Gerundizing in English

By Saut Halomoan

Gerundizing
In English, gerundizing is the process of adding 'ing' to the verb. When verbs are gerundized,
they function as partly verbs and partly nouns. In other words, by adding 'ing' to any verb, the
verb changes its function to be a partly noun and partly verb.
Functions of gerunds
1) As subjects of sentences
Gerunds or gerundized verbs when used as subjects of sentences often put at the beginning
when focusing on activity as the subject of conversation.
Smoking is dangerous.
Reading EzineArticles is interesting.
Writing articles needs a lot of practice.
Playing tennis is good for your health, and good fun!
Learning a foreign language is not always difficult.
The shooting of the hunter was terrible.
Flying a plane can be dangerous.
The teaching of the doctrine is misleading the people.
Traveling is fun.
The introducing of the new software was clear enough to understand.
2) As an object of a verb
Gerunds here function as objects of verbs. In English there are certain verbs which are
gerundized functioning as objects of verbs.
The following are verbs that are commonly followed by the gerund form: like, fancy, dislike,
hate, love, abhor, disgust, stop, cease, continue, mind, admit, deny, advise, avoid, consider,
delay, cancel, discuss, enjoy, finish, keep, postpone, suggest, recommend, regret, participate,
risk, tolerate and go, etc.
Examples:
I like swimming. My sister fancies cooking. We dislike gossiping. I hate waiting especially
for nothing. We love dancing. Anita abhors provoking. We disgust plagiarizing. Why do you
stop trying? Indonesia decided to cease firing the Malaysian troops. We continue trying our
best. Would you mind opening the door? We admit making mistakes. You deny stealing the
money? We advise closing the site asap. Helen avoided meeting Pricila. Don't ever delay
doing things. They have discussed meeting in the next meeting. Do you enjoy surfing? Have
you finished doing your project? Keep trying. Don't postpone writing your thesis. We
suggested/ recommended postponing the program. We regret being unable to come. We
participated finalizing the proposal.We risk continuing the plant. Don't tolerate ceating in
any game. Harry avoided paying late fees on the account. Denny denied knowing anything
about the corruption. I postponed making a decision until Monday. She regrets not studying
French in college. Hanna enjoys listening to classical music. Jason admits spending too much
money on toys. Let's go swimming!
3) After certain expressions (can't help, can't resist, can't bear, can't stand, can't stop, can't
persist)
Gerunds are used after the expressions such as can't help, can't resist, can't bear, can't stand,
can't stop, can't persist,
Examples:
I can't stop falling in love with English. Jenny can't resist eating chocolate mints. His words
can't bear repeating. Terry can't stand staying in Indonesia because it's hot. I can't stop
wanting the woman..
4) Phrasal verbs with particle prepositions are Gerundized
Gerunds are used after phrasal verbs (verbs followed by particle prepositions), in other
words, gerunds are used with phrasal verbs that end in prepositions. Phrasal verbs are verb
phrases which are made up of two or more words, generally the verb plus one or two
prepositions such as: think of, look into, call off, get over, figure out, look forward to, put off,
take over, stop off, deal in, object to, ccount on, rely on, etc.
Examples:
Have you thought of moving to the country? Never put off doing things. The coach called off
practicing for the day. Tom looked into finding a new job.She took a long time to get over
losing her dog. I looked into buying a new computer. Sally succeeded in geting over losing
weight. We look forward to meeting you again at ezinearticles.com. Why don't you take over
overseeing the project? Terry stopped off shopping for the family. We deal in distibuting gas
in the country. We object to manipulating the data. The man just counts on collecting garbage
to live his family. Don't rely on using the dictionary for meanings.
5) As objects of prepositions
In English verbs are gerundized as objects of prepositions: in, on, at, for, by, of, off, from,
into, out of, oppositte, etc. This means that whenever a verb follows a preposition, the gerund
or 'ing' form of the verb is used. This is especially important for adjective + preposition
combinations and phrasal verbs (shown above) which generally end in prepositions.
Examples:
In making a decision there are many things to consider. On checking the goods, we found
something wrong with the goods. We need to discuss before we arrive at making up our
mind. I am here for attending a writing workshop. By following the formula, we can make
money fast. Instead of staying I'd rather go to theatre. We have just come from visiting the
factory.
6) Certain Adjectives with certain prepositions take Gerunds
In English gerunds are used after certain adjectives with certain preposition combinations
which include: afraid of, good/bad/poor, excellent for (in, at), interested in, different from,
tired of, astonished/surprised at (by), sure about/of, capable of, slow in, similar to, to be/get
accustomed to/used to, similar to, etc.
Examples:
I am afraid of waking up my father. Some of the cadets are bad at spelling words in English.
You are good at speaking English. They are poor at pronouncing words in Indonesian. These
vegetables are exccelent forimproving your health. I am interested in writing articles on
music and sports. Are you afraid of climbing the mountain? The tour guide is tired of leading
the tour. John is good at speaking Dutch. Sally was afraid of walking alone in the dark. They
are capable of solving their complicated problem. We are used to/accustomed to working late
at night.
7) As objects of possessive adjectives
Verbs are gerundized after possessive adjectives such as my, your, his, her, our, their, its,
Mary's, John's, etc.
Examples:
Thank you for your coming. Do you like my coming to your office? I don't mind his asking
me about our business. We always hope his visiting to our site. We didn't object to their
interrupting us during the discussion. I expected Mary's coming yesterday. John's
questioning may be right. I don't understand its teaching us about the game.
8. As objects of objective pronouns
After objective pronouns such as me, you, him, her, them, her, him, us, it, Mary, Tom, etc.
verbs are gerundized too.
I disagree with him suggesting such an idea. I like him coming over to my office. Do you like
me coming to your office? I don't mind him asking me about our business. I expected Mary
coming yesterday. I don't understand him behaving so rudely to us.
8) need, want, require+ Gerund
When verbs need, want and require are gerundized, they may have a passive infinitive
meaning.
Examples:
The flowers are dying so they need watering (They need to be watered). The floor is dirty so
it requires cleaning (It requires to be cleaned). The deck wants painting (It wants to be
painted).
9. no use and worth + Gerund
Gerunds are also used after such expressions as no use, no value, no essence, no ground, no
excuse, no reason and (not) worth.
Examples:
There is no use crying over the spilt milk. It is (not) worth doing such an activity anymore,
it's useless. There is no ground complaining about the defeat. There is no excuse coming late
again.
10. No+ Gerunds to make prohibitions in English.
In English when making prohibitions with "no", gerunds are often used or the verbs are
gerundized.
Examples:
No smoking (smoking is not allowed) No parking! No tresspassing! No provoking! No
overtaking!
In summary, English verbs are gerundized by adding 'ing' to any verb, and the verbs
gerundized change their functions to be partly nouns and partly verbs. Gerunds can function
in English as subjects of sentences, as objects of verbs, of prepositions, of possessive
objectives, of possessive adjectives, etc.