

Types of Gerunds

There are two types of gerunds: active and passive.

Active gerunds express an action that the speaker or writer is doing, while Passive gerunds express an action being done to them. Passive gerunds are formed by adding “ing” to the auxiliary verb “be” and following it with the passive participle of the main verb.

For example, in the sentence “I enjoy running,”  the gerund “running” is an active gerund because the speaker is actively performing the action. On the other hand, in the sentence “He appreciated being given the opportunity to speak,”  the gerund “being given” is a passive gerund because the speaker is being affected by the action.

Gerunds vs. Other Parts of Speech

It is important to differentiate between gerunds and other parts of speech. A gerund is used as a noun, whereas other parts of speech, such as verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, are used to modify it. For example, in the sentence “I like to play,” the gerund “playing” is used as an adjunct and expresses an action. On the other hand, the verb “enjoy” is used to modify the gerund “playing”: “I enjoy playing.”

In addition to the gerund, an infinitive (the word “to” + the root of a verb) can also play the role of a noun in a sentence. An infinitive can be used as a noun to express a concept and as an adjective to describe a noun in a sentence. For example:

• He likes to read, but he didn't have time yesterday.
• She has a lot of work to finish before the deadline.

In some contexts, an infinitive can be easily replaced with a gerund, and the meaning will be the same:

• I prefer reading paper books to listening to audiobooks.
• She prefers not to wear uncomfortable shoes.

However, it’s not so simple with particular verbs and phrases requiring only an infinitive or gerund. The best thing you can do is memorize common verbs followed only by a gerund and common verbs followed only by an infinitive.

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Use of Gerund Form

Gerunds are used in everyday speech and writing to express actions, states of being, and emotions. They can be used to add interest and variety to conversations and make them more engaging. Gerunds can also be used to express complex ideas. For example, the sentence “Reading is a great way to relax” expresses the idea that reading can help us relax without using too many words.

Gerunds are quite universal in use. Here are some more examples of gerunds and gerund phrases in sentences:

• She recommended reading this book. 
• I miss being with my boyfriend. 
• He advises waiting for the final decision.
• I couldn't resist looking at her notebook.
• Our friends suggested going to the mountains.

List of Gerunds

Here is a list of 30 common gerunds in English language:

1. Running
2. Swimming
3. Singing
4. Dancing
5. Writing
6. Playing
7. Working
8. Studying
9. Eating
10. Shopping
11. Cooking
12. Cleaning
13. Laughing
14. Smiling
15. Driving
16. Walking
17. Talking
18. Listening
19. Riding
20. Crying
21. Thinking
22. Climbing
23. Jumping
24. Flying
25. Skiing
26. Painting
27. Drawing
28. Sleeping
29. Gardening
30. Breaking

These are just a few examples of using gerund in English . Any verb can become a gerund, give it a shot!

Summary

Gerunds are a form of the verb that acts as a noun in a sentence. They express an action or state of being and can be used as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. There are two types of gerunds: active and passive. Gerunds can be used to add variety and express complex ideas.

Now that you understand gerunds, you can use them to speak more naturally in English. Check out more handy references below to improve your skills!