Many who studied English have come across such a concept as "gerund".

Although this is a very simple word, many teachers explain it in an incredibly complicated way, as a result of which students do not understand at all what it is and why it should be used.

Also, one of the reasons for misunderstanding is that there is no such concept in the Russian language.

In the article I will talk in detail about this type of verb in English language.

What is a gerund in English?

Gerund is an action formed from a verb that carries the signs of an object, and answers the question "what".

To better understand this, check out these examples:

Here are some more examples:

swim - swimming

Draw - drawing

Reading, swimming and drawing - this is the gerund

Using the gerund, we focus on the very process of performing an action.

How is the gerund formed in English?

Very simple!

To do this, add the ending -ing to the verb.

In Russian, we usually translate it as a noun with the ending -ne, -ne.

reading - reading
singing - singing
driving - driving

In English, you can make almost any action a gerund by adding the ending -ing to it.

For example:

I like shopp ing.
I love walking nie go shopping.

swimm ing is my favorite thing.
Plav nie- my favorite thing.

Of course, the formation of the gerund was not without exceptions.

Let's take a look at them.

The rule for adding the ending -ing

There are a few things to be aware of when adding this ending:

1. If the verb ends in -e, then the letter e we remove and add to the verb -ing

dance e- dance ing- dance
mov e-mov ing- move

2. If the verb is short, we double the last consonant:

si t-si tting- sit
ba n-ba nning- forbid

Exceptions: verbs ending in -x and -w:

mi x-mi xing- to mix

3. If the verb ends with -ie, then we replace this ending with -y

l ie-l ying- lie
t ie-t ying- bind

Now you know how to properly turn a verb into a gerund. The question remains: "Why is this necessary?".

To understand this, let's look at its main functions in a sentence.

How is the gerund used in English?

It can perform 4 functions in sentences:

1. Be the main member of the proposal

In this case, we put the gerund first in the sentence.

For example:

Reading is a very interesting thing.
Reading is a very interesting activity.

Jogging is her favorite sport.
Running is her favorite sport.

2. Be part of the main action

Most often in this role we put the gerund after the verb to be.

For example:

My hobby is reading books.
My hobby is reading books.

His task was writing an article.
His assignment was to write an article.

3. Used as an action complement

That is, go immediately after the action. Note that we never put to before the gerund.

For example:

4. Used with wordsmy, his, her, their or prepositions

For example:

Do you mind my asking you?
Do you mind my asking you? (verbatim)

I heard her singing.
I heard her singing.

Gerund and infinitive in English

Many people often get confused between infinitives and gerunds. And so they make mistakes. Let's see how they differ from each other.

1. Particle to (infinitive)

Infinitive (particle to)- This initial form verb. We put it in front of an action that answers the question "What to do? / What to do?".

For example:

He likes to swim.
He likes (what to do?) to swim.

2. Gerund (ending -ing)

We use when we talk about action, meaning process. In this case, the action answers the question "What?".

For example:

He likes swimming ing.
He loves swimming.

How is a gerund different from an infinitive?

The difference in meaning between the use of the gerund and the particle to is often small.

• Using the gerund, we emphasize the process of action itself.
• Using the infinitive, we are talking about a preference (habit) or the result of an action.

However, there are some verbs in English that are followed by either only the infinitive or only the gerund.

Let's look at the table.

Verbs followed by an infinitive

Verbs followed by a gerund

afford - afford something Allow - allow someone Agree - agree Aim - aim, aim Arrange - negotiate, arrange Ask - ask Decide - decide Deserve - deserve Expect - expect Fail - fail Hope - hope learn - learn manage - to be able to do something Offer - to offer Plan - plan Prepare - prepare Pretend - pretend to pretend Promise - to promise Refuse - refuse Seem - to appear, to appear Tend - to have a tendency Threaten - to threaten Turn out - turn out

Admit - to recognize adore - to adore Avoid - avoid Can't stand - do not endure, do not endure Carry on - continue Delay - postpone, delay Deny - to deny Discuss - discuss Enjoy - enjoy Finish - finish Imagine - represent Involve - attract Keep (on) - continue Look forward to - look forward to Mind - object, have against Miss - fail, miss Practice - exercise Quit - stop doing Recall - remember Resist - resist, resist Risk - take risks, dare Suggest - offer, advise understand - understand

So, now you are familiar with such a concept as a gerund in English. Let's practice using it.

Reinforcement task

Translate the sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments.

1. He enjoys drawing.
2. His hobby is collecting.
3. Reading is helpful.
4. He likes to run.
5. He doesn't like her singing.

Here you can find the gerund / Gerund in English / English Gerund.

GERUND (THE GERUND)

1. Gerund is an impersonal form of a verb that has the features of both a verb and a noun. There is no such form in Russian.

Like the verb, the gerund has tense and voice forms, and can be determined by an adverb.
Like a noun, a gerund can perform the function of a subject, an object in a sentence, and be determined by a possessive or demonstrative pronoun. In combination with the preposition of, the gerund can serve as a definition.

Gerund forms

As can be seen from the table, the forms of the gerund coincide with the forms of the present participle and the perfect participle. Indefinite Gerund expresses an action that is simultaneous with the action of the verb-predicate; Perfect Gerund expresses an action that precedes the action expressed by the verb-predicate.

The gerund is translated into Russian by a noun, an indefinite form of a verb, a gerund, a verb in personal form or an adverbial clause:

Students often have considerable difficulties in understanding the difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Indefinite.
Students often have significant difficulty understanding the difference between the present perfect tense (of a verb) and the past indefinite. (or: "to understand the difference...")

Functions of the gerund in a sentence

2. In a sentence, the gerund can be used in the following functions:

a. Subject:
Your coming now and saying"I"m her father" doesn't change my feellings.
The fact that you come now and say: "I am her father" does not change my feelings.

b. Nominal part of the predicate:
Seeing is believing.
To see is to believe.

c. Additions (direct, prepositional):
The teacher has pointed at teaching students to speak in correct English.
The teacher set a goal to teach students to speak English correctly.

d. Definitions:
The difficulties of rebuilding the plant were successfully overcome.
The difficulties associated with the restructuring of the plant were successfully overcome.

e. Circumstances:
You can help him by supporting him.
You can help him by supporting him.

3. After such verbs as to like, to dislike, to prefer, etc., both the gerund and the infinitive can be used as an addition.

Compare:

I like skiing in winter. I like to ski in winter.
In winter I like to go skiing.

After such verbs as to avoid, to need, to mind (meaning to object), to remember, to require, only the gerund is used as an addition:

I remember going to the British Museum one day to read up the treatment for some slight ailment...
I remember once I went to British museum to learn how to treat some minor ailment...

The verbs to stop, to forget, depending on whether it is followed by a gerund or an infinitive, have different meanings:

Not stopped to speak to me.
He stopped to talk to me.

not stopped speaking.
He stopped talking.

4. After some verbs with prepositions and adverbs, as well as after some phrases with prepositions, only the gerund is used. These include:

to give up
to be afraid of
to be famous for
to be fond of
to be interested in
to be worth of
to be proud of
to depend on
to insist on (upon)
to know of
to object to
to prevent from
to think of
to go on

You are proud of being a docker, aren't you?
You are proud to be a docker, aren't you?

After the compound prepositions because of, on account of, thanks to, due to, owing to, instead of, in spite of, for the purpose of, with a view of, of (no) use, only the gerund is used.

Gerund and present participle

5. The similarity of the gerund and the participle of the present tense is that they are formed in the same way, that is, by adding the suffix -ing to the infinitive stem, and have the features of a verb.

The gerund and the present participle can be determined by the adverb and are used in a sentence as a function of circumstance. Out of context, it can be difficult to determine whether the impersonal form of a verb ending in -ing is a participle or a gerund. At the same time, the gerund and the participle are different non-personal forms of the verb, differing from one another both in their meaning and in the functions they perform in the sentence. The gerund has the characteristics of a verb and a noun, while the participle has the characteristics of a verb and an adjective.

Difference between gerund and participle

Gerund
1. It is used in the function of the subject, the nominal part of the predicate, the addition:
Carrying out this operation is very important.
This operation is very important.
2. In the definition function, it is used with the preposition:
The method of carrying out the operation is well known.
The method of performing the operation is well known.
3. In the function of circumstance, it is used with the preposition:
before carrying out the operation one should study all the instructions.
Before performing the operation, you need to study all the instructions.

Participle
1. Not used in the function of the subject, the nominal part of the predicate, cannot be an addition.
2. In the definition function, it is used without a preposition:
The group carrying out the operation consisted of 20 men.
The group that performed the operation consisted of twenty people.
3. In the function of circumstance, it is used without a preposition:
Carrying out the operation of the tanks penetrated into the enemy rear.
Performing the operation, the tanks went behind enemy lines.

Gerund and verbal noun

6. A verbal noun is formed by adding the suffix -ing to the stem of the infinitive, i.e. the form of the verbal noun is the same as the gerund:

to begin
to drink - drinking
to open open - opening opening, hole

But a verbal noun and a gerund are two different parts of speech that have different meanings and perform different functions in a sentence.

A verbal noun has all the properties of a noun and is most often translated into Russian by a noun, while a gerund has only some of the properties of a noun.

Difference between gerund and verbal noun

Gerund

Verbal noun

1. Cannot have an article: I remember meeting in Moscow. I remember how I met him in Moscow. 2. Can't have plural forms: I don't mind you opening the window. I don't mind if you open the window. 3. May have a direct addition: Did not begin doing his exercises when I left him. When I left him, he began to do the exercises. 4. Can be determined by the adverb: I don't like you speaking so loudly. I don't like it when you talk so loudly. 5. Has the forms of time and pledge: Mother disapproved of her son's having come so late. The mother disapproved that her son had come so late.

1. May have an article: The meeting began at 7. The meeting started at 7 o'clock. 2. Can be plural: All these shuttings and openings of the door dis turb me greatly. All these openings and closings of doors disturb me terribly. 3. May have a prepositional addition: The doing of the exercises didn't take him long. It didn't take him long to do the exercises. 4. Can be defined by an adjective: My attention was attracted by his loud speaking. My attention was drawn by his loud speech. 5. Does not have the forms of time and pledge.

What's the difference between to dance and "dancing"? One word is an infinitive and the other is a gerund. Let's take a closer look.

When to use the gerund and when to use the infinitive?

And so, as the person talks, the same question arises. Why is that?

• I like dancing. I love to dance.
• I am fond of dancing. I love dancing (literally: "dancing")
• Dancing is good for me. Dancing is good for me.
• I couldn't help dancing.- I couldn't stop dancing.
• I want to dance. I want to dance.
• I've come here to dance. I came here to dance.
• It's very easy to dance. Dancing is very easy.

To dance or dancing?

When a new student comes to me to learn a language, the first thing I ask is various questions to determine the level, get to know and make anchors on positive emotions to learning English. In general, we please three birds with one stone (we don’t kill, I love animals).

Then I tell that to dance is an infinitive (what answers the question "what to do"), and dancing- this is a gerund (at this point I am usually asked not to express myself) - a part of speech that absorbs the functions of a verb and a noun.

To swim - swim
Swimming - swimming

Well, now to the main thing - when to use what?

When to use the gerund?

1. After certain verbs, for example, verbs denoting preferences

• Like - like;
• love - to love:
• hate - hate;
• prefer - prefer.

Example: I like dancing. I love to dance.

2. After prepositions

• etc.

Example: I'm fond of dancing. I love to dance.

3. As a subject

Example: Dancing is good for me. Dancing is good for me.

4. After some phrases

• There's no point - it's pointless;
• It's no use - it's useless;
• It is worth - it's worth it;
• Can't help - I can not help.

Example: I couldn't help dancing. I couldn't stop dancing (couldn't stop dancing).

When to use the infinitive?

1. After certain verbs

• Want - want;
• would like - would like;
• agree - agree;
• hope - hope;
• choose - choose;
• come - come;
• decide - make a decision;
• can't afford - to be unable, not to be able;
• seem - seem;
• learn - to teach;
• promise - to promise.

2. To indicate the cause

I've come here (for what?) to dance(to dance). I came here to dance.

3. After adjectives

It's easy to dance. (Dancing is easy.) Easy is an adjective (easy), so after it we put an infinitive ...

Everything is simple. There are, however, verbs, after which both the infinitive and the gerund can follow ... Let's consider a few.

• TRY TO DO- to make an effort, to try to do something. ( I tried to understand him, but it was just way too hard for me I tried to understand him, but it was too difficult.);
• TRY DOING- to try something as an experiment. ( Try pushing this button-Try pressing this button.);
• REMEMBER TO DO- do not forget to do something ( I remembered to buy some bread on my way home— I remembered that I had to buy bread on the way home.);
• REMEMBER DOING- remember what happened. ( I remember meeting him for the first time“I remember the first time I met him.);
• STOP TO DO stop to do something else I stopped to pick up a coin I stopped to pick up a coin.);
• STOP DOING- to stop some action. ( girls stop talking… — Girls, stop talking. I could not resist - this is my English teacher's favorite phrase, it stuck in my memory.);
• REGRET TO DO- to regret what will be done. ( I regret to tell you. - I'll be sorry if I tell you)
• REGRET DOING- to regret what has already been done. ( I regret telling her my secret I regret telling her my secret.)

Here is perhaps the most important thing to remember to start with.

There's only one thing to say

Remember reading this article and remember to use infinitives and gerunds properly. - Keep this article in mind and remember to use infinitives and gerunds correctly.

Gerund- Gerund

Gerund in English expresses the name of the action and has the properties of a verb and a noun, and, therefore, can perform the functions of a subject, an object in a sentence, be part of a predicate and be used with adverbs. The gerund is translated into Russian as a noun, infinitive, participle, or subordinate clause.

The gerund has four forms: two in active pledge and two in the passive.
1. Gerund in active voice:
a. Simple Gerund
b. Perfect Gerund
2. Gerund in the passive voice:
a. Simple Gerund Passive
b. Perfect Gerund Passive

Gerund form	Pledge
	Valid	Passive
Simple	IV	being III
	painting	being painted
Perfect	having III	having been III
	having painted	having been painted

Unlike the infinitive, the gerund has one syntactic structure: the gerund phrase. It looks like this:
Possessive Noun/Possessive Pronoun + Gerund
His buying a gift is really no excuse. Buying a gift does not justify it.

Using Simple Gerund

1. The action expressed by the gerund occurs simultaneously with the action expressed by the verb in the personal form, or refers to the future tense.
Mia avoided diving. Mia tried not to dive.
2. Gerund denotes action generally without relating it to any time.
Vanessa dislikes swimming. Vanessa doesn't like to swim (at all).

Using the Perfect Gerund

1. The action expressed by the gerund precedes the action expressed by the personal verb. Mostly after verbs like:
to admit
to regret
to deny
to remember
to forget
to recall
Steven is proud of having won this prize. Steven is proud to have won the prize.
2. After verbs:
to forgive
to remember
to thank
and after prepositions:
after
on/upon
without
and etc.
Simple Gerund can be used to indicate the preceding action.
Nathaniel doesn't remember hearing this story. Nathaniel doesn't remember her hearing this story.

Rules for using the gerund in active and passive voices

1. If the action expressed by the gerund is performed object to which it refers, the gerund is used in the active voice.
Alexa remembers having seen this photo. Alexa remembers seeing this photo.
2. If the action expressed by the gerund is performed above the object to which it refers. the gerund is used in the passive voice.
Alexa remembers having been shown this photo. Alexa remembers being shown this photo.
Note: After verbs:
to want
to require
and after the adjective worth (standing),
The gerund has a passive meaning, despite being used in the active voice.
Her car requires repair. Her car needs to be repaired (Her car needs repair).
The Shawshank redemption worth watching. The Shawshank Redemption is worth a watch.

The use of the gerund as various parts of speech

1. Subject or part of it.
Listening to classical music is nicely. Listening to classical music is nice.
2. Predicate.
Reading is knowing. To read is to know.
3. Part of the predicate of the ambassador of verbs that express:
a. Necessity, possibility, probability, desirability, etc.
to advise
to allow
to avoid
to appreciate
can't bear
can "t stand not endure
can "t help not resist
to detest to hate
to dislike
to dread
to expect
to fell like feel like
to intend
to like
to permit
to propose
to recommend
to want
and etc.
He detests skating. He hates ice skating.
b. Beginning, end, duration.
to begin
to cease
to begin
to finish
to give up
to go on, keep on, to proceed, to continue, to carry on continue
to quit
to resume
to stop
and etc.
It has started raining. It started to rain.
4. Addition after:
a. verbs
to admit
to anticipate
to consider
to delay
to enjoy
to escape
to excuse
to fancy to imagine
to forbid
to forgive
to imagine represent
to involve
to mean
to mind object
to miss
sorry to apologize
to postpone
to practice
to prevent
to recollect
to regret
to remember
to resent
to resist
to risk
to suggest
to understand
and etc.
Do you mind my opening the windows? Do you mind if I open the window?
b. Verbs with prepositions
to accuse of
to aim at
to apologize for
to approve of
to assist in
to believe in
to complain of
to depend on
to decide against
to dream of
to be engaged in any activity
to inform of
to insist on
to be interested in
to prevent from
to think of / about
to succeed in
to rely on
to suspect of
to warn against
to look forward to look forward to
to object to object
to devote to something
and etc.
All people dream being happy. All people dream of being happy.
5. Definition after nouns with prepositions.
an advantage of positive side, advantage
a cause of
a chance of a chance
a decrease of
a difficulty in
a disadvantage of negative side, flaw
a fact of fact
a fall in
fear of fear
a feeling of feeling
a gift of gift
an idea of ​​an idea
an opportunity of opportunity
a reason for
a rise in
a way of manner
and etc.
His way of talking was rather rude. His manner of speaking was rather rude.
6. Circumstance of time, mode of action, conditions, goals, reasons after prepositions:
after
at
before
by to
despite; in spite of
for
in in
instead of
in spite of
on by
through; via
without
upon on
and etc.
In spite of living abroad for a long time he hasn "t forgotten his native language. Despite a long time of living abroad, he did not forget his native language.