Gerund English

Gerund English. Gerund with examples. English ESL Worksheets. English grammar with exercises. Free eBook and Free printable PDF

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Gerund English

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Gerund English

The gerund always has the same function as a noun (although it looks like a verb).

It can be used:
– as the subject of the sentence
Flying makes me nervous.
Brushing your teeth is important

– as the complement of the verb ‘to be’
One of life’s pleasures is having breakfast in bed.

–after certain preposition
She is good at painting

– after certain phrasal verbs
When will you give up smoking?

– after some expressions such as can’t help, can’t stand, to be worth, & it’s no use.

She couldn’t help falling in love with him.
I can’t stand being stuck in traffic jams

– in some in compound nouns such as driving lesson or swimming pool.

Verbs which can be followed by nouns or gerunds

avoid	celebrate	consider	contemplate	defer	delay	detest
dislike	dread	enjoy	entail	escape	excuse	finish
forgive	involve	keep	loathe	mind	miss	pardon
postpone	prevent	resent	resist	risk	save	stop

I avoid going to the doctor.

I avoid fast food.

I miss talking to my mum.

I miss Italy.

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Verbs which can be followed by nouns, gerunds, or a that-clause

acknowledge	admit	anticipate	appreciate	deny	imagine	mean
mention	propose	recall	recollect	report	suggest	understand

I understand Italian.

I understand singing pretty well.

I understand that you would prefer to go.

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Verbs Followed by Gerunds

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Warning: Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or by an infinitive. When this is the case, the meaning of the two will be identical for some verbs, but different for others.

To know more, go to THE GERUND OR THE INFINITIVE PAGE

Exercises

Gerund English

THE GERUND

EXERCISE 1.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the box.

stay      cook      disturb      feel      go      go out     leave      paint      pass     pay     watch

e.g. I am fed up with staying at home. I want to go out!

• I’m not very good at __________ I’m a bad cook.
• How about __________ tonight?
• Instead of __________ TV I prefer listening to music.
• If you don’t study hard you wont’ have any chances of __________ the exam.
• She left the restaurant without __________ her bill.
• My favourite hobby is __________ .
• Before __________ to bed, I like to watch TV.
• I need to study without people __________ me.
• What did you do after __________ work?
• Last night I went to the disco in spite of __________ ill.

EXERCISE 2.

Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets in the correct form, –ing or to… Sometimes either form is possible.

e.g. I like ____________ (play) tennis.

I like playing tennis.

• I like __________ (watch) TV in the evenings.
• Would you like __________ (spend) the weekend with us?
• Thanks, I’d love __________ (come).
• I hate __________ (wake up) early!

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WOULD YOU MIND (NOT) + ING?

EXERCISE 1.

Complete the sentences using the prompts.

e.g.    I can’t stand people smoking while I’m eating. (smoke)

Would you mind not smoking your cigarette in front of me?  

1.   I can’t stand spicy food.
2. ________________________________ (chilli pepper in sauce).
3.   I can’t stand people speaking loudly.
4.   ________________________________________ (shout).
5.   I can’t stand this kind of music.
6. ___________________________________________ (play).
7.   I can’t stand people telling me what to do.
8. ___________________________________________ (command).
9.     I can’t stand people driving fast.
10.  _______________________________________(speed).

EXERCISE 2.

Rewrite the sentences using would you (not) mind.

e.g. Please don’t talk to me like this.

        Would you mind not talking to me like this?  

• 1. Please switch off your mobile phones.  
• 2. Please don’t walk on the grass.
• 3. Please don’t speak Italian during the lesson.
• 4. Please don’t swear.
• 5. Please pay attention to what I’m saying.
• 6. Please check the meaning of these words in the dictionary.
• 7. Please don’t eat so much, you’re a pig.

Expressing Purpose in English – Exercises: eBook and PDF

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