General English Level 6 V 3
UNIT 02 What do you think? TOPIC 02 Let's write to the editor
LANGUAGE FOCUS 03 Gerunds
In this activity you will learn about the different reasons for using gerunds.
Bert, Alex and Rani say:
Rani:
… demolishing the building doesn't make any sense at all! …
Alex:
Moving to another city doesn't really worry me. In fact I'm looking forward to living in the big smoke …
Bert: Well, as much as I enjoy living in this city, I'd like to stay with this company, so I'll move if I have to. I'm not sure I agree with demolishing this building, though. It seems such a shame to knock down a building like this. I do think preserving old buildings is important.
Rani: Absolutely! Don't you think renovating the building would be a better option than knocking it down?
Alex: Wouldn't that be an expensive option?
Rani: Well, spending all that money to demolish an existing building and then constructing a new one can't be cheap, either.
Rani: I do, and I'm thinking of writing a letter to the editor.

The words in red above are called gerunds . Gerunds are verbs that have been changed into nouns by adding ing . In the following example, the gerund has exactly the same meaning as the verb, but functions as a noun in the sentence.



We use gerunds in four ways:

1. As the subject of a verb, clause or sentence.

Moving to another city doesn't really worry me.

2. As the object of a verb, clause or sentence.

Well, as much as I enjoy living in this city, I'd like to stay with this company, so I'll move if I have to.

3. After verb + preposition combinations.

I do and I'm thinking of writing a letter to the editor.

4. After certain verbs.

I think they should consider applying for the job.

Other verbs that are followed by a gerund are:

avoid involve suggest
can't help give up imagine
risk prevent keep
postpone mind miss
forgive finish delay
deny appreciate admit

Examples

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
I love eating ice cream.
He apologised for shouting at us.
Going to the movies is my favourite thing to do on a Saturday night.
He admitted stealing the money.
The worst thing was waiting to find out.
Being tall is an advantage in crowds.

Now go to 04 WRITING Gerunds.