Gerunds in English are one of the most useful—and most confusing—parts of English grammar. They look like verbs, but they function as nouns. That means they can be the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.
In this guide, you will learn what gerunds are, how to use them correctly, when they appear after prepositions and certain verbs, and how they compare to infinitives. You will also see common mistakes that many English learners make, especially Spanish speakers.
Quick Answer: What Is a Gerund?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun.
What Is a Gerund?
A gerund is formed by adding -ing to a verb, but it is not acting like a normal verb. Instead, it functions as a noun.
Examples:
- Running is good for your health.
- I enjoy reading.
- She is interested in learning English.
In these examples, running, reading, and learning are all gerunds.
Key Idea
A gerund can be the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.
Spanish Grammar Tip: English Gerunds vs. Spanish Gerundios
One of the biggest challenges for Spanish speakers is that English gerunds and Spanish gerundios are not the same grammar structure. Although both use an -ing or -ando/-iendo ending, they are used differently.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I enjoy reading. | Disfruto leer. |
| She finished writing. | Terminó de escribir. |
| They are interested in learning. | Están interesados en aprender. |
Notice that Spanish usually uses the infinitive (leer, escribir, aprender) where English uses a gerund.
Gerunds as Subjects
A gerund can be the subject of a sentence when you are talking about an activity in a general way.
Examples:
- Volunteering is enjoyable.
- Helping others makes people feel good.
- Studying every day improves your English.
Remember that a gerund subject usually takes a singular verb.
Correct: Helping others is important.
Incorrect: Helping others are important.
Common Mistake
Do not use a plural verb with a gerund subject. A gerund phrase usually acts like a singular noun.
Gerunds After Prepositions
One of the most important grammar rules in English is this: after a preposition, use a gerund—not an infinitive.
Examples:
- She talked about starting a business.
- He is interested in learning Spanish.
- They succeeded in finding a solution.
Incorrect: She talked about to start a business.
Correct: She talked about starting a business.
Memory Tip for Spanish Speakers
Don’t translate word for word. If the English sentence has a verb like ‘enjoy’, ‘avoid’, ‘finish’, ‘keep’, or a preposition like ‘in’, ‘about’, or ‘for’, think “-ing” instead of translating directly from Spanish.
Gerunds After Verbs, Nouns, and Adjectives with Prepositions
Many English expressions follow this pattern:
- verb + preposition + gerund
- adjective + preposition + gerund
- noun + preposition + gerund
Verb + Preposition + Gerund
- think about moving
- insist on paying
- believe in working hard
- succeed in learning
Adjective + Preposition + Gerund
- afraid of failing
- interested in studying abroad
- excited about traveling
- good at solving problems
Noun + Preposition + Gerund
- reason for leaving
- advantage of studying online
- interest in learning English
Student Tip
When you see a preposition like in, on, about, for, or of, check the next verb. It usually needs to be in the -ing form.
Verbs Followed by Gerunds
Some verbs are commonly followed by a gerund. After these verbs, do not use the infinitive.
Common verbs followed by gerunds:
- enjoy
- avoid
- consider
- finish
- suggest
- keep
- admit
- mind
- practice
- quit
Examples:
- I enjoy teaching.
- She avoided answering the question.
- They suggested changing the plan.
- He kept talking.
Go + Gerund Expressions
English often uses go + gerund for sports and recreational activities.
Examples:
- go swimming
- go hiking
- go shopping
- go jogging
- go skating
Example sentence: We went hiking last weekend.
Related Grammar Post
Want to understand how gerunds compare to infinitives?
Verbs Followed by a Gerund or an Infinitive
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, often with no major change in meaning.
Common verbs in this group:
- begin
- start
- continue
- like
- love
- hate
- prefer
- can’t stand
Examples:
- I like reading.
- I like to read.
- She started working.
- She started to work.
In many cases, both forms are acceptable. However, gerunds are often more common in natural conversation.
Gerund or Infinitive as Subject
Both a gerund phrase and an infinitive phrase can be the subject of a sentence.
Examples:
- Helping others is important.
- To help others is important.
Both are grammatically correct, but the gerund version usually sounds more natural. The infinitive version often sounds more formal.
The “It” Structure
In everyday English, speakers often prefer this pattern:
- It is important to help others.
- It takes time to learn a language.
- It is difficult to find a good job.
This structure is especially common with adjectives like important, hard, easy, difficult, and necessary.
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Used To, Be Used To, and Get Used To
These structures often confuse English learners because they look similar, but they have different meanings.
Used to + Base Verb
Use ‘used to + base verb‘ for a past habit or past state that is no longer true.
- I used to live in Mexico.
- She used to drink coffee every day.
Be Used To + Gerund or Noun
Use ‘be used to + gerund/noun‘ to mean “be accustomed to.”
- I am used to waking up early.
- They are used to the heat.
Get Used To + Gerund or Noun
Use ‘get used to + gerund/noun‘ to mean “become accustomed to.”
- He is getting used to working from home.
- We finally got used to driving in the city.
Watch Out
Be used to and get used to are followed by a gerund or noun, not a base verb.
Sense-Perception Verbs
After verbs like see, hear, watch, and notice, English can use either the base form or the -ing form.
Base Form
Use the base form to show the action as a complete event.
- I saw him leave the building.
- We heard her sing.
-ing Form
Use the gerund-like -ing form to show the action in progress.
- I saw him leaving the building.
- We heard her singing in the kitchen.
This is an important meaning difference. The first form focuses on the complete action. The second focuses on the action while it was happening.
Common Mistakes with Gerunds
Common Gerund Mistakes
❌ She is interested to learn English.
✅ She is interested in learning English.
❌ I enjoy to travel.
✅ I enjoy traveling.
❌ Swimming are fun.
✅ Swimming is fun.
❌ I am used to wake up early.
✅ I am used to waking up early.
Common Translation Mistakes for Spanish Speakers
❌ I enjoy to read.
✅ I enjoy reading.
❌ She is interested in to study English.
✅ She is interested in studying English.
❌ They finished to eat.
✅ They finished eating.
Whenever you learn a new English verb, try to learn whether it is followed by a gerund, an infinitive, or either one.
Let’s Practice Gerunds in English!!
Exercise A
Complete each sentence with one of the following prepositions:
from, in, to, on, about, for
- I believe ____ preparing for the zombie apocalypse.
- My students insist ____ using their phones during class.
- Diego always forgets ____ setting his alarm clock.
- Some of my students thank me ____ helping them learn English.
- I can’t stop my dog ____ chasing ardillas when we go to the park.
Exercise B
Complete each sentence with either the gerund or infinitive for of the verb in parentheses.
- Always remember ____ (study) for the exams.
- I remember ____ (attend) Tec de Monterrey in 2013.
- Please stop ____ (scroll) TikTok videos during class. It will rot your brain!
- We stopped ____ (buy) some souvenirs before boarding the airplane.
- I tried ____ (eat) tripa, but I didn’t like it.
- Don’t forget ____ (lock) the door before you leave.
- I’ll never forget ____ (meet) my best friend for the first time.
- She stopped ____ (talk) when the teacher entered the room.
- He stopped ____ (check) his phone for directions to the store.
- I tried ____ (fix) my computer, but it still doesn’t work.
Exercise C
Complete each sentence with ‘used to’, ‘was used to’, or ‘get used to’ (Be careful of the verb tense).
- I ______ work as an investment banker, but I had to stop because of the stress.
- Americans can’t ______ driving in Mexico City. The traffic is horrible!!
- Her dog ______ sleeping inside. He is spoiled.
- Alejandra ______ be afraid to speak English with strangers. Now she has a lot of confidence!
- After a lot of practice, she ______ speaking to strangers.
Scoring and Feedback
🔵 17 – 20 Correct
Excellent work! 🎉 You really understand how to use gerunds and infinitives. Keep using them in your everyday conversations and writing.
🟢 14 – 16 Correct
Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of gerunds and infinitives. Review the ones you missed.
🟡 12 – 13 Correct
Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.
🔴 0 – 11 Correct
No worries! 🌱 Gerunds and infinitives can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.
Practice Idea
A good way to master gerunds is to notice them in real sentences. Pay special attention to verbs followed by gerunds and to expressions with prepositions.
Conclusion
Gerunds are a core part of English grammar because they let you talk naturally about actions, habits, experiences, and general activities. Once you understand that a gerund is an -ing form used as a noun, many grammar patterns become much easier to understand.
Focus especially on these three areas:
- gerunds as subjects
- gerunds after prepositions
- verbs that are followed by gerunds
Then compare them carefully with infinitives. That is where many learners begin to sound more natural and more advanced in English.
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