gerunds as subject and object

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 2

gerunds as subject and object

Sometimes you can use ing forms instead of a subject or an object.

example

Dancing is great fun.

(dancing is the subject)

What Are Gerunds?

A gerund is a verb form that functions as a noun. A gerund is created by adding the suffix "-ing" to the base form of a verb. Like all nouns, gerunds can be used as subjects, objects of verbs, objects of prepositions, or complements. 

Acting is fun.

The gerund is the subject of the sentence.

Try to think of a gerund as a noun in verb form.

Cooking is my hobby.

now the gerund is also subject of the sentence

(hobby is object)

the gerund can also be an object

I love acting. (I is subject)

note:Gerund na uitdrukkingen

Je gebruikt de Gerund na een aantal standaard uitdrukkingen:
 

be busy I'm busy painting.

can't bear He can't bear screaming.

can't help He can't help laughing.

can't stand I can't stand lying.

feel like I feel like going clubbing tonight.

give up Don't give up trying.

have difficulty I have difficulty seeing.

It's no good It's no good crying.

It's no use It's no use trying.

It's not worth It's not worth keeping.

keep on Keep on going!

leave off Why don't you leave off lying?

no point in She saw no point in going.

put off Don't put off revising.

Stative verbs that take gerunds

Stative verbs, also known as verbs of feeling, are very likely to take gerunds as their objects.

Stative verb

Example with a gerund as an object

love

“I love going to the movies.”

like

“I like living by the ocean.”

enjoy

“Do you enjoy working in retail?”

mind

“Would you mind watching my seat for me while I go to the bathroom?”

feel like

“I feel like staying home tonight.”

stand

“She can’t stand being around him.”

imagine

“Imagine winning the lottery. It would be great!”

Action verbs that take gerunds

Certain action verbs (also called dynamic verbs) can also take a gerund as their object if describing a secondary action. For instance:

Action verb

Example with a gerund as an object

admit (to)

“He admitted (to) cheating on the exam.”

avoid

“He always tries to avoid doing his homework.”

consider

“He is considering moving to London.”

delay

“He delayed paying his phone bill.”

deny

“He denied stealing the money.”

common mistakes

“They promised to be quiet in the car.”

“They promised being quiet in the car.”

“I agreed to leave him alone.”

“I agreed leaving him alone.”

“She asked to see the landlord about the faulty stove.”

“She asked seeing the landlord about the faulty stove

. Identify the gerund in the following sentence.
“I am waiting to see if the doctor recommends getting a transplant.”

1. waiting
2. waiting
3. recommends
4. getting

Gerund after Certain Verbs

We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the to-infinitive form, for 

example:

I want to eat.

But sometimes the second verb must be in gerund form, for example:

I dislike eating.

This depends on the first verb. Here is a list of verbs that are usually followed by a verb in gerund form:

admit, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider, defer, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, can't help, imagine, involve, leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off, report, resent, risk, can't stand, suggest, understand

Some verbs can be followed by the gerund form or the to-infinitive form without a big change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start

I like to play tennis. / I like playing tennis.

It started to rain. / It started raining.