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Up-cose picture of one of the pillars of the Manhattan bridge photographed from a side street

Activities: “Gerunds in English: What are they and how are they used?”

By: revel arroway, Isabel McKay

Associated Articles

These activities are part of our English Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity 1: Form the gerund

Fill in the blanks using the gerund of these verbs. Remember the special spelling rules for adding -ing!

ask, cut, eat, forget, get, like, open, point, run, sleep

at people is not polite.
You can maintain good health by a balanced diet.
He enjoys every morning for exercise.
good questions is the job of the student.
On weekends, Peter loves past ten.
He doesn’t like meat with a dull knife.
Patty appreciates advice from her friends.
Jimmy had fun his birthday gifts.
an appointment is a problem.

Activity 2: Finish the sentences yourself!

Finish these sentences with your own information using gerunds or gerund phrases. I’ve done the first one for you!

Think of interests you may have: reading, studying, researching
Maybe favorite pastimes: playing tennis, watching movies, listening to music
Or a state of being: being happy, being on time, being cold

I like working in my garden.
I enjoy
e.g. I enjoy playing the guitar.
I hate
e.g. I hate being late for an appointment.
I don’t mind
e.g. I don't mind helping a friend.
I avoid
I avoid working on weekends.
is a hobby of mine.
e.g. Reading about dinosaurs is a hobby of mine.
always tires me out.
Going to baseball games always tires me out.
I can’t stand
e.g. I can't stand being told what to do.

Here are some sample answers for you to look at. Your answers will be different, but should all include a gerund!

I like working in my garden.
I enjoy playing the guitar.
I hate being late for an appointment.
I don’t mind helping a friend.
I avoid working on weekends.
Reading about dinosaurs is a hobby of mine.
Going to baseball games always tires me out.
I can’t stand being told what to do.

Activity 3: Gerund or infinitive?

Which word should follow the verb in the sentences below? Use the English verb complement cheat sheet to help you out!

I love ____ at the gym.
working out
to work out
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)
She offered ____ me with my English homework.
helping
to help
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)
We tried ____ my son to new foods.
introducing
to introduce
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)
While she was at college, Mandy missed ____ her mother every evening.
seeing
to see
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)
I refuse ____ to this any longer!
listening
to listen
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)
My sister forgot ____ her keys.
bringing
to bring
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)
The rain started ____.
falling
to fall
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)
Margot wants ____ the cake.
baking
to bake
both (no difference in meaning)
both (different meanings)

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