Gerunds (-Ing)
Gerunds (-Ing)
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clear difference between a gerund and a present
participle.
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his drinking of alcohol
But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not
usually take a direct object:
a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
Making "Titanic" was expensive.
The making of "Titanic" was expensive.
Do you see the difference in these two sentences? In
one, "reading" is a gerund (noun). In the other
"reading" is a present participle (verb).
My favourite occupation is reading.
My favourite niece is reading.
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reading as gerund
(noun) Main Verb Complement
My favourite occupation is reading.
My favourite occupation is football.
reading as present Auxiliary
Main Verb
participle (verb) Verb
My favourite niece is reading.
My favourite niece has finished.
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Gerunds after Prepositions
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to as
preposition Preposition
driving on the
I am used to
left.
I am used to animals.
to as infinitive Infinitive
I used to drive on the left
I used to smoke.
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admit, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider,
defer, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy,
escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive,
give up, can't help, imagine, involve, leave off,
mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off,
report, resent, risk, can't stand, suggest,
understand
Look at these examples:
She is considering having a holiday.
Do you feel like going out?
I can't help falling in love with you.
I can't stand not seeing you.
Some verbs can be followed by the gerund form or
the infinitive form without a big change in meaning:
begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer,
propose, start
I like to play tennis.
I like playing tennis.
It started to rain.
It started raining.
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VERB + –ING (GERUNDS AND
PARTICIPLES)
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1. The Verb + -ing used as a Noun or Gerund
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a) Using Gerund as Subjects or Objects
The gerunds are used as subjects or objects of
a verb
Watching television is a waste of time.
Attending church regularly is important.
Smoking is very bad for you.
Working in a foreign country can be very
difficult.
Learning a foreign language can be a real
challenge.
My sister does not like cooking.
Every morning she goes jogging.
b) Verb + gerund
A gerund is used as the object of the verb, and
it usually comes after the verb. A preposition is
not needed between the verb and the gerund.
EXAMPLE: They discussed getting married.
(NOT: They discussed to getting married.)
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f) Gerund used in compound nouns
The old man moves about with the help of a
walking-stick.
She cleans the sitting-room almost every week.
The swimming-pool was most crowded at
weekends.
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c) Linking word + –ing form
Mr. Wood went to play golf in spite of feeling
unwell.
Although joining the company only a year ago,
she's already been promoted twice.
Johnny has not been seen for a year since leaving
home.
He never fails to turn off the light when leaving his
room.
She is paid well for cleaning the office.
We always have hot drinks after swimming.
d) Using verbs and verbs + –ing form
We can use either the simple form of the verb or the
–ing form of a verb. There is very little difference in
meaning between the two forms.
a) I saw Jack walkt along the river.
b) I saw Jack walking along the river.
c) I heard Jill sing in the bathroom.
d) I heard Jill singing in the bathroom.
There is no difference in meaning between (a) and
(b), and (c) and (d). The –ing form of a verb is better
used with while.
EXAMPLE: I saw Jack while he was walking along
the river.
The use of while indicates an action is still going on.
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"I heard Jill while she was singing in the bathroom"
means the singing was still going on when I heard it.
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