Gerund Examples: How to Identify and Use Gerunds in Sentences

If you are looking for gerund examples, you probably want more than a simple grammar definition. You want to see how gerunds actually work in sentences and understand how to recognize them without getting confused by other words ending in -ing.

A gerund is an -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun. For example, in the sentence “Swimming is fun,” the word swimming comes from the verb swim, but it acts as the subject of the sentence.

If you are unsure whether an -ing word is a gerund, this guide will help you identify it by looking at its job in the sentence. You will also see practical examples of gerunds as subjects, objects, and objects of prepositions.

What Is a Gerund?

A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that performs the function of a noun.

For example:

• Reading helps me relax.
• I enjoy cooking.
• She is interested in painting.
• Walking every morning can be enjoyable.

In each sentence, the -ing word comes from a verb:

• read → reading
• cook → cooking
• paint → painting
• walk → walking

But these words are not being used as ordinary action verbs. Instead, they are performing a noun-like function.

How Can You Identify a Gerund?

A simple way to identify a gerund is to ask:

What job is the -ing word doing in the sentence?

If it is functioning as a noun, it is a gerund.

Consider this example:

Swimming is good exercise.

The word swimming comes from the verb swim. However, it is the subject of the sentence. We are talking about the activity of swimming, so it is functioning like a noun.

Compare that with:

The children are swimming.

Here, swimming is part of the verb phrase are swimming. It is describing an action happening now rather than functioning as a noun.

This is why simply seeing -ing is not enough. You need to look at the word’s role in the sentence.

Gerund Examples in Sentences

The easiest way to understand gerunds is to see how they function in different parts of a sentence.

Gerunds as Subjects

A gerund can act as the subject of a sentence.

Examples:

• Reading improves your vocabulary.
• Swimming is excellent exercise.
• Learning takes time.
• Writing can be a useful skill.
• Cooking is one of my favorite activities.

In each example, the gerund tells us what the sentence is about.

For example:

Reading improves your vocabulary.

The subject is reading. It is not simply describing someone who is reading; the activity itself is being discussed.

Another example is:

Learning a new language takes patience.

Here, learning a new language is a gerund phrase functioning as the subject.

Gerunds as Objects of Verbs

Gerunds can also be the object of a verb. This means they receive or complete the action expressed by the main verb.

Examples:

• I enjoy reading.
• She likes dancing.
• We finished eating.
• They avoid driving at night.
• He practices speaking English.

Consider:

I enjoy reading.

The verb is enjoy, and reading tells us what the person enjoys. Because reading is functioning as the object of the verb, it is a gerund.

Another example:

She practices playing the piano.

The gerund playing completes the meaning of practices.

Some verbs are commonly followed by gerunds, including enjoy, avoid, finish, practice, suggest, consider, and keep.

For example:

• I enjoy learning.
• He avoided answering the question.
• She finished writing her assignment.
• They suggested taking a break.

Gerunds After Prepositions

A gerund commonly appears after a preposition.

Examples:

• She is good at drawing.
• He left without saying goodbye.
• They talked about moving to another city.
• I am interested in learning Spanish.
• Thank you for helping me.

Look at this sentence:

She is good at drawing.

The word drawing follows the preposition at, and it functions as a noun. Therefore, it is a gerund.

This is an especially useful pattern to remember:

Preposition + gerund

For example:

without + complaining
after + eating
before + leaving
by + practicing
about + changing

You should not automatically assume that every word ending in -ing is a gerund. The grammatical role still matters.

Gerunds as Subject Complements

A gerund can also appear after a linking verb and give information about the subject.

Examples:

• Her favorite hobby is painting.
• My main goal is learning.
• His biggest challenge is speaking confidently.
• Their favorite activity is hiking.

For example:

Her favorite hobby is painting.

The word painting identifies the hobby, so it functions as a noun-like complement.

What Are Gerund Phrase Examples?

A gerund phrase is a gerund together with the words that modify or complete it.

For example:

Reading books before bed helps me sleep.

The gerund is reading, but the complete gerund phrase is:

reading books before bed

The entire phrase functions as the subject of the sentence.

More examples include:

• Playing football after school is fun.
• I enjoy reading books in my free time.
• She is interested in learning a new language.
• Walking through the park every morning helps him relax.
• They talked about visiting the museum on Saturday.

In:

Playing football after school is fun.

Playing is the gerund, while playing football after school is the complete gerund phrase.

The important point is that a gerund phrase can contain an object, modifier, or other information while still functioning as a noun-like unit.

For example:

Learning English online can be convenient.

Here:

• Learning = gerund
• English = object of the gerund
• online = modifier
• Learning English online = complete gerund phrase

Understanding this distinction makes longer sentences much easier to analyze.

How Do You Tell a Gerund From a Present Participle?

One of the most common grammar confusions is assuming that every word ending in -ing is a gerund. That is not always true.

Both gerunds and present participles can have an -ing ending, but they perform different jobs in a sentence.

A gerund functions as a noun, while a present participle can function as part of a verb or as an adjective.

Compare these examples:

Swimming is my favorite activity.

Here, swimming is the subject of the sentence. It functions as a noun, so it is a gerund.

Now look at:

The children are swimming in the pool.

Here, swimming is part of the verb phrase are swimming. It describes an action happening at the moment, so it is not functioning as a gerund.

Another comparison:

I enjoy reading.

Reading is the object of enjoy, so it is a gerund.

The reading student looked tired.

Here, reading describes the student, so it is functioning as a participle.

A Simple Test

When you see an -ing word, don’t decide that it is a gerund just because of its ending.

Instead, ask:

Is this word functioning like a noun?

If yes, it may be a gerund.

If it is describing a noun or helping form a continuous verb tense, it is functioning differently.

For example:

Running is healthy. → Gerund

The boy is running. → Part of a verb phrase

The running water is cold. → Describes a noun

This simple comparison can prevent one of the most common mistakes learners make with gerunds.

Gerund vs. Infinitive: Which One Should You Use?

Gerunds and infinitives can sometimes appear in similar positions, but English verbs do not always allow you to choose either form freely.

A gerund uses the -ing form:

I enjoy reading.

An infinitive commonly uses to + base verb:

I want to read.

The correct choice often depends on the main verb or the meaning of the sentence.

Verbs Commonly Followed by Gerunds

Some verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.

Examples include:

• enjoy reading
• avoid making
• finish working
• practice speaking
• suggest taking
• consider moving

For example:

She enjoys playing tennis.

He avoided answering the question.

We finished cleaning the room.

Using an infinitive after these verbs can produce an incorrect or unnatural sentence in standard English.

When Both Forms Are Possible

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.

For example:

I like reading.

I like to read.

Both can be grammatical, although the preferred form can depend on context and meaning.

Another example is:

She started working.

She started to work.

In many situations, the meaning is very similar.

The important lesson is that you should not assume that gerunds and infinitives are always interchangeable. The verb, context, and intended meaning matter.

When the Meaning Changes

With some verbs, choosing a gerund or infinitive can change the meaning.

Consider stop:

He stopped smoking.

This means he ended the activity of smoking.

Compare:

He stopped to smoke.

Here, he stopped another activity because he wanted to smoke.

The grammatical form changes the meaning, so choosing between a gerund and an infinitive can sometimes be important.

What Are the Most Common Gerund Mistakes?

Understanding the definition is useful, but using gerunds correctly requires knowing where learners commonly make mistakes.

Mistake 1: Assuming Every -ing Word Is a Gerund

Not every -ing word is a gerund.

For example:

Swimming is relaxing.

Here, swimming is a gerund.

But:

She is swimming.

Here, swimming is part of the present continuous verb phrase.

Always check the word’s function rather than its spelling.

Mistake 2: Using an Infinitive After a Preposition

A common error is using to + verb after a preposition when a gerund is needed.

For example:

She is interested in learning English.

Not:

She is interested in to learn English.

The word in is a preposition, so the following verb form is normally a gerund.

Other examples include:

• He left without saying goodbye.
• Thank you for helping me.
• They talked about moving.
• She improved by practicing regularly.

Mistake 3: Using the Wrong Form After Certain Verbs

Some verbs require or strongly prefer a gerund.

For example:

I enjoy reading.

Not:

I enjoy to read.

Similarly:

They avoided making a mistake.

Not:

They avoided to make a mistake.

Learning common verb patterns can make these choices much easier.

Mistake 4: Confusing a Gerund Phrase With a Single Gerund

A gerund can be part of a longer phrase.

For example:

Reading books before bed helps me relax.

The gerund is reading, but the complete gerund phrase is reading books before bed.

Recognizing the whole phrase helps you understand the structure of longer sentences.

Can You Identify the Gerund? Quick Practice

Try identifying the gerund in each sentence before checking the answers.

1. Dancing makes her happy.
2. I enjoy cooking.
3. They talked about traveling abroad.
4. Learning new words takes practice.
5. He avoided answering the question.

Answers

1. Dancing — gerund functioning as the subject.
2. Cooking — gerund functioning as the object of enjoy.
3. Traveling — gerund following the preposition about.
4. Learning — gerund; the complete gerund phrase is learning new words.
5. Answering — gerund functioning as the object of avoided.

The key is not simply finding an -ing word. You should also identify the grammatical role it performs.

Faqs

Can a gerund have an object?

Yes. A gerund can take an object just like a verb.

For example:

Reading books improves your vocabulary.

Here, reading is the gerund and books is its object.

Can a gerund be the subject of a sentence?

Yes. Gerunds commonly function as sentence subjects.

For example:

Walking is good exercise.

Learning English takes practice.

In both examples, the gerund or gerund phrase tells us what the sentence is about.

Can a gerund come after a preposition?

Yes. A gerund commonly follows a preposition.

Examples include:

She is interested in learning.

He left without saying goodbye.

They talked about moving.

This is an important pattern to remember when constructing sentences.

Are all words ending in -ing gerunds?

No. An -ing ending alone does not make a word a gerund.

Compare:

Reading is enjoyable. → gerund

She is reading. → part of a verb phrase

The reading student smiled. → participle describing a noun

The function of the word determines how it is being used.

What is the easiest way to recognize a gerund?

Look at the job the -ing form performs.

If it is functioning as a noun, it is a gerund. If it is describing a noun or forming part of a continuous verb construction, it is not functioning as a gerund.

Conclusion

The easiest way to understand gerund examples is to stop focusing only on the -ing ending and start looking at the word’s role in the sentence.

A gerund comes from a verb but functions as a noun. It can appear as a subject, an object, after a preposition, or as part of a gerund phrase.

For example, “Swimming is fun” uses swimming as a gerund because it functions as the subject. In “I enjoy swimming,” it functions as the object of enjoy.

Once you learn to identify that grammatical function, gerunds become much easier to recognize and use correctly. The same approach also helps you distinguish gerunds from present participles and choose between gerunds and infinitives when the difference matters.