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Formation and uses of the -ing form as a noun.
Practice: build the sentences →A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used in a function normally associated with a noun.
For example, Swimming is good exercise and I enjoy reading.
Swimming is good exercise.
Плавание — хорошее упражнение.
Gerund as subject.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Gerund as object after "enjoy".
A gerund phrase can function as the subject of a sentence.
For example, Learning languages takes time and Swimming is good exercise.
Learning languages takes time.
Изучение языков требует времени.
Gerund phrase as subject.
Swimming is good exercise.
Плавание — хорошее упражнение.
Gerund subject.
A gerund can function as the object of certain verbs.
For example, I enjoy reading and She avoids driving at night.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Gerund object after "enjoy".
She avoids driving at night.
Она избегает вождения ночью.
Gerund object after "avoid".
A gerund is normally used after a preposition when a verb follows the preposition.
For example, She is interested in learning English and He left without saying goodbye.
She is interested in learning English.
Она заинтересована в изучении английского.
Gerund after preposition "in".
He left without saying goodbye.
Он ушёл, не попрощавшись.
Gerund after preposition "without".
Expressions such as in spite of, because of, and instead of are followed by a noun or gerund.
For example, Instead of taking a taxi, we walked.
Instead of taking a taxi, we walked.
Вместо того чтобы взять такси, мы пошли пешком.
Gerund after "instead of".
In spite of being tired, she finished the work.
Несмотря на усталость, она закончила работу.
Gerund after "in spite of".
Some verbs are normally followed by a gerund rather than a to-infinitive.
Common examples include enjoy, avoid, suggest, consider, finish, mind, and admit.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
She suggested going to the cinema.
Она предложила пойти в кино.
Suggest + gerund.
He admitted making a mistake.
Он признал, что совершил ошибку.
Admit + gerund.
Certain high-frequency verbs require or strongly prefer an -ing complement.
For example, enjoy doing, avoid doing, finish doing, and keep doing.
She avoids driving at night.
Она избегает вождения ночью.
Avoid + gerund.
I finished reading the book.
Я закончил читать книгу.
Finish + gerund.
He keeps asking questions.
Он продолжает задавать вопросы.
Keep + gerund.
Go + gerund is commonly used for recreational or physical activities.
For example, go swimming, go shopping, go jogging, and go fishing.
We go swimming every Sunday.
Мы ходим плавать каждое воскресенье.
Go + gerund for activity.
She went shopping yesterday.
Вчера она ходила за покупками.
Went + gerund.
Spend time can be followed by an -ing form to describe how time is used.
For example, She spent two hours studying.
She spent two hours studying.
Она провела два часа за учёбой.
Spend time + gerund.
I spend too much time watching TV.
Я трачу слишком много времени на просмотр телевизора.
Spend time + gerund.
Be worth is normally followed by a noun or gerund, not a to-infinitive.
For example, The book is worth reading.
The book is worth reading.
Книгу стоит прочитать.
Be worth + gerund.
It is worth trying.
Стоит попробовать.
Be worth + gerund.
Expressions such as have difficulty, have trouble, and have problems are commonly followed by an -ing form.
For example, I had difficulty finding the address.
I had difficulty finding the address.
Мне было трудно найти адрес.
Have difficulty + gerund.
She has trouble understanding accents.
Ей трудно понимать акценты.
Have trouble + gerund.
Expressions such as it is no use, it is no good, and there is no point are commonly followed by a gerund.
For example, There is no point arguing about it.
There is no point arguing about it.
Нет смысла спорить об этом.
No point + gerund.
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
Слезами горю не поможешь.
It is no use + gerund.
Spend and waste can be followed by an object and an -ing form to describe how time or money is used.
For example, Do not waste time complaining.
Do not waste time complaining.
Не трать время на жалобы.
Waste time + gerund.
He wasted money buying things he did not need.
Он потратил деньги впустую, покупая ненужные вещи.
Waste money + gerund.
A possessive noun or pronoun can modify a gerund when the person responsible for the action is emphasized.
For example, I object to his smoking here and We appreciated her helping us.
I object to his smoking here.
Я против того, чтобы он здесь курил.
Possessive + gerund.
We appreciated her helping us.
Мы оценили её помощь.
Possessive + gerund.
A gerund can take its own object and other complements just like a verb.
For example, I enjoy reading books and She suggested taking the earlier train.
I enjoy reading books.
Я люблю читать книги.
Gerund with its own object.
She suggested taking the earlier train.
Она предложила поехать на более раннем поезде.
Gerund with object.
A gerund can combine with an object, modifier, or complement to form a gerund phrase.
For example, Reading books before bed helps me relax.
Reading books before bed helps me relax.
Чтение книг перед сном помогает мне расслабиться.
Gerund phrase as subject.
I enjoy reading books before bed.
Я люблю читать книги перед сном.
Gerund phrase as object.
A negative gerund is normally formed with not before the -ing form.
For example, I regret not telling her earlier.
I regret not telling her earlier.
Я сожалею, что не сказал ей раньше.
Negative gerund: not + -ing.
She apologized for not coming.
Она извинилась за то, что не пришла.
Not coming.
The perfect gerund is formed with having + past participle and emphasizes an earlier action.
For example, He admitted having made a mistake.
He admitted having made a mistake.
Он признал, что совершил ошибку.
Perfect gerund: having + past participle.
She denied having seen him.
Она отрицала, что видела его.
Having seen.
The passive gerund is formed with being + past participle.
For example, She dislikes being interrupted.
She dislikes being interrupted.
Она не любит, когда её перебивают.
Passive gerund: being + past participle.
He remembers being praised.
Он помнит, как его хвалили.
Being praised.
The perfect passive gerund is formed with having been + past participle.
For example, He apologized for having been treated unfairly.
He apologized for having been treated unfairly.
Он извинился за то, что с ним несправедливо обошлись.
Perfect passive gerund: having been + past participle.
She resented having been ignored.
Она была возмущена тем, что её игнорировали.
Having been ignored.
The -ing form can function as a gerund or as a present participle, depending on its grammatical role.
For example, Swimming is enjoyable uses swimming as a noun-like gerund, while The children are swimming uses swimming as part of the verb phrase.
Swimming is enjoyable.
Плавание приятно.
Gerund as noun.
The children are swimming.
Дети плавают.
Present participle as part of verb phrase.
Some verbs allow both gerunds and infinitives, while others select one form or show a difference in meaning.
For example, I enjoy reading but I want to read. Some verbs such as like can allow both forms with small or context-dependent differences.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Enjoy + gerund.
I want to read.
Я хочу читать.
Want + to-infinitive.
Remember, forget, and regret can take a gerund or infinitive, with the form affecting the time relationship or meaning.
For example, I remember meeting him refers to a past memory, while Remember to call him refers to a future obligation.
I remember meeting him.
Я помню, как встретил его.
Remember + gerund: past memory.
Remember to call him.
Не забудь позвонить ему.
Remember + infinitive: future obligation.
She regrets saying that.
Она сожалеет, что сказала это.
Regret + gerund: past regret.
Stop, try, and mean can take gerunds or infinitives with different meanings.
For example, Stop smoking means quit the activity, while Stop to smoke means pause another activity in order to smoke.
Stop smoking.
Брось курить.
Stop + gerund: quit the activity.
Stop to smoke.
Остановись, чтобы покурить.
Stop + infinitive: pause to do something.
I tried calling him.
Я попробовал позвонить ему.
Try + gerund: experiment with a method.
Use a gerund after verbs, prepositions, and expressions that require an -ing complement, and distinguish gerunds from infinitives when meaning changes.
Common mistakes include using to after a preposition, using an infinitive after verbs that require gerunds, and confusing remember doing with remember to do.
I enjoy reading.
Я люблю читать.
Correct: enjoy + gerund.
I enjoy to read.
Я люблю читать.
Incorrect: enjoy takes gerund, not infinitive.
She is interested in learning English.
Она заинтересована в изучении английского.
Correct: preposition + gerund.
She is interested in to learn English.
Она заинтересована в изучении английского.
Incorrect: no infinitive after preposition.
I remember meeting him.
Я помню, как встретил его.
Correct: past memory with gerund.
I remember to meet him.
Я помню, что нужно встретить его.
Different meaning: remember + infinitive = future task.