Understanding Gerunds: A Comprehensive Guide to -ing Words

Thomas
2 jul
3 Min. de lectura

Words ending in "-ing" on a dark blue background, including gerund, past, present, future, and actions like dancing, talking, and sleeping. — Words ending in "-ing" on a dark blue background.

If you’re learning English, you’ve likely encountered many -ing words like reading, running, and swimming. But did you know that not all -ing verbs function the same way in sentences?

In this post, we’ll explore gerunds, how they differ from other -ing verbs, and how you can start using them naturally in your speaking and writing. Understanding these differences is essential for mastering the English language.

What Is a Gerund?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that acts like a noun.

Here are some examples:

I enjoy cooking.
Swimming is fun.
They talked about traveling.

Even though these words originate from verbs (cook, swim, travel), they serve as things or ideas in the sentences above. This grammatical role is what defines them as gerunds.

How Are Gerunds Used?

1. After Certain Verbs

Some verbs are always followed by a gerund and not an infinitive (to + verb).

Common verbs that take a gerund include:

enjoy
avoid
finish
suggest (to give advice)
mind (to be bothered by something)
keep (to continue doing something)
consider (to think about something)

Examples:

She enjoys dancing.
He avoided talking to his teacher.
I finished reading the book.
My doctor suggested eating healthy foods.
I don’t mind waiting.
My cat keeps jumping on the counter.
Have you considered learning Spanish?

❌ Incorrect: “I enjoy to dance.”

✅ Correct: “I enjoy dancing.”

2. As the Subject of a Sentence

A gerund can also serve as the subject of a sentence, the main “thing” about which the sentence speaks.

Examples:

Reading helps you learn faster.
Driving in the city can be stressful.
Listening to music is enjoyable.
Painting is hard.

3. After Prepositions

Gerunds appear after prepositions rather than infinitives.

Examples:

She is good at painting.
I’m thinking about moving.
Before going to bed, I brush my teeth.

In these examples, at, about, and before function as prepositions.

❌ Incorrect: “She is good at to paint.”

✅ Correct: “She is good at painting.”

Gerund vs. Continuous Tenses

It's easy to confuse gerunds with continuous verb forms (present, past, and future continuous). Let’s clarify the differences:

Form	Use	Example
Gerund	-ing verb used as a noun, The subject or idea of a sentence	I enjoy running.
Present Continuous	action happening now [to be + verb-ing]	I am running right now.
Past Continuous	action that was happening before [to be + verb-ing]	I was running when it rained.
Future Continuous	action that will be happening later [will + to be + verb-ing]	I will be running after school.

Tip: If the verb is connected to a to be verb (like am/is/are, was/were, or be), it’s not a gerund—it’s part of a continuous tense.

Quick Practice with Gerunds

Fill in the blanks with the correct gerund:

I enjoy __________ (read) before bed.
She’s interested in __________ (learn) Spanish.
__________ (dance) makes me happy.
He avoided __________ (talk) to his boss.

Answers

reading
learning
Dancing
talking

Read each sentence and determine whether the -ing word is a gerund, present continuous, past continuous, or future continuous.

I enjoy listening to music while I study.
She is studying for her exam right now.
Swimming in the ocean is very relaxing.
They were driving through the mountains when the storm hit.
She’s excited about traveling to Italy next year.
At this time tomorrow, I will be working at my new job.

Answers

Gerund
Present continuous
Gerund
Past continuous
Gerund
Future continuous

How to Practice Gerunds on Your Own

Make a list of your favorite activities. Write sentences using gerunds.
Ex: I enjoy painting. I love swimming.
Describe hobbies or routines using gerunds as subjects.
Ex: Playing soccer helps me relax. Listening to music helps me sleep.
Read news articles or books and underline any words ending in -ing. Decide: Is it a gerund or a continuous verb?
Write your own examples using verbs that require gerunds. You can start with: