Gerund in English Grammar

What Is a Gerund?

The gerund is the -ing form of a verb. The gerund has the same function as a noun in a sentence, despite that it looks like a verb and is conjugated in the same way as the present participle.

Usage

Rule 1: We can use the gerund as the subject of the sentence.

Rule 2: We can use the gerund as the complement of the verb to be.

Rule 3: We use the gerund when a verb comes after a preposition or certain certain expressions ending in a preposition, such as in spite of and there is no point in.

Rule 4: We use the gerund after phrasal verbs.

Note: Some phrasal verbs end with the word to, such as look forward to or to be used to. It is important to recognize that the word to is the preposition here and must be followed by the gerund. It is not a part of the infinitive form of the verb.

Rule 5: We use the gerund in compound nouns.

Rule 6: We use the gerund after certain expressions, such as to be worth, can't help, can't stand, and it's no use.

Gerund Phrases and Types

Rule 7: A gerund phrase is a phrase consisting of a gerund and any modifiers or objects associated with it. There are four types of gerunds based on their function:

Gerund vs. Infinitive

Rule 8: A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and is used as a noun (traveling), while an infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by to (to travel).

Both gerunds and infinitives can function as the subject of a sentence or the object of a verb, but only a gerund can be the object of a preposition.