Mastering the nuances of English grammar can significantly enhance clarity and precision in communication. One common area of confusion for learners involves the correct usage of verb forms, particularly gerunds. Gerunds, which are verbs ending in “-ing” that function as nouns, follow specific verbs. Understanding which verbs typically precede a gerund is essential for constructing grammatically sound sentences.
This article delves into a comprehensive list of common verbs that are frequently followed by gerunds. We will explore their usage with illustrative examples, providing practical insights for everyday English. This knowledge will equip you to communicate more effectively and confidently in various contexts.
Understanding Gerunds and Their Role
A gerund is a verb form ending in “-ing” that functions as a noun. It can act as the subject of a sentence, a direct object, or the object of a preposition. For instance, in the sentence “Swimming is good exercise,” “swimming” is a gerund acting as the subject.
The focus here, however, is on verbs that are *followed* by a gerund. This means the gerund acts as the direct object of the preceding verb. For example, in “She enjoys reading,” “reading” is the gerund serving as the direct object of the verb “enjoys.”
Recognizing these verb patterns is crucial for avoiding common errors. Many verbs, when followed by another verb, require that second verb to be in its gerund form.
Verbs of Enjoyment and Preference
Verbs expressing likes, dislikes, enjoyment, and preferences are among the most common culprits that take gerunds. These verbs describe feelings or opinions about an activity.
Enjoy
The verb “enjoy” signifies pleasure derived from an activity. It is almost always followed by a gerund. This is a fundamental pattern to remember for expressing positive feelings towards actions.
For example, “He enjoys playing chess.” Here, “playing” is the gerund, representing the activity he finds pleasurable.
Another instance is, “We enjoyed watching the sunset.” The gerund “watching” clearly indicates the activity that brought them enjoyment.
Like
While “like” can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive (to + verb), it very commonly takes a gerund when referring to general preferences or habits. The gerund emphasizes the activity itself.
Consider the sentence, “I like listening to podcasts during my commute.” The gerund “listening” refers to the general habit and enjoyment.
Contrast this with a specific instance where an infinitive might be used, though “like” with a gerund is very prevalent for general likes. “They like hiking in the mountains.” The gerund “hiking” denotes their preferred recreational activity.
Love
Similar to “like,” “love” expresses strong affection or enjoyment. It also frequently takes a gerund to indicate a passionate preference for an action.
“She loves baking elaborate cakes for special occasions.” The gerund “baking” highlights her deep passion for this culinary art.
“We love traveling to new countries every year.” “Traveling” as a gerund signifies their profound enjoyment of exploring different cultures.
Dislike
The opposite of “like” and “enjoy,” “dislike” expresses aversion. It is consistently followed by a gerund when referring to an activity one finds unpleasant.
“He dislikes doing chores on the weekend.” The gerund “doing” clearly indicates the activity he wants to avoid.
“Many people dislike waiting in long queues.” “Waiting” serves as the gerund, representing the undesirable experience.
Hate
“Hate” indicates a strong feeling of aversion. Like “dislike,” it is typically followed by a gerund when referring to an activity one despises.
“I hate waking up early on Mondays.” The gerund “waking” expresses his intense dislike for this particular action.
“They hate dealing with bureaucratic paperwork.” “Dealing” as a gerund denotes the task they find particularly bothersome.
Prefer
“Prefer” indicates a choice of one thing over another. When comparing two activities, “prefer” is often followed by two gerunds, one for each activity, or a gerund and an infinitive, but it commonly takes a gerund when simply stating a preference for an activity.
“She prefers reading books to watching movies.” Here, “reading” is the gerund, signifying her preferred pastime.
“He prefers jogging to running long distances.” The gerund “jogging” clearly states his favored form of exercise.
Mind
The verb “mind” in this context means to object to or be bothered by something. It is almost always used in negative statements or questions and is followed by a gerund.
“Would you mind closing the window?” “Closing” is the gerund, the action being politely requested.
“I don’t mind helping you with your project.” “Helping” as a gerund indicates willingness and lack of objection.
Verbs of Completion and Cessation
Certain verbs indicate the end of an action or state. These verbs signify that something has been finished or stopped.
Finish
“Finish” means to complete an action or task. It is consistently followed by a gerund when referring to the completion of an activity.
“Have you finished writing your report yet?” The gerund “writing” refers to the task that needs to be completed.
“They finished discussing the proposal after an hour.” “Discussing” is the gerund, indicating the completed conversation.
Complete
“Complete” is synonymous with “finish” and also requires a gerund when denoting the finalization of an action.
“She completed the marathon despite the challenging weather.” “Completing” the marathon is the action that was brought to its end.
“We need to complete filling out these forms by Friday.” “Filling” is the gerund, representing the task to be finalized.
Quit
“Quit” means to stop doing something, often permanently. It is always followed by a gerund when indicating the cessation of an activity.
“He decided to quit smoking last year.” The gerund “smoking” signifies the habit he abandoned.
“She quit her job to pursue her passion.” “Quitting” her job is the action of leaving employment.
Stop
While “stop” can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, it takes a gerund when it means to cease an action that is currently happening or is a habit. The infinitive often implies stopping *in order to do* something else.
“Please stop making that noise.” Here, “making” is the gerund, referring to the cessation of the current disruptive action.
“The rain finally stopped falling.” “Falling” as a gerund indicates the end of the precipitation.
Cease
“Cease” is a more formal synonym for “stop.” It is generally followed by a gerund when indicating the termination of an activity.
“The company has decided to cease production of that model.” “Ceasing” production signifies the end of manufacturing.
“The government ordered them to cease all illegal activities.” “Ceasing” activities refers to the termination of their unlawful operations.
Verbs of Avoidance and Prevention
These verbs are used to describe actions taken to steer clear of something or to prevent it from happening.
Avoid
“Avoid” means to keep away from or prevent from happening. It is always followed by a gerund.
“You should avoid eating too much junk food.” The gerund “eating” refers to the action to be prevented.
“He tried to avoid getting into arguments with his colleagues.” “Getting” is the gerund, representing the situation he sought to prevent.
Evade
“Evade” means to escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery. It is followed by a gerund when referring to the act of escaping something.
“The suspect was accused of evading taxes.” “Evading” taxes is the illegal act of avoiding payment.
“She managed to evade answering the difficult question.” “Answering” is the gerund, the action she cleverly avoided.
Escape
“Escape” means to break free from confinement or control. When referring to avoiding a situation or task, it is followed by a gerund.
“The prisoner managed to escape being caught.” “Being” caught is the gerund phrase representing the situation he avoided.
“He was looking for a way to escape dealing with his responsibilities.” “Dealing” is the gerund, the unpleasant task he wished to avoid.
Prevent
“Prevent” means to stop something from happening or to hinder it. It is followed by a gerund, often preceded by an object.
“The security system is designed to prevent unauthorized access.” “Accessing” is implied as the gerund, though the noun form is used here. More directly, “The system prevents people from entering.” “Entering” is the gerund.
“We must take measures to prevent the spread of misinformation.” “Spreading” is the gerund, the action to be halted.
Avert
“Avert” means to turn away (one’s eyes or thoughts) or to prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence). It is followed by a gerund when signifying the prevention of an event.
“The quick thinking of the pilot helped avert crashing into the other plane.” “Crashing” is the gerund, the disaster that was prevented.
“They took steps to avert losing their investment.” “Losing” is the gerund, the undesirable outcome that was avoided.
Verbs of Consideration and Thinking
These verbs relate to mental processes, contemplation, and decision-making.
Consider
“Consider” means to think carefully about something. It is typically followed by a gerund when discussing an action as a possibility or option.
“Have you considered changing your career path?” “Changing” is the gerund, representing the potential action being contemplated.
“We are considering moving to a different city next year.” “Moving” is the gerund, the potential life change under review.
Imagine
“Imagine” means to form a mental image or concept. It is generally followed by a gerund when asking someone to visualize an action.
“Can you imagine living without the internet?” “Living” is the gerund, the state of being to be visualized.
“She imagined herself winning the prestigious award.” “Winning” is the gerund, the event she pictured.
Think about/of
These phrases mean to consider or contemplate. They are consistently followed by a gerund.
“I’ve been thinking about starting a new hobby.” “Starting” is the gerund, the activity being contemplated.
“He often thinks about traveling the world.” “Traveling” is the gerund, the aspiration being considered.
Doubt
“Doubt” means to feel uncertain about something. When questioning the possibility or truth of an action, it takes a gerund.
“I doubt he will finish the project on time.” “Finishing” is the gerund, the action whose completion is doubted.
“Do you doubt her ability to succeed?” “Succeeding” is the gerund, the outcome whose possibility is questioned.
Believe
While “believe” can be followed by an infinitive, it takes a gerund when expressing a general belief about the nature or worth of an action.
“Many people believe in treating others with kindness.” “Treating” is the gerund, the principle being endorsed.
“She believes in working hard to achieve her goals.” “Working” is the gerund, the method she advocates.
Verbs of Committing and Suggesting
These verbs are used when making promises, offering suggestions, or committing to actions.
Commit
“Commit” means to pledge or bind oneself to a course of action. It is followed by a gerund, often preceded by “to.”
“He is committed to improving his fitness level.” “Improving” is the gerund, the goal he has pledged to pursue.
“The company is committed to providing excellent customer service.” “Providing” is the gerund, the standard they aim to uphold.
Promise
“Promise” means to assure someone that one will do something or that something will happen. It is followed by a gerund when referring to the act promised.
“She promised to call me as soon as she arrived.” “Calling” is the gerund, the action she pledged to perform.
“They promised to consider our proposal carefully.” “Considering” is the gerund, the action they agreed to undertake.
Suggest
“Suggest” means to put forward an idea or possibility. It is typically followed by a gerund when proposing an activity.
“I suggest taking a break before we continue.” “Taking” is the gerund, the action being proposed.
“He suggested visiting the museum while we were in town.” “Visiting” is the gerund, the activity he recommended.
Recommend
“Recommend” means to put forward as worthy of one’s confidence or approval. It is followed by a gerund when advising or suggesting an action.
“The doctor recommended exercising regularly.” “Exercising” is the gerund, the health practice advised.
“They recommended trying the local cuisine.” “Trying” is the gerund, the culinary experience suggested.
Propose
“Propose” means to put forward an idea or plan for consideration. It is often followed by a gerund when suggesting a specific action.
“He proposed organizing a team-building event.” “Organizing” is the gerund, the event he suggested.
“She proposed making some changes to the project plan.” “Making” is the gerund, the alterations suggested.
Verbs of Difficulty and Possibility
These verbs describe the level of ease or difficulty associated with performing an action, or its feasibility.
Find
“Find” in the sense of discovering something to be a certain way often takes a gerund. It implies discovering that an action is difficult, easy, or has a particular quality.
“I find learning new languages challenging.” “Learning” is the gerund, the activity found to be challenging.
“They found managing their finances quite stressful.” “Managing” is the gerund, the task they perceived as difficult.
Have difficulty
This phrase indicates a struggle with performing an action and is always followed by a gerund.
“She had difficulty understanding the complex instructions.” “Understanding” is the gerund, the process that proved difficult.
“We are having difficulty finding a suitable apartment.” “Finding” is the gerund, the search that is proving problematic.
Can’t help
“Can’t help” means to be unable to stop oneself from doing something. It is always followed by a gerund.
“I can’t help laughing when I see that funny video.” “Laughing” is the gerund, the involuntary reaction.
“He couldn’t help worrying about the exam results.” “Worrying” is the gerund, the persistent concern.
Can’t stand
“Can’t stand” means to dislike something very much. It is followed by a gerund when expressing strong aversion.
“I can’t stand waiting in crowded places.” “Waiting” is the gerund, the situation causing discomfort.
“She can’t stand hearing people chew loudly.” “Hearing” is the gerund, the sound she finds unbearable.
Can’t bear
“Can’t bear” is similar in meaning to “can’t stand” and also takes a gerund.
“He can’t bear seeing animals mistreated.” “Seeing” is the gerund, the sight he finds distressing.
“They can’t bear the thought of failing.” “Failing” is the gerund, the outcome they dread.
It’s no use
This idiom expresses the futility of an action. It is followed by a gerund.
“It’s no use crying over spilled milk.” “Crying” is the gerund, the action deemed pointless.
“It’s no use arguing with him when he’s in a bad mood.” “Arguing” is the gerund, the unproductive endeavor.
It’s worth
This idiom signifies that an action has merit or is advisable. It is followed by a gerund.
“It’s worth visiting that historical site.” “Visiting” is the gerund, the action that has value.
“This book is definitely worth reading.” “Reading” is the gerund, the activity that offers rewards.
Verbs of Admitting and Denying
These verbs are used when acknowledging or refuting the truth of an action.
Admit
“Admit” means to confess to having done something. It is always followed by a gerund.
“He admitted stealing the money.” “Stealing” is the gerund, the action confessed.
“She admitted making a mistake in the calculation.” “Making” is the gerund, the error she acknowledged.
Deny
“Deny” means to state that one has not done something. It is always followed by a gerund.
“The suspect denied committing the crime.” “Committing” is the gerund, the alleged offense.
“He denied knowing anything about the incident.” “Knowing” is the gerund, the information he claimed not to possess.
Confess
“Confess” is a synonym for “admit” and is also followed by a gerund.
“The child confessed to breaking the vase.” “Breaking” is the gerund, the act of damage.
“They confessed to cheating on the exam.” “Cheating” is the gerund, the dishonest action.
Verbs Related to Habits and Skills
These verbs describe learned abilities or ingrained behaviors.
Practice
“Practice” means to perform an activity repeatedly to improve a skill. It requires a gerund.
“She practices playing the piano for two hours every day.” “Playing” is the gerund, the skill being honed.
“You need to practice speaking English if you want to become fluent.” “Speaking” is the gerund, the ability to be developed.
Master
“Master” means to become completely proficient in something. It is followed by a gerund that represents the skill acquired.
“He has mastered cooking authentic Italian dishes.” “Cooking” is the gerund, the culinary skill he has perfected.
“After years of effort, she mastered navigating the complex software.” “Navigating” is the gerund, the technical proficiency gained.
Begin
Similar to “stop,” “begin” can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive. The gerund is often used for general statements about starting an activity.
“The class begins discussing the new chapter.” “Discussing” is the gerund, the activity that is commencing.
“Winter begins bringing colder temperatures in December.” “Bringing” is the gerund, the onset of a condition.
Start
“Start” functions identically to “begin” in this context, taking either a gerund or an infinitive.
“Let’s start planning our vacation.” “Planning” is the gerund, the initial step of the trip preparation.
“The engine started making a strange noise.” “Making” is the gerund, the sound the engine began to produce.
Miscellaneous Verbs and Phrases
Beyond the major categories, several other verbs and idiomatic phrases commonly take gerunds.
Resist
“Resist” means to withstand the action or effect of something. It is followed by a gerund.
“It’s hard to resist eating delicious-looking desserts.” “Eating” is the gerund, the tempting action.
“She found it difficult to resist buying the beautiful dress.” “Buying” is the gerund, the impulse she struggled to control.
Risk
“Risk” means to expose someone or something to danger, harm, or loss. It is followed by a gerund.
“He risked losing all his savings by investing in a volatile market.” “Losing” is the gerund, the potential negative outcome.
“Don’t risk getting caught by the authorities.” “Getting” caught is the gerund phrase representing the danger.
Give up
“Give up” means to stop trying to do something. It is always followed by a gerund.
“After several attempts, he decided to give up trying to fix the old car.” “Trying” is the gerund, the effort he abandoned.
“She finally gave up smoking last year.” “Smoking” is the gerund, the habit she relinquished.
Go on
“Go on” can mean to continue an action. When used in this sense, it is followed by a gerund.
“The show must go on, despite the technical difficulties.” “Going” on is implied as the continuation of the performance.
“He went on talking for hours about his travels.” “Talking” is the gerund, the activity he continued.
Keep
“Keep” in the sense of continuing an action is followed by a gerund.
“Please keep the noise down.” “Keeping” the noise down is the requested continuous action.
“She kept reminding him about the appointment.” “Reminding” is the gerund, the repeated action.
Postpone
“Postpone” means to delay or schedule something for a later time. It is followed by a gerund.
“They had to postpone holding the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances.” “Holding” the meeting is the event that was delayed.
“We decided to postpone traveling until the weather improved.” “Traveling” is the gerund, the activity that was put off.
Delay
“Delay” is similar to “postpone” and is also followed by a gerund.
“The flight was delayed departing due to a technical issue.” “Departing” is the gerund, the action that was held up.
“He delayed confessing his mistake for as long as possible.” “Confessing” is the gerund, the admission he put off.
Delay
“Delay” is similar to “postpone” and is also followed by a gerund.
“The flight was delayed departing due to a technical issue.” “Departing” is the gerund, the action that was held up.
“He delayed confessing his mistake for as long as possible.” “Confessing” is the gerund, the admission he put off.
Understand
“Understand” can be followed by a gerund when referring to comprehending the act of doing something.
“I understand your feeling frustrated, but we need to find a solution.” “Feeling” frustrated is the state of being that is comprehended.
“Do you understand his refusing to cooperate?” “Refusing” to cooperate is the action whose reason or justification is being sought.
By internalizing these verb patterns, you can significantly improve the accuracy and fluency of your English. Consistent practice and attentive observation in reading and listening will reinforce these grammatical structures. Mastering these common verbs that take gerunds is a vital step towards more sophisticated and natural-sounding English communication.