GERUND

As an English language learner, one of the most challenging aspects of the language is understanding the different verb forms. And one of the most confusing verb forms for many learners is the gerund.

GERUND

A gerund is a verb form that is used as a noun in a sentence. It's formed by adding -ing to the root form of a verb. For example, the basic form of the verb 'play' is 'play,' but the gerund form is 'playing.

Examples:

- I love playing soccer.

- Swimming is my favourite type of workout.
- She enjoys reading books.

Now that we know what a gerund is, let's dive into the reasons why it is used and how it is different from other verb forms.

1. Used as a subject

A gerund can be used as the subject of a sentence, just like a noun.

Example: Swimming is good for your health.

2. Used after prepositions

Gerunds are often used after prepositions in a sentence.

Example: He is interested in learning Spanish.

3. Used after certain verbs

Some verbs are followed by gerunds, such as enjoy, love, hate, and like.

Example: She hates dancing in public.

4. Used after certain expressions

Certain expressions are also followed by gerunds, such as 'can't help,' 'look forward to,' and 'be used to.'

Example: I can't resist laughing at his jokes.

5. Used in place of an object

Gerunds can be used in place of an object in a sentence.

For example, she recommended spending the weekend at the beach.

6. Used after possessive adjectives

Gerunds are also used after possessive adjectives, such as my, your, their.

Example: My favorite hobby is painting.

7. Used after certain prepositions and phrasal verbs

Certain prepositions and phrasal verbs are followed by gerunds, such as 'think of,' 'take care of,' and 'get used to.'

Example: I am thinking of going on a trip next month.