Gerunds: Meaning, How to Use, and Examples

Gerunds: Did you know that some words look like verbs but act like nouns? These special words are called gerunds ! A gerund ends in -ing and is a clever way to talk about activities as if they are things. This helps make your sentences more engaging and interesting. Understanding how to use gerunds can improve your writing and speaking by allowing you to describe activities in a fun and detailed way.

Auxiliary Verbs

What Is a Gerund? – Definition and Meaning

Key Characteristics of a Gerund:

• It always ends in -ing .
• It is formed by adding -ing to the base verb.
• It acts as a noun in a sentence.

• Reading is my favorite hobby. (Here, "reading" is a gerund, acting as the subject of the sentence.)
• I enjoy swimming in the pool. (Here, "swimming" is a gerund, acting as the object of the verb "enjoy.")

Phrasal Verbs

Why Are Gerunds Important?

• Without a gerund: I like to read books.
• With a gerund: I like reading books.

Quick Tip for Remembering Gerunds

Example 1:

• Sentence: She enjoys painting .
• Check: Replace “painting” with “the thing.”
• Result : She enjoys the thing.

Example 2:

• Sentence: We talked about going on vacation.
• Check: Replace “going” with “the activity.”
• Result: We talked about the activity on vacation.

Example 3:

• Sentence: Dancing makes her happy.
• Check: Replace “dancing” with “the activity.”
• Result: The activity makes her happy.

Practice Time!

Now it’s your turn to practice using gerunds. Fill in the blanks with the correct gerund form of the verb in parentheses.

1. My sister enjoys ___ (paint) pictures of animals.
2. ___ (Swim) in the pool is my favorite summer activity.
3. They talked about ___ (travel) to new countries.
4. We are thinking about ___ (start) a new club.
5. ___ (Dance) at the party was so much fun!

Answers :

1. painting
2. Swimming
3. traveling
4. starting
5. Dancing

Gerunds make sentences more fun and detailed by turning actions into things you can talk about. Whether you’re using them as the subject, the object, or after a preposition, gerunds help your sentences sound smooth and connected. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon be a gerund expert!