Questions tagged [gerunds]
A ɢᴇʀᴜɴᴅ is a type of verb, in particular an -ɪɴɢ verb that heads a non-finite verb clause when that entire clause is being used as a noun phrase, typically as the subject or object of a finite clause. Not to be confused with -ɪɴɢ words that are no longer verbs, like deverbal nouns or participial adjectives, a gerund accepts only verb modifiers and arguments, not those of nouns or adjectives.
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try+gerund/infinitive (Difference in meaning)
I tried to open the door.
I tried opening the door
We can use both infinitive and gerund with verb "try" as used in above sentences. Does it change the meaning of the sentence if use gerund or ...
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Is this -ing form a gerund or a participle?
Education is enlightening.
In this example, is enlightening a gerund or a participle?
From my point of view (which can be wrong), enlightening is a gerund. Can anyone please explain?
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What's the difference between "I love singing" and "I love to sing"?
I would like to know what the difference is between "I love doing something" and "I love to do something".
For example:
“I love singing.”
and,
“I love to sing.”
When I was young, I ...
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Why is it "to start laughing" and not "to start to laugh"?
Why do we use:
to start laughing
instead of,
to start to laugh
And what is the construction verb + (verb + ing) called?
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Should we always use "verb+ ing" structure after the verb "start"?
As far as I know, after the verb "Start" we should use verb + ing structure. For example:
I have to start doing the exercises.
What if we use the verb "start" in present continuous?Is is correct to ...
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Which is the correct gerund clause? 'People's killing animals', or 'People killing animals ... '? [duplicate]
Which is the correct gerund clause that should be used here?
People killing animals is a bad thing.. or
People's killing animals is a bad thing..
John being late is a bit inconvenient. or
John's ...
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Two consecutive gerunds? -ing -ing?
I am considering to set up a cyber cafe.
I am considering setting up a cyber cafe.
I think it should be version #2 where the verb considering is followed by the gerund setting. But it sounds ...
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"no + gerund" or "not + gerund"
In order to compare them, I wrote below sentences:
Reading books is the solution not watching TV [a moral advice].
Reading books is the solution no watching TV [a moral advice].
I considered ...
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Using a verb as subject of a sentence
In Italian, when I write a sentence about an action (e.g. eating fish, playing), I would use the infinitive, such as mangiare pesce fa bene alla salute (which literally is "to eat fish is healthy"), ...
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"remember visiting" vs. "remember to visit"
Remember is one of the verbs which we always put to + infinitive after it:
I always remember to do my homework.
But actually not always. This sentence is an exact example of what I mean:
Do you ...
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"Do you like to get up early?"
Do you like getting up early? (1)
Do you like to get up early? (2)
(Essential Grammar in Use)
What is the difference between the two?
I guess, in (1) I ask you whether you’re currently enjoying of ...
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What is the difference between "gerund" and "infinitive"?
What is the difference between "gerund" and "infinitive"?
I do not understand the differences.Can you explain them?
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Infinitive and Gerund Construction
English isn't my mother tongue. I'm familiar with the notions of infinitive and gerund but I sometimes just don't know which of the two should be used in combination with which verb.
Thomson and ...
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Verb + gerundive or Verb + infinitive, what is preferable?
What is preferable to use: verb + gerundive or verb + infinitive?
For example:
I tried checking it
or
I tried to check it
if both are possible then what's the difference? Are there any specific ...
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"I am hurting" in the meaning of "I am hurt"? Why?
Once in a while I hear someone use the phrase I am hurting. It appears to mean I am hurt, not I am hurting you. For example, consider the text on this drawing:
When and why is it correct to say I'm ...
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Difference between gerunds and nouns ending in -tion
As we know, gerunds have the same function as nouns and can be substitute in noun phrases. Additionally as far as I know, meaning of them would be the act of doing that verb. (I don't know whether ...
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"Without his telling me" vs. "Without him telling me"?
I was reading a book and encountered this sentence (emphasis added by me):
I know it without his telling me.
Despite being grammatically correct, it seemed a little strange to me. What came to ...
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prefer doing vs prefer to do
Just saw this: "prefer ~ing" / "prefer to infinitive"
and I am wondering if there are any differences between "prefer doing" and "prefer to do".
I have read a book about grammar ...
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What is "No parking" short for?
I am studying in the imperative sentence and I wonder what "No parking" is short for.I also want to get more comprehensive material of the imperative sentence.
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Do we use "my" or possessive pronouns in such sentences?
"What the hell?!" He said with surprise when he noticed my coming up the water.
Do we use my or possessive pronouns in such sentences? Or should it be
… he noticed me coming up the water"?
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When to use infinitive and when to use present participle of a same word?
When to use infinitive and when to use present participle of a same word?
I like to play cricket.
To play cricket is fun.
I love playing cricket.
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Stop+ Ving and Stop+ to+infinitive? [duplicate]
I have two questions here:
To which action we can use Stop + gerund?
And to which action we can use Stop + to + infinitive?
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"to be" vs. "being" after adjective (and why)
Which sentence is correct, and why?
1) It's awesome being by the water.
2) It's awesome to be by the water.
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Is 'his not having a name' grammatical correct?
As I read the following paragraph out of the book Breakfast at Tiffany's on page 39,
She was still hugging the cat. "Poor slob," she said, tickling his
head, "poor slob without a name." "It's a ...
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"like doing" vs. "like to do" [duplicate]
I like to play tennis on Tuesdays.
I like playing tennis on Tuesdays.
Having taken into account the following, would you please throw a light on what is the difference between the sentences above?
...
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“I heard him sing.” Vs. “I heard him singing.”
I am looking at the following two sentences:
I heard him sing.
I heard him singing.
I think I understand the difference between these two sentences, but I want to make sure I understand.
"I ...
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gerund and noun applications
This sentence below is extracted from vocabulary for IELTS book (recording scripts part).
But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.
Why she's saying argue?...
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What part of speech is an “-ing” form at the very beginning of a sentence?
I have been reading this paper and the following sentence is quite confusing to me:
Hiking interest rates to get inflation under control when unemployment
is rising could push unemployment even ...
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To + verb + '-ing' usage question
How do I know when to you "to + V-ing" in English?
The following sentences are completely correct, could someone explain how grammatically correct? Or there are exceptions? For example, why not use "...
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use and meaning of perfect gerund
I have read in http://www.grammaring.com/the-forms-of-the-gerund about perfect gerunds. There are two kind of usage in the website,one about "being" and other about "having". The website describes ...
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Are these gerund sentences grammatically correct?
I bought this book titled 2 Hari Taklukan Grammar, written by Edward Rahardian in Bahasa (Indonesian language) and mostly talk about gerund and infinitive. And these are some examples of the gerund ...
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"I want you succeeding" vs. "I want your succeeding"
I am happy seeing you succeed.
I am happy to see you succeed.
I want you to succeed.
I want you succeeding.
I want your succeeding.
Could you please explain the differences between them, and the ...
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Is the possessive gerund preferred in "with Windows 7's being installed"?
I have to work on my laptop with Windows 7's being installed.
Can the possessive gerund be used in this way? In case this phrase doesn't make sense: I'm trying to say that on my laptop Windows 7 is ...
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The use of the gerund after 'of'
I'm stuck on the following phrases. Is it correct to use preposition "of" in the sentences bellow?
It's not a little unpleasant of being her so fussy.
It's awfull of him having done this.
Thank you.
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"This being our first transaction....."
"This being our first transaction....."
My dictionary says this means the same as
"Because this is our first transaction....."
Could anyone tell me why that is? "This being" is a gerund isn't it? I ...
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Preposition 'to' with gerund (-ing)?
Check this sentence from Ed.gov (US Department of Education)
Technology ushers in fundamental structural changes that can be integral to achieving significant improvements in productivity.
Cannot it ...
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"having + past participle" vs gerund?
What is the difference in meaning between:
I remember having visited your sister in France.
I remember visiting your sister in France.
When should I use one, and when should I use the other?
Also, ...
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Can we use "to be stripped" instead of "being stripped" in this sentence?
The warning from the European commission could lead to that country being stripped of its European rights.
(As far as l know we must use infinitive after nouns )
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"They're going gorilla watching" - is there a verb at the end of the sentence?
In this sentence:
They're going gorilla watching.
what's the function of the verb watching?
Is it a verb? a noun? ... maybe gorilla watching means "mirador de gorilas", in spanish?
In English, I ...
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Following Tim's recommendations has/have not led to good outcomes
Which is correct?
Following Tim's recommendations in the past has not led to good outcomes.
Following Tim's recommendations in the past have not led to good outcomes.
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"prefer ~ing" / "prefer to infinitive"
I know I can use "prefer to infinitive" and "prefer ~ing".
And when I use "prefer ~ing", we use "to" to compare.
I prefer studying at a coffee shop to studying in the library.
Then, how about ...
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A gerund or a participle?
A paragraph from a ACT reading test:
Within the blue bracket that I marked, what does hearing function here? Gerund? so what goes before "was" is a long subject? But that does not seem to ...
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Gerund and infinitives for "Suggest and Recommend"
When we can use a gerund (or infinitive) after the verbs: suggest and recommend?
These examples made a confusion for me:
We recommend you to book your flight early.
He recommends reading the book ...
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Having+past participle as a gerund
I've read that 'having+past participle' is used in the perfect participle. Now I'm confused to have found the following sentences written in a grammar book(which isn't available in internet) and in ...
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"helps making", "helps make", "helps to make" - what is the difference?
For the three sentences below:
Good horizontal spacing helps make individual statements more readable.
Good horizontal spacing helps to make individual statements more readable.
Good horizontal ...
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"He likes swimming" or "He likes to swim"?
One can say: He likes swimming or He likes to swim. What is the exact meaning of each of these? What is the difference?
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omitting the word "there"
She is used to there being no one else around.
She is used to being no one else around.
Would anyone please elaborate which one would be correct and why?
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A single "of" for a noun and two gerunds?
For example:
"Some websites allow categorization, editing, and listening of playlists online." (Wikipedia)
As I know, a gerund can't be followed by the preposition "of". Is this sentence wrong, or ...
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Is "Your cooking made me happy" acceptable?
Your cooking made me happy.
Is this correct? Can "your cooking" be used as a noun? The more I read it, the weirder it sounded to me.
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Cases of using an article before the gerund
I found an example of using "the" before the gerund:
During the crossing the passengers felt the ship toss
But according to the grammar, no article is used before the gerund.
Or in this case the ...
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