Gerunds
A gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun in a sentence. It can act as a subject, object or complement, for example "swimming", "reading" or "travelling". Although it looks like a verb, a gerund behaves grammatically like a noun, naming an action, activity or state.
Types of gerunds
Subject gerund
A gerund that acts as the subject of the sentence.
e.g. Swimming keeps you fit., Reading improves vocabulary.
Object gerund
A gerund that acts as the direct object of a verb.
e.g. She enjoys cooking., They finished painting the house.
Object of a preposition
A gerund that follows a preposition, since prepositions must be followed by nouns, not base verbs.
e.g. He is interested in learning French., She is good at solving problems.
Subject complement
A gerund that comes after a linking verb such as 'be' to rename or describe the subject.
e.g. My favourite hobby is painting., Her passion is dancing.
Gerund phrase
A gerund combined with its own object, modifiers or complements, acting together as one noun unit.
e.g. Learning a new language takes patience., Winning the competition surprised everyone.
Rules to remember
- Form a gerund by adding '-ing' to the base verb: work becomes working, write becomes writing.
- A gerund always functions as a noun, so it can be a subject, object, complement or object of a preposition, but never a main verb by itself.
- Certain verbs, such as enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest, admit and consider, must be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.
- After every preposition, use a gerund rather than the base form or infinitive of a verb.
- Possessive adjectives or possessive nouns are often used before a gerund in formal English, as in 'I appreciate your helping me.'
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| Jogging every morning helps me stay energetic. | Gerund 'jogging' is the subject of the sentence. |
| I don't mind waiting for the bus. | Gerund 'waiting' is the object of the verb 'mind'. |
| She apologised for being late. | Gerund 'being' follows the preposition 'for'. |
| Their biggest concern is finding affordable housing. | Gerund phrase 'finding affordable housing' acts as the subject complement. |
| We are considering moving to another city. | Gerund 'moving' follows the verb 'consider', which requires a gerund. |
| Thank you for listening to my presentation. | Gerund 'listening' follows the preposition 'for' in a fixed polite expression. |
| His constant complaining annoyed everyone in the office. | Gerund 'complaining' is modified by an adjective, showing it functions as a noun. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: I enjoy to read novels.
Correct: I enjoy reading novels.
Incorrect: She is good in cooking.
Correct: She is good at cooking.
Incorrect: He suggested to go to the cinema.
Correct: He suggested going to the cinema.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using gerunds accurately, especially after prepositions and specific verbs like 'suggest', 'avoid' and 'consider', demonstrates control over complex sentence structures, which examiners reward under Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Mixing gerunds and infinitives correctly, and using gerund phrases as subjects, also helps you sound more natural and academic in both IELTS Writing Task 2 essays and Speaking Part 3 answers, where abstract ideas are often expressed through noun-like actions.
Frequently asked questions
What is a gerund in simple terms?
A gerund is the '-ing' form of a verb used as a noun, such as 'swimming' in 'Swimming is fun.'
What is the difference between a gerund and a present participle?
Both end in '-ing', but a gerund functions as a noun, while a present participle functions as an adjective or part of a continuous verb tense, as in 'the running water' or 'She is running.'
Which verbs are followed by a gerund instead of an infinitive?
Common examples include enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest, admit, consider, mind and practise, as in 'I finished writing the report.'
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