Gerund and present continuous in English. The use of the gerund in the indefinite form

Gerund- Gerund

Gerund in English expresses the name of the action and has the properties of a verb and a noun, and, therefore, it 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 the active 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 a negative side
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.

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 a personal form or a subordinate 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 one time I went to the British Museum to learn how to cure 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 your 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.

The difficulty of studying the gerund lies in the fact that there is no similar part of speech in Russian. It is not entirely clear why it is needed at all. In this article, we will take a closer look at what a gerund is and how the gerund is used in English.

What is a gerund?

Like the verb, the gerund names the action, has various forms. Like a noun, the gerund can be used with . There is no gerund in Russian, so it is translated either as a noun or as a verb, depending on the context:

Reading is my hobby. Reading is my hobby (Reading is my hobby).

children finished reading. - Children finished reading (Children finished reading).

Table: gerund forms in English

There are four forms of the gerund in total: two in the Simple form and two in the Perfect form. In most cases it is used simple gerund(eg, “asking”), the majority of this article is devoted to it.

	Active	passive
Simple (Indefinite)		having been asked

Negative form of the gerund formed by a particle not, which is placed before the gerund: not asking, not being asked, not having asked, not having been asked.

Consider the forms of the gerund in more detail.

1. Gerund in the form of Simple (in active and passive voice)

Expresses an action that takes place:

• Simultaneously with the action expressed by the verb in the personal form.

He likes inviting his friends to his house. He likes to invite friends to his house.

He likes being invited by his friends. He likes when his friends invite him.

• Refers to the future tense.

I think of taking English classes next month. I am thinking of going to English lessons next month.

She indends selling her house. She intends to sell her house.

• Regardless of the time it took place

Running is a good hobby. - Running is a good hobby.

Reading makes you smarter. - Reading makes you smarter.

2. Gerund in the form of Perfect (in active and passive voice)

It is used when the action precedes the action expressed by the verb.

Lizzy mentioned having read the article in a magazine. Lizzie mentioned that she had read an article in a magazine.

I don't remember having seen you before. “I don't remember seeing you before.

Note:

In some cases, the Simple gerund is used instead of the Perfect gerund, even though the gerund expresses the preceding action.

1. After prepositions on \ upon- after, after and after- after.

After leaving the room, he laughed. - Leaving the room (after he left the room), he laughed.

On receiving the positive answer, we agreed to cooperate. – After receiving a positive response, we agreed to cooperate.

1. In cases where it is not necessary to emphasize that the action expressed by the gerund preceded the action expressed by the verb:

Thank you for coming. - Thank you for coming.

He apologized for leaving the door open. He apologized for leaving the door open.

Gerund without preposition

The cases of using the gerund can be divided into two groups: the gerund without a preposition and the gerund with a preposition. First, consider simpler cases where there is no preposition before the gerund.

1. Gerund as subject

In the role of the subject, the gerund usually denotes generalized concepts.

Hunting wolves is dangerous. “Hunting wolves is dangerous.

flying makes me nervous. Flying makes me nervous.

Brushing your teeth is important. - Brushing your teeth is important.

Knowlenge ispower. - Knowledge is power.

Learning is an easy part. Practicing is what makes it hard. Study is the easy part, practice is the hard part.

2. Gerund as part of a compound predicate

1. The predicate consists of to be + gerunds:

One of his duties is attending meetings. One of his duties is to attend meetings.

One of life's pleasures is having breakfast in bed. One of the pleasures in life is breakfast in bed.

In this case, instead of a gerund, you can use:

One of his duties is to attend meetings.

One of life's pleasures is to have breakfast in bed.

2. The predicate consists of a verb + gerund.

Especially often in this combination verbs are used:

• avoid- avoid,
• finish- to finish
• stop, give up- stop
• keep (on)- continue,
• put off, postpone, delay- postpone, postpone.
• need- to need,
• require- demand,
• want- to want,
• enjoy- enjoy, enjoy.

I avoid going to the dentist. - I avoid going to the dentist.

I have finished working. - I've finished working.

I can't give up smoking. - I can not quit smoking.

John keeps watching

The windows need washing. - The windows need to be cleaned.

Notes:

1. Combination “keep (on) + gerund” means "keep doing something, keep doing something." This is quite a useful and common combination.

She kept rereading his letters. She continued to reread his letters.

John keeps watching TV all the time. John watches TV all the time.

There are several popular patterns with him that are often seen in films:

keep moving! - Forward! (lit.: keep moving)

keep smiling! - Smile! (lit.: keep smiling)

Let's keep going. Let's go (lit.: let's keep going).

2. After some verbs, the infinitive can be used as the second part of the predicate.

I like swimming– I like to swim(I like to swim).

He started complaining– He started to complain(He began to complain).

3. After the verb stop the infinitive can be used, but then the meaning stop will not “stop”, but “stop”:

She stopped crying. She stopped crying.

She stopped to cry. She stopped to cry.

3. Gerund after the verbs mention, remember, mind

The gerund is used as a direct object after verbs. mention- to mention remember- remember mind- object

I don't mind having a drink. - I don't mind drinking.

I remember locking the door. I remember locking the door.

Did I mention going to see Vicky on the Sunday? Did I mention that I'm meeting Vicki on Sunday?

Note:

After the verb remember the infinitive can be used, but the meaning will change:

I remember locking the door = I remember locking the door.

I remember to lock the door. I remember that the door must be locked.

Gerund after preposition

The gerund can be used after a preposition preceded by , or .

Turnover scheme:

Verb \ Proverbs \ Adjective \ Ex. + Preposition + Gerund

Please note that a preposition can only govern a noun, a pronoun, and a gerund, the closest form of a verb to a noun. A verb, infinitive or participle cannot be controlled by a preposition - after preposition Every verb takes the form of a gerund.

1. Gerund as a Complement

After verbs, participles and adjectives, the gerund is used as a prepositional indirect.

I was surprised at seeing them together. – I was surprised to see them together.

Who is responsible for taking a wrong way? Who is responsible for choosing the wrong path?

Anna is interested in working with her sister. Anna is interested in working with her sister.

I'm afraid of doing a wrong thing. - I'm afraid to do wrong.

Among these verbs, participles and adjectives, there are several common ones:

• be disappointed at- to be disappointed in,
• be surprised at- be surprised at something
• be responsible for- be responsible for something
• prevent from- hinder, interfere with doing something,
• consist in- be included in
• persist in- to persevere in something
• result in- lead to something
• spend in- spend on something
• succeed in- succeed at something
• be interested in- be interested in something
• accuse of- To accuse of,
• approve of- approve
• suspect of- to suspect
• hear of- hear about
• think of- to think about,
• be afraid of- to be afraid of something,
• be (in-) capable of- to be (not) capable of something,
• be fond of- to love, to adore something,
• be proud of- be proud of something
• count on- count on
• insist on- insist on
• object to- object against,
• get- get used to

Notes:

1. After all these words, nouns and pronouns can also be used as an addition (usually they are used):

I am fond of of pasta. - I'm crazy about pasta.

I'm proud of you. - I'm proud of you.

2. After some of the listed words, the infinitive can be used, but the preposition is then removed. A preposition cannot come before an infinitive.

I'm surprised at seeing you - I'm surprised to see you.

I'm proud of being with you - I'm proud to be with you.

In this case, “to” is not a preposition, but a particle referring to the infinitive.

2. Gerund as a definition

Like, gerund is used after nouns, usually with a preposition of.

There are many methods of teaching English. There are many methods of teaching English.

I study the art of cooking. I am studying the art of cooking.

Stop the process of dissolving. – Stop the dissolution process.

She didn't show any interest in joining our conspiracy. “She showed no interest in joining our plot.

Let's single out a few nouns, after which the gerund is often used:

• astonishment, surprise at- astonishment,
• disappointment at- disappointment,
• apology for- an apology
• plan for- plan,
• preparation for- preparation, preparation,
• reason for- the reason
• experience in- experience,
• interest in- interest,
• skill in- skill, skill
• art of- art,
• chance of- possibility,
• fear of- fear,
• habit of- habit,
• hope of- hope
• idea of- thought, idea
• importance of- importance,
• intention of- intention
• means of- means,
• method of- method,
• necessity of- need,
• objection to- objection
• pleasure of- pleasure,
• possibility of- possibility,
• problem of- problem,
• process of- process,
• right of- right,
• way of- way, way

Note: after these nouns, nouns can be used, not just gerunds:

What's the method delivery? – What is the delivery method?

They have a long experience real estate. “They have a lot of experience in real estate.

3. Gerund as a circumstance

The gerund can, in combination with various prepositions, act as time, cause, mode of action, etc.

In this case, the gerund expresses:

1. Time:

Prepositions: on, upon, after- after, before- before, in- while

After saying goodbye, she closed the door. Saying goodbye, she closed the door.

On finding that the structure was wrong, Dr. Adams changed his mind. - After discovering that the structure was wrong, Dr. Adams changed his mind.

Check your bag before leaving. Check your bag before you leave.

In sayingthis, I'm not making excuses for the past. “In saying this, I am not making excuses for the past.

2. Reason:

Prepositions: for- behind, owing to thanks to, for a reason

The player was punished for cheating.– The player was punished for cheating.

The player lost owing to cheating.– The player lost due to cheating.

3. Mode of action:

Prepositions: by- by means of

The writer improved his script by adding two lines of dialogue. The writer improved the script by adding two lines of dialogue.

The wizard demolished the shield by using a powerful spell. “The wizard destroyed the shield by using a powerful spell.

4. Concomitant circumstances:

Prepositions: besides, apart from- Besides, instead of- instead of, without- without

Ask someone to help you instead of working alone. Ask someone to help you instead of working alone.

What do you like doing besidesplaying football ? What do you like to do besides playing football?

She left without saying a word. She left without saying a word.

5. Purpose:

Prepositions: for the purpose of- with the aim of

The robot was reprogrammed for the purpose ofselling. – The robot was reprogrammed for the purpose of sale.

The meeting is for the purpose ofsolving problems. The meeting is for problem solving.

6. Condition:

Prepositions: without- without, in case of- when

You'll never speak English without practicing. You will never speak English without practice.

Take this pill in case of feeling worse. Take this pill if you feel worse.

Verbal noun and gerund

In English there are verbal nouns with -ing at the end, they can be confused with gerunds, but they differ in that they are 100% nouns and denote an object / person / phenomenon, but NOT an action. Usually they denote the result of some work or type of activity. A verbal noun can be preceded by an article or a possessive pronoun, as before a noun.

• Gerund: I like painting- I like drawing (process).
• otl. noun: How much is the painting? - How much is this painting? (thing)

Despite the similarities with the noun, the gerund still names not the subject, but the process.

Gerund in English (Gerund) is a difficult topic for a person from the post-Soviet space to understand. When studying English, most of the first time fails to understand what a gerund is.

A gerund in English is an impersonal form of a verb ending in -ing that combines the characteristics of both a noun and a verb. In most situations, gerunds have the meaning of some process, action or state. “The gerund” is formed by adding the ending -ing to the indefinite form of the verb (infinitive). For example,

Reading - reading
Running - running
Walking - walk

With all this, the formation of a gerund with negation is quite simple. In a sentence, it is preceded by a negative particle not. Sentences with gerund in English and with translation:

He enjoys not working. —He enjoys being out of work.
We were disappointed at not finding them here. —We were disappointed not to find them here.

With regard to the Russian language, this is a difficult and incomprehensible phenomenon, because. there are no analogues to him. As a rule, verbal nouns with different suffixes can be considered the most similar in function and meaning to the gerund in Russian: -tie, -ka, -stvo, -(e)nie or, less often, the infinitive. Gerund in many of its functions is very similar to the indefinite form, however, according to the main criteria, the gerund is more like a noun than a verb.

Translation of the structure into Russian

Due to the lack of a gerund as a phenomenon in Russian, the translation of gerund and usage can be completely different. Due to the semantic meaning of Gerund, the translation may look like this:

• noun;
• verbal noun;
• noun, with an adjoining preposition;
• infinitive;
• gerund;
• adjective

Forms

There are four known forms of the gerund. It is used in Simple and Perfect, as well as in active voice and passive voice. The table shows examples of the use of its various forms.

She likes sending letters (Active)She loves to send letters.
He hates being knocked down at ring. (Passive)He hates being knocked down in the ring.

Perfect implies something that happens before the action of the verb-predicate. For example:

She is proud of having told an idea to this famous person. (Active) - She is proud to have told the idea of ​​this famous personality.
She is proud of having been spoken to. (Passive) - She's proud to have been spoken to.

Functions in a sentence

Due to the fact that gerund has collected the main criteria of several parts of speech, the forms and functions of the gerund (gerund forms and functions) in the texts are completely different. The only thing is that, due to its peculiarities, the gerund cannot act as a simple predicate.

Gerund as a subject is used quite often, for this it is necessary to use it without a preposition. Translating into Russian, it is either a noun or an infinitive.

Smoking is a bad habit. “Smoking is a bad habit.
Trying to improve yourself is necessary. It's important to try to improve yourself.

Also, quite often the impersonal form can act as a member of the compound predicate. Moreover, its use will be possible only with the linking verb to be (am, is, are, was, were). The subject in this case will act as an object that is not capable of independently performing one or another action expressed by the gerund. Otherwise, it is no longer a gerund, but a verb.

His hobby is listening to music.

In order to fulfill the function of the complement, gerund must be placed after certain verbs; in other situations, only the infinitive will be used. Verbs after which a gerund is used in English (list of verbs with gerund in english): advise, delay, enjoy, give up, recommend, etc. Examples:

He advises talking to her husband. He advised to talk to her husband.
She delayed completing the work. — She was delaying the completion of the work.
They enjoyed playing the tennis. — They enjoyed playing tennis.

In the definition function, gerund appears less often, and then only after nouns with certain prepositions, such as: at, about, to, in, of.

I like the idea of ​​going abroad. I like the idea of ​​going abroad.

In certain situations, gerunds are used before the noun being defined, in such a situation they convey the function of this subject: a working place (workplace).

At the same time, in the phrase a falling tree (falling tree), falling is a participle, because expresses an action performed by a noun.

The use of a gerund as a circumstance is possible; this requires the addition of prepositions such as in, on, before, after, without, etc.

Gerund is an absolutely indispensable form in the use of the language. Obviously, without understanding the structure and rules for using this phenomenon, it is impossible to fully learn English.

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.

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 in -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) is the initial form of the 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.