Language
English
Level
B1
Unit
Gerunds and Infinitives
Practice types
0

What this grammar point covers

A gerund is the '-ing' form of a verb used as a noun in English.

When to use it

Use gerunds as the subject or object of a sentence, or after certain verbs and prepositions.

Key forms

  • Verb + -ing (e.g., 'reading', 'swimming', 'playing')

Examples

Swimming is fun.

I enjoy reading.

She is good at drawing.

We talked about going to the park.

Tips

  • Do not confuse gerunds with present continuous tense. Gerunds act like nouns.
  • Some verbs must be followed by a gerund, not the infinitive (e.g., 'enjoy reading', not 'enjoy to read').

Exceptions and edge cases

  • Some verbs can be followed by both gerunds and infinitives, but the meaning may change (e.g., 'stop smoking' vs. 'stop to smoke').

Keep exploring

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