[To Be Or Being? That Is The Question!]
Not all verbs can be gerunds (ing) these are some examples:
We are loving our teacher.
It is existing in my mind.
The children are hating my soup.
Now we are going to say something CRAZY. Hold onto your seats!
Add -ing to all verbs! That -ing can now go on almost any verb!
Did we change the rules of English grammar? No.
So what happened? Well, it is time to explain. The rules that we, as well as your teacher, taught you are still correct. Many verbs cannot have -ing. These kinds of verbs are called stative verbs. These verbs have little or no physical activity. To see a list of stative verbs, click here.
So, let's explain gerunds. Look at the following sentences? Which words are the nouns?
Alaska is fun.
English is difficult.
That is ice cream.
Which words are the nouns? Of course you know. The nouns are Alaska, English, and ice cream. You chose these words because you know that you need nouns in those places. The red lines below show you where nouns are required.
______ is fun.
______ is difficult.
That is ______.
You can put any noun on these red lines (as long as it makes logical sense). What if you want to say an action is fun or difficult? That is when you need a gerund. If you want to use an action word in a place that requires a noun, you can usually use a verb with an -ing ending. For example,
Fishing is fun.
Hiking is difficult.
That is ballet dancing.
In these sentences, fishing, hiking, and dancing look like verbs, but they are not verbs. They are nouns. When a noun looks like a verb with -ing, it is called a gerund.
Even stative verbs (those verbs that almost never have -ing) can be turned into gerunds. A native speaker of English would NEVER say I am believing you. However, a native speaker could say
Believing in God is important.
Believing, here, is a gerund. It is NOT a verb. Believing in God is a gerund phrase.
Gerunds act just like nouns. Gerunds can be followed by possessive pronouns (my, his, her, our, their, its). They can also be followed by a possessive s.
My cooking is famous in my hometown.
Jake's driving scares me.
There is also a perfect (or past) form of gerunds. The past form of gerunds is formed by using having + past participle. This kind of gerund suggests that the gerund happened before something else.
NO GERUND
I have been to South Korea.
WITH GERUND
My having been to South Korea helped me learn the language when I took classes.
*this suggests that the speaker had gone to South Korea
BEFORE he took the language classes
This rule works not only for the present perfect, but also for other past tense forms. Look at the following sentences. The first one (without the gerund) uses the simple past tense (took).
NO GERUND
I took a physics class.
WITH GERUND
Having taken a physics class helped me in calculus.
*this suggests that the speaker had taken a physics class
BEFORE she took the calculus
There is also a passive form of gerunds.
The passive form of gerunds is formed by using being + past participle.
NO GERUND
I was accepted to Harvard University.
WITH GERUND
Being accepted to Harvard University was the greatest day of my life.
The passive form of gerunds is also formed by using getting + past participle:
NO GERUND
We got scared by that movie.
WITH GERUND
Getting scared by that movie made us leave before it finished.
For a list of irregular simple tense verbs and past participles, click here.
Some verbs are only followed by gerunds, not infinitives.
INCORRECT The criminals denied to steal anything
CORRECT The criminals denied stealing anything.
For a list of verbs that are followed by gerunds, click here.
For all charts that relate to gerunds and infinitives, click here.
There are many gerunds that have the word go before it. Here are some examples. Notice the way go changes tense (go, went, gone), but the gerunds that follow do not change.
I love to go sailing on the weekends.
They went shopping for new dresses today.
Have you ever gone skiing?
Quiz time
Directions: Read the sentences. Make a gerund or gerund phrase from the first sentence. Put that gerund in the second sentence. The gerund replaces the it, this, that, these, and those in the second sentence. The first one has been done for you.
1. I watch airplanes take off. It is very relaxing.
Gerund or gerund phrase: watching airplanes take off.
Answer: Watching airplanes take off is very relaxing.
2. Jaesung got hit by the ball. That sent Jaesung to the hospital.
3. You should brush your teeth twice daily. This is what all dentists recommend.
4. Franklin was warned about drinking and driving . It forced him to be much more careful on the highway.
5. She wants to be a journalist. It is her dream.
6. You have to take the TOEFL. It is the only way to get into that college.
7. We have studied Spanish. This helped us on our trip to Barcelona.
8. Tom Lee took lots of biology classes. Those helped him in medical school.
9. The boys always get in trouble. That isn't any fun.
10. People cry. That can make your whole face red.
1. I watch airplanes take off. It is very relaxing.
Gerund or gerund phrase: watching airplanes take off.
Answer: Watching airplanes take off is very relaxing.
2. Jaesung got hit by the ball. That sent Jaesung to the hospital.
Gerund or gerund phrase: getting hit -OR- getting hit by the ball
Answer: Getting hit sent Jaesung to the hospital. -OR- Getting hit by the ball sent Jaesung to the hospital.
3. You should brush your teeth twice daily. This is what all dentists recommend.
Gerund or gerund phrase: brushing your teeth
Answer: Brushing your teeth twice daily is what all dentists recommend.
4. Franklin was warned about drinking and driving . It forced him to be much more careful on the highway.
Gerund or gerund phrase: Having been warned about drinking and driving
Answer: Having been warned about drinking and driving forced him to be more careful on the highway.
NOTE: Was warned is the past passive voice. Thus, use the passive voice form of gerunds.
5. She wants to be a journalist. It is her dream.
Gerund or gerund phrase: wanting to be a journalist
Answer: Wanting to be a journalist is her dream.
6. You have to take the TOEFL. It is the only way to get into that college.
Gerund or gerund phrase: taking the TOEFL
Answer: Taking the TOEFL is the only way to get into that college.
7. We have studied Spanish. This helped us on our trip to Barcelona.
Gerund or gerund phrase: having studied Spanish
Answer: Having studied Spanish helped us on our trip to Barcelona.
8. Tom Lee took lots of biology classes. Those helped him in medical school.
Gerund or gerund phrase: Having taken lots of biology classes
Answer: Having taken lots of biology classes helped him in medical school.
9. The boys always get in trouble. That isn't any fun.
Gerund or gerund phrase: getting in trouble
Answer: Getting in trouble isn't any fun.
10. People cry. That can make your whole face red.
Gerund or gerund phrase: crying
Answer: Crying can make your whole face red.
Rules to Remember!
1 Gerunds are nouns that look like ing-ending verbs. They can be both subjects and objects.
Gerund as a subject: Cooking is a very enjoyable activity.
Gerund as an object: My father loves cooking.
2
Gerunds are usually not plural. You cannot say
Playings are fun.
3 For a list of verbs that are followed by gerunds, click here.
For a list of common go + gerund combinations, click here.
For all charts that relate to gerunds and infinitives, click here.
4 In general, when a noun is required in a sentence, a gerund can be used. For example
X is easier than Y.
Working is easier than studying.
5 Although it is not necessary, we highly recommend that you look at our lesson on infinitives after doing this lesson. To see our lesson on infinitives, click here.
Do you want to send this lesson to someone? Click here!
Want to see other lessons that have been published on MyEnglishTeacher.net? Click here!
Looking for books to improve your writing? Click here!
Labels: speak better english for spanish speakers
[False Friends or False Cognates]
an abstract: resumen (y no abstracto)
to achieve: lograr (y no archivar, que se dice to file)
actual: real, efectivo (y no actual, que se dice current)
actually: en realidad (y no actualmente, que se dice nowadays, at present)
to advertise: anunciar (y no advertir, que se dice to warn)
advice: consejos (y no aviso, que se dice warning, notice)
ailment: enfermedad leve, achaque (y no alimento, que se dice food)
apparel: ropa, vestimenta (y no aparato, que se dice apparatus, machine)
application form: formulario de solicitud (y no formulario de aplicación)
to apologise: pedir disculpas (y no apología, que se dice defence)
apt: propenso (y no apto, que se dice qualified, able)
argument: discusión, pelea (y no argumento de un libro/una película, que se dice plot)
arena: estadio, plaza de toros (y no arena, que se dice sand)
arm: brazo (y no arma, que se dice gun)
army: ejército (y no armada, que se dice navy)
aspersion: calumnia (y no aspersión, que se dice sprinkling)
assessment: evaluación (y no asesoría, que se dice consultancy)
assessor: evaluador, tasador (y no asesor, que se dice advisor o consultant)
to assist: ayudar (y no asistir a un lugar, que se dice to attend)
to attain: lograr, conseguir (y no atar, que se dice to tie)
attempt: intento (y no atentado, que se dice terrorist attack)
attendance: asistencia (y no atención, que se dice attention)
avocado: aguacate (y no abogado, que se dice lawyer)
balloon: globo (y no balón, que se dice ball)
bank: banco - la institución (y no banco de plaza, que se dice bench)
bark: ladrar o ladrido (y no barco, que se dice ship)
beef: carne vacuna (y no bife, que se dice steak)
billet: acuartelamiento, alojamiento militar (y no billete, que se dice ticket o note)
billion: mil millones (y no billón, que se dice trillion)
body: cuerpo (y no boda, que se dice wedding)
bomber: avión bombardero o persona que coloca bombas (y no bombero, que se dice fireman o firefighter)
brave: valiente (y no bravo, que se dice fierce)
camp: base militar o campamento (y no campo en general, que se dice field)
can: lata o el verbo poder (y no cana, que se dice white hair)
cap: gorra (y no capa, que se dice layer)
career: carrera profesional, ocupación luego del estudio (y no carrera referida al curso universitario, que se dice degree)
carpet: alfombra (y no carpeta, que se dice folder)
cartoon: dibujos animados, tira cómica (y no cartón, que se dice cardboard)
casual: fortuito, ocasional, informal, superficial (y no casual, que se dice accidental, chance)
casualty: víctima o herido (y no casualidad, que se dice coincidence)
cave: cueva (y no cavar, que se dice to dig)
cellular: celular, relativo a la célula (y no teléfono celular, que se dice mobile telephone)
chafed: rozado (y no chafado, que se dice crushed o flattened)
collar: cuello de las prendas de vestir (y no collar, que se dice necklace)
to collapse: hundirse, derrumbarse (y no colapsar, que se dice to bring to a standstill)
college: facultad, colegio universitario (y no colegio, que se dice school)
coloured: de color (y no colorado, que se dice red)
command: orden, mandato (y no comando, que se dice commando unit)
commodity: mercancía o materia prima (y no comodidad, que se dice comfort)
to complain: quejarse (y no complacer, que se dice to please)
complexion: tez, tono de la piel (y no complexión, que se dice body type)
to compromise: ceder, transigir, poner en peligro (y no compromiso, que se dice commitment, engagement o agreement)
conductor: director de orquesta o cobrador (y no conductor, que se dice driver)
confident: seguro de sí mismo (y no confidente, que se dice confidant)
(to be) constipated: sufrir de estreñimiento (y no estar constipado, que se dice to have a cold/chill)
contest: concurso (y no contestar, que se dice to answer)
to convene: convocar, reunir (y no convenir, que se dice to agree, to be advisable)
council: consejo (y no conciliar, que se dice to reconcile)
crane: grúa (y no cráneo, que se dice skull)
curse: maldición (y no curso, que se dice course)
date: fecha (y no dato, que se dice a piece of information o data)
deception: engaño (y no decepción, que se dice disappointment)
to deliver: entregar (y no deliberar, que se dice to deliberate)
deprivation: privación, pérdida (y no depravación, que se dice depravity)
derogatory: despectivo (la palabra despective no existe en inglés)
to design: diseñar (y no designar, que se dice to appoint o to designate)
desperate: desesperado (y no despertar, que se dice to wake up)
dessert: postre (y no desierto, que se dice desert)
dinner: cena (y no dinero, que se dice money)
discrete: diferenciado (y no discreto, que se dice discreet)
disgust: asco, repugnancia (y no disgusto, que se dice annoyance, quarrel, trouble o to be upset)
disparate: dispar (y no disparate, que se dice nonsense o foolish act)
diversion: desviación (y no diversión, alegría, que se dice fun)
to doze: dormitar (y no doce, que se dice twelve)
dramatic: drástico, espectacular
economics: economía (y no económicos, que se dice cheap)
embarrassed: avergonzado/a (y no embarazada, que se dice pregnant)
emergence: surgimiento, aparición (y no emergencia, que se dice emergency)
estate: propiedad, bien inmueble, patrimonio (y no estado, que se dice state)
eventual: definitivo o posible (y no eventual, que se dice casual, incidental)
eventually: finalmente, tarde o temprano (y no eventualmente que se dice by chance, possibly)
exit: salida (y no éxito, que se dice success)
fabric: tela (y no fábrica, que se dice factory)
familiar: conocido, familiar (adjetivo) (y no pariente, familiar (sustantivo), que se dice relative)
fee: tarifa, honorarios, cuota (y no fe, que se dice faith)
file: archivo, carpeta, fichero (y no fila, que se dice row)
fin: aleta (y no fin, que se dice end)
form: formulario (y no forma, que se dice shape)
fray: riña, irritarse o deshilacharse (y no fraile, que se dice friar)
fume: vapor o gas (y no fumar, que se dice smoke)
gang: pandilla (y no ganga, que se dice bargain)
Geneva: Ginebra (y no Génova, que se dice Genoa)
gentle: moderado, suave (y no gentil, que se dice gentile, kind)
to grab: agarrar, asir (y no grabar, que se dice to record)
gracious: cortés (y no gracioso, que se dice funny)
grocery: tienda de comestibles (y no grosería, que se dice rudeness o rude word/expression)
hardly: apenas, difícilmente (y no duramente, que se dice strongly)
by heart: de memoria (y no de corazón, que se dice from one's heart)
horn: cuerno (y no horno, que se dice oven)
hostel: albergue (y no hostal, que se dice guesthouse)
idiom: modismo, locución (y no idioma, que se dice language)
to improve: mejorar (y no improvisar, que se dice to improvise)
influenza: gripe (y no influencia, que se dice influence)
ingenuity: ingenio (y no ingenuidad, que se dice naivety)
inhabitant: habitante (y no inhabitado, que se dice uninhabited)
injury: herida (y no injuria, que se dice insult)
installment: cuota, plazo o entrega (y no instalación, que se dice installation)
to intend: tener la intención de (y no intentar, que se dice to try)
intoxicated: ebrio (y no intoxicado, que se dice with food poisoning)
involve: involucrar (y no envolver, que se dice wrap)
jam: mermelada (y no jamón, que se dice ham)
lame: cojo, rengo (y no lamer, que se dice to lick)
large: grande (y no largo, que se dice long)
lecture: conferencia (y no lectura, que se dice reading)
lentil: lenteja (y no lentilla, que se dice contact lens)
letter: letra del abecedario o carta (y no letra de una canción, que se dice lyrics)
library: biblioteca (y no librería, que se dice bookshop)
lobe: lóbulo (y no lobo, que se dice wolf)
luxury: lujo (y no lujuria, que se dice lust)
macaroon: galleta con almendras o coco (y no macarrón, que se dice a piece of macaroni)
man: hombre (y no mano, que se dice hand)
mascot: persona, animal u objeto que da buena suerte (y no mascota como animal doméstico, que se dice pet)
mayor: alcalde (y no mayor, que se dice bigger)
media: medios (y no media, que se dice sock)
misery: tristeza (y no miseria, que se dice poverty)
mocha: café moca (y no mocha/o, desafilada/o, que se dice blunt)
to molest: abusar sexualmente (y no molestar, que se dice to bother o to annoy)
not at all: para nada, en lo absoluto (y no "no del todo", que se dice not quite)
notice: nota, anuncio (y no noticia, que se dice a piece of news)
occurrence: aparición (y no ocurrencia, que se dice absurd idea)
office: oficina (y no oficio, que se dice trade o job)
once: una vez (y no once, que se dice eleven)
oration: discurso ceremonial (y no oración, que se dice sentence o prayer)
ordinary: común (y no ordinario, que se dice vulgar)
pan: cacerola, cazuela (y no pan, que se dice bread)
parade: desfile (y no pared, que se dice wall)
to pare: pelar o cortar las uñas (y no parar, que se dice to stop)
parents: padres (y no parientes, que se dice relatives)
pendant: colgante de un collar (y no pendiente, que se dice earring)
petrol: gasolina o nafta (y no petróleo, que se dice oil, petroleum)
petulant: irascible, malhumorado (y no petulante, que se dice smug)
pie: pastel (y no pie, que se dice foot)
place: lugar (y no plaza, que se dice square)
plate: plato o lámina (y no plata, el metal, que se dice silver)
policy: política (y no policía, que se dice police)
politic: diplomático, cortés o prudente (y no político, que se dice politician)
preservative: conservante (y no preservativo, que se dice condom)
to pretend: aparentar, fingir (y no pretender, que se dice to expect)
prize: premio (y no precio, que se dice price)
to probe: investigar (y no probar, que se dice to prove, taste o try)
prospect: posibilidad, perspectiva o posible cliente (y no prospecto, que se dice leaflet o pamphlet)
quince: membrillo (y no quince, que se dice fifteen)
to quit: abandonar, dejar (y no quitar, que se dice to remove o to put away)
quite: bastante, totalmente (y no quitar, que se dice to remove o to put away)
quote: cita o presupuesto (y no cuota, que se dice fee, installment o payment)
to rape: violar (y no rapar, que se dice to shave o to crop)
to raze: arrasar (y no raza, que se dice race)
to realize: darse cuenta (y no realizar, que se dice to make)
recipe: receta de cocina (y no recibo, que se dice receipt)
to reckon: calcular, considerar o creer (y no reconocer, que se dice to recognize)
recollection: recuerdo (y no recolección, que se dice harvest o collection)
to record: grabar (y no recordar, que se dice to remember)
red: rojo (y no red, que se dice net)
regular: de tamaño normal (y no regular, que se dice bad, not so good)
relatives: parientes (y no relativos, que se dice relative (adjective))
reluctantly: de mala gana (y no relucientemente o brillantemente, que se dice brilliantly)
to remove: quitar, eliminar (y no remover, que se dice to stir)
rendition: interpretación (y no rendición, que se dice surrender)
resort: centro turístico o recurso (y no resorte, que se dice spring)
to rest: descansar (y no restar, que se dice to subtract)
to resume: reanudar, continuar o reasumir (y no resumir, que se dice to summarize o to sum up)
rope: cuerda, soga (y no ropa, que se dice clothes)
rude: maleducado, descortés (y no rudo, que se dice rough)
salad: ensalada (y no salado, que se dice salty)
salted: salado (y no salteado, que se dice skipped)
sane: cuerdo (y no sano, que se dice healthy)
scallop: vieira (y no escalope, que se dice escalope)
sensible: sensato (y no sensible, que se dice sensitive)
sensitive: sensible (y no sensitivo, que se dice related to the senses)
signature: firma (y no asignatura, que se dice subject)
sin: pecado (y no sin, que se dice without)
soap: jabón (y no sopa, que se dice soup)
socket: enchufe o toma de corriente (y no soquete, que se dice ankle sock)
son: hijo (y no son, conjugación del verbo ser, que se dice are)
spade: pala (y no espada, que se dice sword)
stationery: artículos de papelería (y no estacionario, que se dice stationary)
to stay: quedarse (y no estar, que se dice to be)
to stir: revolver un líquido (y no estirar, que se dice to stretch)
stranger: desconocido o forastero (y no extranjero, que se dice foreigner)
to stretch: estirar, extender, ensanchar (y no estrechar, que se dice to take in, to narrow)
suburb: barrio rico periférico de la ciudad (y no suburbio de casas pobres, que se dice slum)
success: éxito (y no suceso, que se dice event)
to support: apoyar (y no soportar, que se dice to put up with)
sympathetic: comprensivo (y no simpático, que se dice nice, likeable)
sympathy: compasión, comprensión, pésame (y no simpatía, que se dice friendliness, affection)
target: objetivo (y no tarjeta, que se dice card)
tax: impuesto (y no taxi, que se dice taxi)
tea: té (y no tía, que se dice aunt)
terrific: fenomenal, genial (y no terrorífico, que se dice terrifying)
to traduce: calumniar (y no traducir, que se dice to translate)
trait: rasgo (y no trato, que se dice deal o treatment)
to translate: traducir (y no trasladarse, que se dice to move)
tramp: vagabundo (y no trampa, que se dice trap)
ultimate: final (y no último, que se dice last)
ultimately: en última instancia, a la larga (y no últimamente, que se dice lately, recently)
umpire: árbitro (y no imperio, que se dice empire)
vacuum: vacío (y no vacuna, que se dice vaccine)
zealous: entusiasta (y no celoso, que se dice jealous)
Labels: false friends or false cognates, speak better english for spanish speakers
