What Is a Gerund? Definition and Examples

At Belekar Sir’s Academy, we believe strong grammar is the foundation of confident English. One key concept every learner must master is the gerund. A gerund is the “-ing” form of a verb that functions as a noun in a sentence. 

Whether you’re writing, speaking, or preparing for competitive exams, understanding gerunds helps you construct clearer, more natural sentences. In this lesson, we’ll break down what gerunds are, how they’re used, and give you plenty of examples to make learning simple and practical.

What Is a Gerund?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun in a sentence. Even though it looks like a verb, it acts like a noun and can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.

Example:

• Running is good for your health.
  Here, running is derived from the verb run but is being used as a noun—it’s the subject of the sentence.

Grammatical Functions of Gerunds

Gerunds can take on several roles within a sentence, just like regular nouns. Here are the most common ones:

• Subject of the sentence:
  Swimming is her favorite sport.
  (Swimming is the subject.)
  
• Direct object:
  I enjoy reading.
  (Reading is the object of the verb enjoy.)
  
• Object of a preposition:
  She has a passion for dancing.
  (Dancing is the object of the preposition for.)
  
• Subject complement (renaming the subject):
  Her favorite hobby is painting.
  (Painting renames the subject hobby.)

Why Are Gerunds Important in Writing?

Gerunds help express actions or processes as concepts, making it easier to talk about them in a more abstract or general way. Instead of saying someone runs, we can say Running is healthy, treating the action as a thing we can describe or analyze.

They add variety and flexibility to sentence structure by allowing writers to:

• Treat actions as ideas
  
• Discuss activities in general terms
  
• Use compact and fluid sentence forms
  
• Avoid repetitive sentence patterns
  

Using gerunds effectively can make your writing clearer, smoother, and more engaging, especially when describing routines, preferences, hobbies, and goals.

Gerund vs. Present Participle

What Is a Present Participle?

Like gerunds, present participles also end in -ing, but they function differently. A present participle acts as:

• an adjective (modifying a noun)
  
• or part of a continuous verb tense
  

Examples:

• The running water is cold.
  (Running is a present participle acting as an adjective.)
  
• She is running.
  (Running is part of the present continuous verb tense.)

Key Differences Between Gerunds and Present Participles

More Examples for Comparison

Gerunds:

• Reading helps you learn.
  (Reading is the subject of the sentence.)
  
• I enjoy swimming.
  (Swimming is the object of the verb enjoy.)
  

Present Participles:

• The exciting news made everyone happy.
  (Exciting is an adjective modifying news.)
  
• She is writing a letter.
  (Writing is part of the verb phrase is writing.)

Summary

Although gerunds and present participles look identical because they both end in -ing, they serve very different grammatical purposes:

• Gerunds behave like nouns.
  
• Present participles function as adjectives or parts of verb tenses.
  

Understanding this difference is essential for clear and accurate sentence construction.

Gerund Form

How Are Gerunds Formed?

A gerund is formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb.
Examples:

• walk → walking
  
• talk → talking
  
• think → thinking

Spelling Rules for Forming Gerunds

Here are the key spelling rules to keep in mind:

• Most verbs: Simply add -ing
  study → studying, see → seeing
  
• Verbs ending in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant:
  Double the final consonant
  run → running, hit → hitting
  
• Verbs ending in silent “e”:
  Drop the “e”, then add -ing
  take → taking, live → living
  
• Verbs ending in “ee”:
  Keep the “ee”, just add -ing
  see → seeing
  
• Verbs ending in “ie”:
  Change “ie” to “y”, then add -ing
  lie → lying, die → dying
  
• Verbs with consonant + unstressed vowel + consonant:
  Don’t double the consonant
  open → opening

Examples of Gerunds in Sentences

• Reading helps you learn.
  
• Swimming is good exercise.
  
• Running in the morning is refreshing.
  
• Taking notes is important.
  
• Lying is wrong.

How Gerunds Are Used in Sentences

Gerunds act as nouns and can take on various roles:

• Subject:
  Running is good for your health.
  
• Object:
  She enjoys reading.
  
• Subject complement:
  Her favorite activity is swimming.
  
• Object of a preposition:
  She is interested in painting.
  
• Appositive:
  Her hobby, running, keeps her fit.

Gerund Phrases

What Is a Gerund Phrase?

A gerund phrase includes a gerund plus any objects, modifiers, or complements.
Example:
Walking to school every day is healthy.
(Walking = gerund, to school = prepositional phrase, every day = adverb)

How Gerund Phrases Function

Gerund phrases function as nouns in different parts of a sentence:

• Subject:
  Removing the dressing quickly is the best way.
  
• Object:
  I like singing songs in the shower.
  
• Object of preposition:
  She is tired of waiting for someone to call her back.
  
• Subject complement:
  My favorite pastime is knitting scarves for my friends.

Possessives Before Gerunds

When to Use Possessives

In formal writing, a noun or pronoun before a gerund is typically in the possessive form to show ownership of the action.

Example:

• Your leaving early was a wise decision. (formal)
  

In informal writing, it’s common to use the regular noun or pronoun.

Examples:

• We celebrated Gord winning the contest. (informal)
  
• We celebrated Gord’s winning the contest. (formal)

Examples for Clarity

• Jorge is in favor of the candidate’s being interviewed Friday. (formal)
  
• Jorge is in favor of the candidate being interviewed Friday. (informal)
  

Use the possessive when clarity or emphasis on the action is important.

Phrasal Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Many phrasal verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.
Examples:

• He put off doing his homework.
  
• She gave up smoking.
  
• Keep on trying!
  
• I look forward to seeing you.
  
• We talked about going to the movies.
  
• He ended up staying late at work.

Verbal Nouns vs. Gerunds

Not all -ing words are gerunds. Some are verbal nouns (also called deverbal nouns). These function purely as nouns and lack the verb-like qualities of gerunds.

Key Differences:

Examples:

• Gerund:
  I love swimming.
  I love swimming laps. (takes an object)
  
• Verbal noun:
  The swimming was exhausting.
  The building of the bridge took years.
  
• Gerund:
  Building bridges is his job.

Summary

• Gerunds are -ing forms of verbs acting as nouns.
  
• They can function in several roles: subject, object, object of preposition, complement, or appositive.
  
• Gerund phrases include modifiers and act as single noun units.
  
• Use possessive forms before gerunds in formal writing.
  
• Phrasal verbs often pair with gerunds.
  
• Verbal nouns are not the same as gerunds—they behave strictly like nouns and lack verb traits.
  

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Gerunds vs. Infinitives

When to Use Each

• Gerunds (verb + ing) act as nouns. They often follow certain verbs, prepositions, or appear as the subject or complement of a sentence.
  Example: I enjoy reading.
  
• Infinitives (to + verb) also function as nouns, often after specific verbs, adjectives, or to express purpose or intention.
  Example: I want to travel.

Common Verbs That Require a Gerund

Some verbs must be followed by a gerund:

• Examples: enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, imagine, suggest, keep (on), recommend, risk, tolerate, mind, admit, appreciate, delay, discuss, escape, feel like, give up, mention, permit, postpone, quit.

Verbs That Take Both (But Change Meaning)

Some verbs accept both gerunds and infinitives, but the meaning changes:

Examples

• Gerund: I enjoy swimming. / She avoids eating sweets.
  
• Infinitive: He wants to leave. / They decided to help.
  
• Both (with meaning change):
  
  • I forgot locking the door.
    
  • I forgot to lock the door.
    
  • He stopped smoking.
    
  • He stopped to smoke.

Common Mistakes

How to Identify Gerunds

Steps

1. Find “-ing” verbs in the sentence.
   
2. Check the function: Is it used as a noun (subject, object, complement, etc.)?
   
3. Distinguish from present participles: Present participles describe nouns (adjectives) or form continuous tenses.
   
4. Watch for gerund phrases: A gerund plus modifiers or objects still functions as a noun.

Examples

• Gerund as Subject:
  Swimming is good exercise.
  (Swimming is the subject)
  
• Gerund as Object:
  She enjoys reading.
  (Reading is the object of the verb)
  
• Gerund as Object of a Preposition:
  He is interested in learning.
  (Learning follows the preposition in)
  
• Not a Gerund (Present Participle):
  The running water is cold.
  (Running describes water, so it’s an adjective)
  
  Running is good for you.
  (Running is used as a noun—this is a gerund)

Gerund Practice and Exercises

1. Identify Gerunds in Sentences

• Baking is one of my favorite hobbies.
  → “Baking” is a gerund acting as the subject.
  
• She avoids eating sweets.
  → “Eating” is a gerund acting as the object.
  
• The best part of the trip was hiking in the mountains.
  → “Hiking” is a gerund acting as a subject complement.
  
• He is good at solving puzzles.
  → “Solving” is a gerund as the object of a preposition.

2. Gerunds vs. Present Participles

• The singing birds woke me up.
  → “Singing” is a present participle (adjective).
  
• Hiking in the mountains is exhilarating.
  → “Hiking” is a gerund (subject).
  
• She is studying for her exam.
  → “Studying” is part of the present continuous tense (verb form).
  
• I like reading books.
  → “Reading” is a gerund (object of the verb “like”).

3. Sentence Correction

Why Use Gerunds?

1. Make Writing More Concise

Gerunds can help combine ideas and reduce repetition.

• Before: She reads books. It is her favorite activity.
  
• After: Reading books is her favorite activity.
  

2. Avoid Passive Voice

Using gerunds can shift focus to the action.

• Passive: The project was completed by the team.
  
• Active: Completing the project was a relief for the team.
  

3. Improve Sentence Flow

• Add variety by starting sentences with gerunds.
  
• Combine short ideas:
  
  • Before: He ran. He felt refreshed.
    
  • After: Running made him feel refreshed.

Conclusion

Mastering gerunds is a small step that brings big improvements to your English skills. By recognizing how verbs can act as nouns, you gain more flexibility in writing and speaking. At Belekar Sir’s Academy, we focus on building such strong fundamentals so you can use English with clarity and confidence. Keep practicing, and soon, using gerunds will feel natural in your everyday communication.

FAQs About Gerunds

Mangesh Belekar

Belekar Sir is the founder and lead instructor at Belekar Sir’s Academy, a trusted name in English language education. With over a decade of teaching experience, he has helped thousands of students—from beginners to advanced learners—develop fluency, confidence, and real-world communication skills. Known for his practical teaching style and deep understanding of learner needs, Belekar Sir is passionate about making English accessible and empowering for everyone. When he’s not teaching, he’s creating resources and guides to support learners on their journey to mastering spoken English.