Gerunds

Gerunds are very useful but can be a bit confusing at first.

Two things you need to know about gerunds right from the start:

1. They end in -ing. (This means that they have the same form as present participles.)
2. They make it possible for us to use a verb as a noun.

Here are some examples:

• I like running. (In this sentence “I” is the subject, “like” is the verb, and “running” – a gerund – is the object.)
• Cooking is fun. (This time, “cooking” – a gerund – is the subject, “is” is the verb and “fun” is an adjective.

We can also use the infinitive of a verb as a noun.

For example:

• He likes to sing.
• It’s a pleasure to see you.
• He wants to bake a cake.
• They asked us to meet them.

Sometimes it’s possible to use either a gerund or an infinitive without changing the meaning of the sentence.

For example:

• He likes singing. He likes to sing.
• I prefer reading. I prefer to read.

Verbs that we can normally use with either a gerund or an infinitive without changing the meaning are: like, love, hate, begin, start, continue and prefer.

Sometimes the meaning of a sentence changes, depending on whether we use a genitive or an infinitive.

For example:

• I will stop talking is different from I will stop to talk.
• He remembered to take his tablet is different from He remembered taking his tablet.

Verbs that we can use with either a gerund or an infinitive with a change of meaning include: stop, try, remember, forget, regret.

Sometimes we can use a gerund but not an infinitive.

For example:

• We can say I advise going on holiday but not I advise to go on holiday (although we could say I advise you to go on holiday).
• We can say I finished eating my lunch but not I finished to eat my lunch.

Verbs that we can normally follow with a gerund but not an infinitive include: discuss, consider, advise, recommend, suggest, practise, admit, dislike, dread, enjoy, finish, mind, need (when used in the passive voice).

Sometimes we can use an infinitive but not a gerund.

For example:

• We can say We decided to go to Paris but not We decided going to Paris.
• We can say She hopes to see her grandmother soon, but not She hopes seeing her grandmother soon.

Verbs that we can normally follow with an infinitive but not a gerund include: hope, want, wait, agree, appear, seem, choose, decide, expect, fail, learn, need (used to mean a requirement or necessity), and refuse.

One final point about gerunds: Because gerunds are used as nouns, we are supposed to use them with possessive pronouns (although many people don’t actually do this).

For example:

• Forgive my asking this.
• We like his doing the gardening.
• I’m angry with his forgetting my birthday.

Gerunds – a summary

• Gerunds end in -ing. (This means that they have the same form as present participles.)
• They make it possible for us to use a verb as a noun.

• Sometimes it’s possible to use either a gerund or an infinitive without changing the meaning of the sentence.
  • Verbs that we can normally use with either a gerund or an infinitive without changing the meaning are: like, love, hate, begin, start, continue and prefer.

• Sometimes the meaning of a sentence changes, depending on whether we use a genitive or an infinitive.
  • Verbs that we can use with either a gerund or an infinitive with a change of meaning include: stop, try, remember, forget, regret.

• Sometimes we can use a gerund but not an infinitive
  • Verbs that we can normally follow with a gerund but not an infinitive include: discuss, consider, advise, recommend, suggest, practise, admit, dislike, dread, enjoy, finish, mind, need (when used in the passive voice).

• Sometimes we can use an infinitive but not a gerund.
  • Verbs that we can normally follow with an infinitive but not a gerund include: hope, want, wait, agree, appear, seem, choose, decide, expect, fail, learn, need (used to mean a requirement or necessity), and refuse.

• Because gerunds are used as nouns, we are supposed to use them with possessive pronouns (although many people don’t actually do this).

Thanks to Dasha and Vlad for the question.

^{Posted by Graham}