Gerunds in English with definition and Example Sentences

Learning English becomes easier when we understand how words can change their roles in a sentence. One interesting example is the gerund. A gerund is a word that looks like a verb but works like a noun because it ends with –ing. We use gerunds to talk about activities, habits, and everyday actions in a natural way. For instance, when we say “Swimming is good for health” or “I enjoy reading,” the words swimming and reading are gerunds. They name the actions as things we do or enjoy. Understanding gerunds helps us express ideas more clearly and sound more fluent in English.

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What is a Gerund in English?

A gerund in English is a word made by adding -ing to a verb, and it works as a noun in a sentence. Even though it looks like a verb, it acts like a thing or an idea. For example, in the sentence “Reading is fun,” the word reading comes from the verb read but is used as the subject of the sentence. Gerunds can be used as subjects, objects, or after prepositions, and they help make our sentences sound more natural and smooth.

Formation of Gerunds in English

Gerunds are very easy to form. Just take the base form of a verb and add -ing at the end.

Base Verb	Gerund Form
read	reading
write	writing
swim	swimming
play	playing
run	running

How to Identify Gerunds in English

A gerund always works as a noun, not as a verb. You can identify it by checking its function in a sentence.

Function	Example Sentence
Subject	Swimming is my favorite sport.
Object of a verb	She enjoys dancing.
Object of a preposition	He is good at painting.
Complement	Her hobby is cooking.

Uses of Gerunds in English

Let’s discuss the main ways we use gerunds in English grammar.

1. Gerund as a Subject

When a gerund acts as the subject, it tells us what the sentence is about.

Examples:

Reading improves your vocabulary.
Running keeps you healthy.
Cooking is an art.

2. Gerund as an Object

A gerund can work as the object of certain verbs such as enjoy, like, love, avoid, suggest, finish, discuss, and others.

Examples:

I enjoy reading novels.
She avoids talking too much.
They finished cleaning the house.

3. Gerund After Prepositions

When a verb comes after a preposition, we always use the -ing form (gerund).

Examples:

He is interested in learning English.
She apologized for being late.
They left without saying goodbye.

4. Gerund as a Subject Complement

A gerund can come after a linking verb (like is, are, was) and rename or describe the subject.

Examples:

Her favorite activity is dancing.
His dream is traveling the world.

5. Gerund After Phrasal Verbs

Many phrasal verbs in English are followed by gerunds.

Examples:

He gave up smoking.
She looks forward to meeting you.
They ended up buying a new car.

What is Gerund with definition and Examples

Common Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Some verbs are always followed by gerunds, not infinitives. Here’s a helpful table for ESL learners:

Verbs Followed by Gerunds	Example Sentences
enjoy	I enjoy reading novels.
avoid	He avoids driving at night.
finish	She finished writing her essay.
suggest	I suggest going by bus.
consider	They considered moving abroad.
mind	Do you mind closing the window?
keep	Keep smiling!
deny	He denied cheating on the test.

Difference Between Gerund and Present Participle

Although both gerunds and present participles end in -ing, their functions are different.

Gerund	Present Participle
Acts as a noun	Acts as a verb or an adjective
Reading is fun.	She is reading a book.
Swimming helps you stay fit.	The swimming boy is my friend.

👉 Tip: If the word ending in -ing acts as a thing (noun), it’s a gerund. If it describes an action or state, it’s a participle.

Gerund Phrases

A gerund phrase includes a gerund and its related words (objects or modifiers). The whole phrase works as a noun.

Examples:

Eating healthy food is important.
She enjoys listening to soft music.
Learning English quickly requires practice.

Gerunds in Real-Life English

We use gerunds naturally in daily conversation and writing. Look at these examples:

I love traveling to new places.
Thank you for helping me.
Sleeping early is good for your health.
He avoided talking about the problem.

Common Mistakes with Gerunds

Wrong	Correct
I suggested to go there.	I suggested going there.
She is good in dance.	She is good at dancing.
He enjoys to play cricket.	He enjoys playing cricket.

Always remember: after prepositions and certain verbs, we use the gerund form.

List of Gerunds in English with Pictures

Reading
Writing
Singing
Dancing
Swimming
Running
Cooking
Playing
Drawing
Studying
Talking
Listening
Shopping
Traveling
Cleaning
Laughing
Sleeping
Painting
Teaching
Working

List of Gerunds in English with Pictures

Example Sentences of Gerunds in English

Gerund	Example Sentence
Reading	Reading improves your knowledge.
Writing	Writing helps express your ideas.
Singing	Singing makes her feel happy.
Dancing	Dancing is her favorite hobby.
Swimming	Swimming keeps you healthy.
Running	Running builds strong muscles.
Cooking	Cooking is a useful skill.
Playing	Playing games is enjoyable.
Drawing	Drawing improves your creativity.
Studying	Studying brings good results.
Talking	Talking helps share feelings.
Listening	Listening improves understanding.
Shopping	Shopping with friends is fun.
Traveling	Traveling teaches you new things.
Cleaning	Cleaning makes the house tidy.
Laughing	Laughing makes people feel better.
Sleeping	Sleeping early gives you energy.
Painting	Painting relaxes the mind.
Teaching	Teaching children brings joy.
Working	Working hard leads to success.
Eating	Eating healthy food is important.
Learning	Learning English is interesting.
Helping	Helping others shows kindness.
Watching	Watching movies is enjoyable.
Playing	Playing football is great fun.
Drawing	Drawing makes me feel calm.
Studying	Studying daily improves memory.
Running	Running every day builds stamina.
Cooking	Cooking dinner takes some time.
Reading	Reading stories helps imagination.