Gerunds
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. It can be a subject, object, complement, or object of a preposition.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Subject | Swimming is fun. |
| Object | I enjoy reading. |
| Complement | My hobby is painting. |
| After preposition | She is good at cooking. |
Smoking is harmful.
He avoids eating late.
Make it negative: I regret not studying.
Use a gerund (not an infinitive) after prepositions (good at cooking) and after verbs like enjoy, avoid, finish, mind.
Common mistake: Using an infinitive after a preposition: "good at to cook" → "good at cooking."
✏️ Test Yourself
1. ___ (smoke) is harmful.
2. He is fond of ___ (travel).
3. I enjoy ___ (read).
4. She finished ___ (write) the letter.
📒 Words to learn
Meaning — Having knowledge or awareness
“She was cognizant of the challenges ahead and prepared accordingly.”
Meaning — To weaken or impair
“The illness will debilitate even the strongest individuals.”
Meaning — To strengthen or secure
“They fortified the walls of the castle to withstand an attack.”
Meaning — Sociable and outgoing
“His gregarious nature made him the life of every party.”
Meaning — Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but with harmful effects
“The insidious spread of misinformation can undermine trust.”