Gerunds After Verbs of Action

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 122 views

Introduction

Gerunds are verb forms that end in "-ing" and function as nouns in a sentence. They are often used after certain verbs to express actions, states, or conditions. In this article, we will explore the gerunds that follow specific verbs, providing examples and explanations to help you understand their usage.

Gerunds After Verbs of Action

Some verbs of action, such as "start," "stop," "begin," and "continue," are often followed by gerunds.

Start: When you start doing something, you begin to perform an action.
- Example: "I started playing the guitar last year." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "start," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I started to play the guitar last year." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Stop: When you stop doing something, you cease to perform an action.
- Example: "I stopped playing the guitar last year." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "stop," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I stopped to play the guitar last year." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Begin: When you begin doing something, you start to perform an action.
- Example: "I began playing the guitar last year." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "begin," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I began to play the guitar last year." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Continue: When you continue doing something, you keep performing an action.
- Example: "I continued playing the guitar last year." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "continue," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I continued to play the guitar last year." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)

Gerunds After Verbs of Perception

Some verbs of perception, such as "see," "hear," "feel," and "smell," are often followed by gerunds.

See: When you see someone doing something, you perceive them performing an action.
- Example: "I saw her playing the guitar last year." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "see," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I saw her to play the guitar last year." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Hear: When you hear someone doing something, you perceive them performing an action.
- Example: "I heard him playing the guitar last year." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "hear," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I heard him to play the guitar last year." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Feel: When you feel someone doing something, you perceive them performing an action.
- Example: "I felt her playing the guitar last year." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "feel," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I felt her to play the guitar last year." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Smell: When you smell something, you perceive a scent or odor.
- Example: "I smelled the coffee brewing last year." (Here, "brewing" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "smell," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I smelled the coffee to brew last year." (Here, "to brew" is an infinitive.)

Gerunds After Verbs of Emotion

Some verbs of emotion, such as "like," "love," "hate," and "enjoy," are often followed by gerunds.

Like: When you like doing something, you enjoy performing an action.
- Example: "I like playing the guitar." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "like," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I like to play the guitar." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Love: When you love doing something, you have a strong affection for performing an action.
- Example: "I love playing the guitar." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "love," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I love to play the guitar." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Hate: When you hate doing something, you have a strong dislike for performing an action.
- Example: "I hate playing the guitar." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "hate," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I hate to play the guitar." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)
Enjoy: When you enjoy doing something, you have pleasure in performing an action.
- Example: "I enjoy playing the guitar." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund.)
- Note: You can also use the infinitive form after "enjoy," but the gerund form is more common.
- Example: "I enjoy to play the guitar." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive.)

Conclusion

Q&A: Gerunds After Certain Verbs

Q: What is a gerund?

A: A gerund is a verb form that ends in "-ing" and functions as a noun in a sentence. It is often used to express actions, states, or conditions.

Q: Which verbs are commonly followed by gerunds?

A: Verbs of action, perception, emotion, and other categories are often followed by gerunds. Some examples include:

Verbs of action: start, stop, begin, continue
Verbs of perception: see, hear, feel, smell
Verbs of emotion: like, love, hate, enjoy

Q: Can I use the infinitive form instead of a gerund?

A: Yes, you can use the infinitive form instead of a gerund in some cases. However, the gerund form is more common and often preferred in certain contexts.

Q: What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

A: A gerund is a verb form that ends in "-ing" and functions as a noun, while an infinitive is a verb form that begins with "to" and functions as a noun or an adjective.

Q: Can I use a gerund after any verb?

A: No, not all verbs are followed by gerunds. Some verbs may require the infinitive form or a different form altogether.

Q: How do I know which form to use?

A: To determine which form to use, consider the context and the meaning you want to convey. If you're expressing an action, state, or condition, a gerund may be the best choice. If you're expressing a purpose or intention, an infinitive may be more suitable.

Q: Can I use a gerund in a sentence with a subject and a verb?

A: Yes, you can use a gerund in a sentence with a subject and a verb. For example:

"Playing the guitar is my favorite hobby." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund, and "is" is the verb.)
"She loves to play the guitar." (Here, "to play the guitar" is an infinitive, and "loves" is the verb.)

Q: Can I use a gerund in a sentence with a preposition?

A: Yes, you can use a gerund in a sentence with a preposition. For example:

"I'm looking forward to playing the guitar." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund, and "looking forward to" is a preposition phrase.)
"She's interested in playing the guitar." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund, and "interested in" is a preposition phrase.)

Q: Can I use a gerund in a sentence with a conjunction?

A: Yes, you can use a gerund in a sentence with a conjunction. For example:

"I love playing the guitar, and I'm good at it too." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund, and "and" is a conjunction.)
"She enjoys playing the guitar, but she's not very good at it." (Here, "playing the guitar" is a gerund, and "but" is a conjunction.)

Conclusion

Gerunds are a fundamental part of the English language, and understanding when to use them after certain verbs can help you express yourself more effectively. By following the guidelines outlined in this article and practicing with Q&A examples, you can improve your grammar and vocabulary skills, making you a more confident and proficient English speaker.