1. Unit 16
Grammar Notes:
Gerunds
Pages 274-275

2. 1.
A gerund is a noun
made from a verb. To
form a gerund, add
–ing to the base form of
a verb.

3. 1.
A gerund is a noun
made from a verb. To
form a gerund, add
–ing to the base form of
a verb.

4. 1.
For example:
Cooking is my hobby.
I like eating, too.

5. 1.
Gerunds and gerund phrases perform
the same functions as nouns.
Function Example
They act as subjects. Talking with friends is enjoyable.
They act as objects. I love getting together with
friends.
They act as complements
(phrases that describe or
explain the subject or object of
a sentence)
Our favorite activity is playing
cards. (subject complement)
She has trouble making friends.
(object complement)

6. 1.
Add not before a
gerund to make a
negative statement.

7. 1.
For example:
Not calling her was a
big mistake.

8. 2.
Many verbs and verb phrases in
English have gerunds as objects.
Common examples are avoid,
consider, enjoy and mind.

9. 2.
For example:
I enjoy meeting new people.
You should avoid working late.

10. 2.
We often use go + gerund to talk
about recreational activities:
go skiing, go swimming, go hiking,
go shopping, etc.

11. 2.
For example:
We go skiing every weekend in
the winter.

12. 3.
Gerunds act as objects of
prepositions.
.

13. 3.
For example:
I made friends by joining a club.

14. 3.
Many preposition combinations are
followed by gerunds:
a. verb +
preposition
They insisted on
giving us a present.
b. Adjective +
preposition
She’s good at
making friends.

15. 3. Be Careful!
The word to can be a preposition or part
of an infinitive.
to as a preposition: He will adjust to
working hard.
to as part of an
infinitive:
He tries to work
hard.

16. 4.
In writing and formal speaking, use
a possessive noun or pronoun
before a gerund to show
possession.
.

17. 4.
For example:
Pete’s dominating every conversation
bothers me.
His dominating every conversation
bothers me.

18. 4.
Usage note:
In conversation, native speakers often
use a name or an object pronoun
instead of a possessive in this kind of
sentence.

19. 4.
For example:
Pete dominating every conversation
bothers me.
Him dominating every conversation
bothers me.

20. 5.
Gerunds can occur in simple or past
form. We can use a simple gerund
(without a past participle) to a make a
generalization.

21. 5.
For example:
Making friends is a natural thing to do.

22. 5.
We can use a past gerund (having +
past participle) to show an action that
occurred before the action of the main
verb in the sentence.

23. 5.
For example:
Having met Jane in my first week of
college helped me throughout my
college career.

24. 5.
Note:
We use a past gerund to emphasize the
difference in time between the two
actions. The simple gerund is also
correct in many situations.

25. 5.
For example:
Having gone to college is one of the
best things I’ve ever done.
or
Going to college is one of the best
things I’ve ever done.

26. 5.
Gerunds can occur in passive form. In
the present, use being + past participle.
In the past, use having been + past
participle.

27. 5.
For example:
She hates being ignored.
She is still angry at having been ignored.

28. 5.
Be careful!
Many words in English end in –ing
Do not confuse gerunds with verbs used
in the progressive form or with present
participles used as adjectives in adverb
phrases.

29. 5. For example:
I’ve been making friends at work.
(progressive verb form)
Mary is enrolled in a cooking class.
(adjective)
Walking on the beach, I wondered why she was
angry at me.
(adverb phrase)