VERB + GERUNDA gerund is the –ing form of a verb. It is used as a noun.

verb gerund(a) I enjoy walking in the parkIn (a): walking is a gerund. It is used as the object of the verb

enjoy.

The verbs in the list are followed by gerunds. The list also contains phrasal verbs (e.g., put off) that are followed by gerunds.

COMMON VERBS ARE FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS

enjoy (b) I enjoy working in my garden.finish © Ann finished studying at midnight.stop (d) It stopped raining a few minutes ago.quit (e) David quit smoking.mind (f) Would you mind opening the window?postpone (g) I postponed doing my homework.put off (h) I put off doing my homework.

Continue … Verb + Gerundkeep (on) (i) Keep (on) working. Don’t stop.consider (j) I’m considering going to Singapore.think about (k) I’m thinking about going to Bali.discuss (l) They discussed getting a new car.talk about (m) They talked about getting a new house.

The verbs in the list are NOT followed by to + the simple form of a verb ( an infinitive).incorrect: I enjoy to walk in the park.incorrect: Bob finished to study.incorrect: I’m thinking to go to Hawaii.

Negative form: not + gerund(n) I considered not going to class.

GO + -INGGo is followed by a gerund in certain idiomatic expression

about activities.(a)Did you go shopping yesterday?(b)I went swimming last week.(c)Bob hasn’t gone fishing in years.Notice: There is not to between go and the gerund.

incorrect: Did you go to shopping?

COMMON EXPRESSIONS WITH GO + ING

go boating go dancing go jogging go (window) shoppinggo bowling go fishing go running go (water) skiinggo camping go hiking go sailing go skydivinggo swimming go (ice) skating go sightseeing

VERB + INFINITIVESome verbs are followed by an infinitive :AN INFINITIVE = to + the simple form of a verb(a)Tom offered to lend me some money.(b)I’ve decided to buy a new car.Negative form: not + infinitive© I’ve decided not to keep my old car.

COMMON VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVES:want hope decide seem learn (how)need expect promise appeartrywould like plan offer pretendwould love intend agree (can’t) afford

mean refuse forget (can’t) wait

VERB + GERUND OR INFINITIVESome verbs are followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.

Usually there is no difference in meaning. (a) and (b) have the same meaning.

(a)It began raining.(b)It began to rainCOMMON VERBS FOLLOWED BY EITHER A GERUND OR AN

INFINITIVE

begin like* hate continuestart love* can’t stand

Compare:Like and love can be followed by either a gerund or an

infinitive:I like going to/to go to movie. I love playing/to play chess.

Would like and would love are followed by infinitives:I would like to go to a movie tonight. I’d love to play a game of chess right now.

PREPOSITION + GERUNDA preposition is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.(a)Kate insisted on coming with us.(b)We’re excited about going to Tahiti.(c)I apologized for being late.In (a): The preposition (on) is followed by a gerund (coming).

COMMONG EXPRESSIONS WITH PREPOSITION FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS:be afraid of (doing something) forgive (someone) for

plan onapologized for be good at be responsible forbelieve in insist on stop (someone) fromdream about be interested in thank (someone) forbe excited about look forward to be tired offeel like be nervous about worried about/

be worried about

USING BY AND WITH TO EXPRESS HOW SOMETHING IS DONEBy + a gerund is used to express how something is done.(a)Pat turned off the tape recorder by pushing the stop button.By or with followed by a noun is also used to express how

something is done.(b) Mary goes to work by bus.© Andre stirred her coffee with a spoon.

BY IS USED FOR MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONby (air) plane* by subway* by mail by airby boat by taxi by (tele)phone by landby bus by train by fax by seaby car by foot (or on foot) by email

OTHERSby chance by mistake by check (but in cash)by choice by hand** by credit card

Continue … by and withWITH IS USED FOR INSTRUMENTS OR PARTS OF THE BODY

I cut down the tree with an ax (by using an ax).I swept the floor with a broom.she pointed to a spot on the map with her finger.

* airplane = American English; aeroplane = British English** by subway = American English; by underground, by tube

= British English*** The expression by hand is usually used to mean that

something was made by a person, not by a machine.The rug was made by hand. ( A person, not a machine, made this rug.)

Compare: I touched his shoulder with my hand.

USING GERUNDS AS SUBJECTS; USING IT + INFINITIVE

(a) Riding horses is fun.(b) It is fun to ride horses© Coming to class on time is important.(d) It is important to come to class on time.(a) and (b) have the same meaning.In (a): A gerund (riding) is the subject of the sentence.* Notice: The verb (is) is singular because a gerund is

singular.In (b): The word it is used as the subject of the sentence. The

word it has the same meaning as the infinitive phrase at the end of the sentences: it means to ride horses.

*It is also correct (but less commong) to use an infinitive as the subject of a a sentence: To ride horses is fun.

IT + INFINITIVE: USING FOR (SOMEONE)(a) You should study hard.(b) It is important for you to study hard.(a) and (b) have a similar meaning.Notice the pattern in (b)”

it is + adjective + for (someone) + infinitive phrase

© Mary should study hard.(d) It is important for Mary to study hard.(e) We don’t have to go to this meeting.(f) It isn’t necessary for us to go the meeting.(g) A dog can’t talk.(h) It is important for a dog to talk.