The gerund

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 2

Which of these is a gerund?
A: Smoking is bad for you.
B: Jenny is smoking a cigarette.

1. Answer A
2. Answer B
3. Neither answer A nor B
4. Both answers

Which of these is a gerund?
A: I am walking in the forest.
B: I like walking in the forest.

1. Answer A
2. Answer B
3. Neither answer A nor B
4. Both answers

What is a gerund?

What is a gerund?

A gerund is a verb that is used as a noun

gerund: verb + ing

When do we use the gerund?

We use the gerund:

• if the verb is (part of) the subject of the sentence
• if the gerund is the object of the sentence
• after prepositions
• after certain verbs
• after certain special phrases

Gerund: (part of) subject of the sentence

Talking is prohibited here.

Going to parties is loads of fun.

Gerund: object of the sentence

We are very fond of partying.

I hate eating out.

Gerund: after prepositions

After having a shower, I went to work.

In spite of studying hard, I still failed my exams.

Gerund: after certain verbs

You mostly use the gerund following these verbs:

• admit - I admit having second thoughts
• avoid - I avoid going on elevators
• begin - My sister begins fasting tomorrow
• cannot help - My father cannot help sticking his tongue out when he writes
• enjoy - My mother enjoys cooking
• finish - They finished working in their garden
• keep (on) -  They keep (on) running
• mind - My boyfriend doesn't mind sleeping on the couch
• start - I started wondering what would happen if I would lose my job
• stop - He stopped thinking about global warming a long time ago

Gerund: after certain phrases

You use the gerund after these phrases:

• busy: she is busy writing letters
• don't mind: I don't mind telling them my opinion
• it is no good / use: It's no use crying over spilled milk
• there is no: there's no cheating anymore!
• worth / worthwile: Harrod's is worth visiting

Vertaal:
Hij is gestopt met sigaretten roken

1. He stopped smoking a cigarette
2. He stopped smoking cigarettes
3. He stopped to smoke a cigarette

Vertaal:
Zij waren klaar met het verven van de muren.

1. They finished to paint the walls
2. They finished painting the walls

Vertaal:
Hij is dol op lezen

1. He is fond of reading
2. He is fond of reads
3. He likes to read Shakespeare

Vertaal:
Het is de moeite waard om die film te kijken.

1. That film is worth watching
2. That film is worth to watch

Gerund or infinitive

After some verbs you can either choose to use 

the gerund or the infinitive:

Begin, continue, forget, go on, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, regret, remember, start and stop

I forgot writing him a text / I forgot to write him a text

I hate watching action films / I hate to watch action films

Gerund or infinitive

After some verbs you can either choose to use the gerund or the infinitive, but watch out for differences in meaning!

My sister stopped to read a text: 

Mijn zus stopte om een appje te lezen.

My sister stopped reading texts:

Mijn zus leest geen appjes meer.

I regret ... him.

1. to inform
2. informing
3. to inform / informing
4. neither to inform, nor informing

I finished ... for my exams.

1. to study
2. studying
3. to study / studying
4. neither to study, nor studying

My parents stopped ... to me years ago.

1. to listen
2. listening
3. to listen / listening
4. neither to listen, nor listening