- Ejercicio
- Explicación
- Video
📝 Instructions for the Activity
In this activity, you will see 10 sentences, each with a blank space.
Your task is to choose the correct answer from three options.
👉 Only one option is correct, so read carefully and choose the best one!
When you select an answer, the system will automatically check it and tell you if your choice is right or wrong.
At the end of the activity, you will get a summary of all your answers,
plus explanations for the correct ones, so you can learn and improve.
💪 Take your time, do your best, and most importantly—have fun learning!
Good luck!
✅ What is a Gerund in English?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that acts like a noun in a sentence.
🟢 For example:
➡ Swimming is fun.
Here, “swimming” is not part of a verb—it’s the subject of the sentence, just like a noun.
It answers the question: What is fun? → Swimming.
So, when you use -ing verbs as nouns, they are called gerunds.
📌 When Do We Use a Gerund?
Gerunds are used in many common situations in English. Let’s go over the main ones:
1. As the Subject of a Sentence
When the action itself is the subject (what the sentence is about), we use a gerund.
✅ Being a teacher is rewarding.
(“Being a teacher” = the subject of the sentence)
2. After Certain Verbs
Some verbs are always followed by a gerund (never an infinitive!). These include:
- enjoy → I enjoy reading.
- avoid → She avoids eating late.
- suggest → They suggest going to the park.
- admit → He admitted stealing the money.
- keep → We keep practicing every day.
💡 These verbs treat the action as a thing, so we use the -ing form (gerund).
3. After Prepositions
If a verb comes right after a preposition, it must be in gerund form.
Examples:
- She is afraid of flying.
- He is good at painting.
- They are interested in learning Spanish.
📝 Common prepositions: of, at, in, on, about, without, before, after, etc.
4. In Fixed Expressions
Some expressions always use gerunds. You’ll hear these often:
- I look forward to meeting you.
- She can’t help laughing.
- He is involved in organizing the event.
Note: In “look forward to,” “to” is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so we use a gerund after it.
🤔 Gerund vs. Infinitive: What’s the Difference?
Understanding the difference between gerunds and infinitives helps you speak more naturally.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund (-ing) | I enjoy swimming. | (The action is something I like in general.) |
| Infinitive (to + base verb) | I want to swim. | (The action is a goal or intention.) |
🚨 Be Careful: Meaning Can Change!
Some verbs can take both gerunds and infinitives, but the meaning is different:
- I stopped smoking.
➡ I quit the habit. - I stopped to smoke.
➡ I paused what I was doing so I could smoke.
🧠 Summary: When to Use Gerunds
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| As subject | Running is fun. |
| After certain verbs | She enjoys dancing. |
| After prepositions | They are interested in traveling. |
| In fixed expressions | I look forward to seeing you. |
💡 Tips to Practice Gerunds
- Learn Common Verbs That Need Gerunds
➤ enjoy, avoid, suggest, finish, admit, keep, etc. - Practice with Prepositions
➤ Use gerunds after words like before, after, without, in, on. - Use Real-Life Examples
➤ Try writing about your day:
→ I like walking in the park.
→ I’m tired of studying late. - Compare with Infinitives
➤ Practice both to see the difference:
→ She decided to leave.
→ She decided leaving ❌ (Incorrect)
🎯 Final Thought
Learning how and when to use gerunds is a key step to sounding more fluent and natural in English. The more you practice, the easier it gets!