Gerunds (-ing Form)

The gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. This essential A2–B2 lesson covers everything you need to master gerunds in English. To use gerunds correctly, you need to understand 1 Golden Rule and 3 Main Zones:

• The Golden Rule: After ALL prepositions → always use a gerund (no exceptions)
• Zone 1: Verbs followed by gerunds (enjoy, finish, suggest, avoid...)
• Zone 2: Fixed expressions with gerunds (can't help, it's worth, spend time...)
• Zone 3: Advanced gerund forms (perfect gerunds, passive gerunds, possessive gerunds)

Gerunds function as nouns in a sentence, meaning they can be subjects, objects, or complements. The biggest challenge? Understanding when to use gerunds and infinitives correctly, and recognizing that "to" is sometimes a preposition (followed by -ing), not an infinitive marker. For detailed gerund and infinitive comparison and exercises, see Gerund vs Infinitive.

Don't confuse gerunds with other -ing forms:

• Gerund (noun): "Swimming is fun." (subject)
• Present participle (adjective): "the swimming pool" (describes "pool")
• Present continuous (verb tense): "I am swimming now." (action happening now)

This lesson focuses on gerunds as nouns. For present continuous forms, see Present Continuous.

Gerunds as Nouns: Form, Subject & Object

A gerund is formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb. Unlike other -ing forms, a gerund always functions as a noun in the sentence.

Formation

Spelling note: Most verbs just add -ing, but verbs ending in -e drop the e (make → making), and short verbs often double the final consonant (swim → swimming, run → running).

Gerund as Subject

A gerund can be the subject of a sentence, just like a noun:

The verb that follows a gerund subject is always singular (is, was, has), because the gerund represents one activity:

• ✅ Swimming is fun.
• ❌ Swimming are fun.

Gerund as Object

A gerund can be the object of a verb:

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Many verbs are always followed by a gerund, never an infinitive. Here are the most common ones:

⚠️ The Suggest/Recommend Trap

Verbs like suggest, recommend, consider, and advise are frequently tested because learners often make the mistake of using an infinitive after them. These verbs only take gerunds when followed directly by a verb:

Note: These verbs can be followed by "that + clause" (She suggested that we go, He recommended that we try it), but when followed directly by a verb, they take a gerund, not an infinitive.

For more on which verbs take gerunds vs infinitives, see Gerund vs Infinitive.

👉 Practice Gerund Basics: Form, Subject & Object →

The Golden Rule: Gerunds After Prepositions

Here's the most reliable rule in English gerund usage: After ALL prepositions, use a gerund — no exceptions.

This is the Golden Rule because:

• It applies universally to every preposition
• It has no exceptions (unlike many grammar rules)
• It solves many common errors instantly

The Pattern

*Note: "to" can be a preposition OR part of an infinitive. See The "To" Trap below.

Verb + Preposition + Gerund

Many verbs are followed by a specific preposition, and that preposition must be followed by a gerund:

Adjective + Preposition + Gerund

Many adjectives are followed by a specific preposition, and that preposition must be followed by a gerund:

Common Prepositional Phrases

Some prepositional phrases are especially common:

Go + Gerund for Activities

Use go + gerund for leisure and sport activities:

⚠️ The "To" Trap: Preposition vs Infinitive

This is the #1 source of gerund errors. The word "to" has two different jobs in English:

1. "to" as part of an infinitive: to work, to eat, to go (followed by base verb)
2. "to" as a preposition: followed by a gerund

When "to" is a preposition, you must use a gerund after it. Here are the most common cases:

How to tell if "to" is a preposition:

• If you can replace "to" + verb with "to" + noun, it's a preposition
• Example: "I look forward to the meeting" → "I look forward to meeting you" ✓

Don't confuse "be used to" with "used to":

• be used to + gerund = be accustomed to (I**'m used to living** alone = I'm accustomed to it)
• used to + infinitive = past habit (I used to live in Paris = I lived there before, but not now)

👉 Practice Gerund after Prepositions →

Gerunds in Fixed Expressions

Many common English expressions require gerunds. These are idiomatic patterns that must be memorized.

Can't Help / Can't Resist (Inability to Control)

Can't help + gerund means you are unable to stop yourself from doing something:

Worth, No Use, No Good, No Point (Value Expressions)

These expressions evaluate whether something is useful or valuable:

Important: After "worth", always use a gerund, never an infinitive:

• ✅ It's worth trying.
• ❌ It's worth to try.

Spend Time / Waste Time (Time Expressions)

These expressions describe how time is used:

Never use an infinitive after "spend time" or "waste time":

• ✅ I spend an hour reading every day.
• ❌ I spend an hour to read every day.

Have Difficulty / Have Trouble (Difficulty Expressions)

These expressions describe struggles or challenges:

Other Common Fixed Expressions

Making Gerunds Negative

To make a gerund negative, put not before it:

Common mistake: Don't use "don't" or "doesn't" before a gerund:

• ✅ Not studying the night before is a bad strategy.
• ❌ Don't studying the night before is a bad strategy.

👉 Practice Gerund in Fixed Expressions →

Advanced Gerund Forms

Gerunds have more complex forms for expressing time relationships and passive voice.

Perfect Gerund: Having + Past Participle

The perfect gerund (having + past participle) emphasizes that the gerund action happened before the main verb:

Examples:

• He denied having taken the money from the safe. (He took it first, then denied it)
• She regrets not having studied harder in college. (She didn't study in the past, now she regrets it)
• They admitted having lied about their qualifications. (They lied in the past, now they admit it)
• She recalled having locked the door before leaving. (She locked it, then recalled it)

When to use perfect gerund: Use the perfect gerund when you want to emphasize that the action clearly happened before the main verb. In many cases, the simple gerund is also acceptable if the time relationship is clear from context.

Passive Gerund: Being + Past Participle

The passive gerund (being + past participle) is used when the subject receives the action rather than performing it:

Examples:

• I appreciate being given the opportunity to speak. (Someone gave me the opportunity)
• Nobody enjoys being laughed at in public. (People laugh at them)
• She doesn't mind being called by her first name. (People call her by her first name)
• He resented being treated unfairly. (Others treated him unfairly)
• Most people dislike being told what to do all the time. (Someone tells them)

Note: Don't confuse active and passive gerunds:

• I enjoy calling my friends. (I make the calls — active)
• I don't mind being called late at night. (Someone calls me — passive)

Perfect Passive Gerund: Having Been + Past Participle

This combines both perfect and passive forms. Use it when the action:

1. Happened before the main verb (perfect)
2. Was done to the subject (passive)

Examples:

• The politician denied having been involved in the scandal. (He was involved in the past, now he denies it)
• She remembered having been introduced to him at a party. (Someone introduced her in the past)
• He recalled having been warned about the danger. (Someone warned him before)

Possessive + Gerund: His/Her/My/Your + Gerund

In formal English, use a possessive adjective (his, her, my, your, their) before a gerund:

Examples:

• I was surprised at his winning the competition. (formal)
• We appreciate your showing patience during this time. (formal)

Note: In informal speech, people often use the object pronoun (him, me, them) instead of the possessive, but the possessive form is considered more correct in formal writing.

Making Advanced Gerunds Negative

For perfect and passive gerunds, put not before the entire gerund form:

👉 Practice Advanced Gerunds: Perfect, Passive & Possessive →

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Quick Summary

The Golden Rule

After ALL prepositions → use gerund (no exceptions)

Examples: at playing, for helping, about buying, to meeting (when "to" is a preposition)

Verbs Followed by Gerund (Common Ones)

Fixed Expressions with Gerund

"To" Decision Tree: Preposition or Infinitive?

Is "to" followed by a base verb or a gerund?

→ If you can say "to + noun" (e.g., "look forward to the party"), then "to" is a preposition → use gerund

• Example: look forward to meeting (NOT to meet)

→ If "to" is part of an infinitive marker (to + base verb), use infinitive

• Example: want to go, decide to leave

Formation of Advanced Gerunds

Practice Tips

1. Master the Golden Rule first: Memorize that ALL prepositions are followed by gerunds. This single rule solves dozens of errors instantly.

2. Create verb lists: Make your own list of verbs that take gerunds (enjoy, finish, suggest...) and test yourself regularly. Use them in sentences daily.

3. Spot the "To" Trap: When you see "to", ask yourself: "Is this a preposition or an infinitive?" Practice with: look forward to, be used to, object to.

4. Use fixed expressions in writing: Practice expressions like "it's worth trying", "spend time reading", "can't help laughing" until they become automatic.

5. Practice passive and perfect forms: Advanced forms are B2 level, so take your time. Focus on understanding why you'd use "having done" (timing) or "being done" (passive) before memorizing patterns.

Practice All Exercises

Ready to practice everything you've learned? These comprehensive gerund exercises include multiple choice and worksheet practice with answers. Available online for free, these exercises progress from basic A2 gerund usage to advanced B2 forms. For comparison with infinitives, see our gerund and infinitive exercises. Work through the sets below in order:

👉 Start with Set 4: Advanced Gerunds for a comprehensive challenge covering all gerund forms and usage patterns!