Using verbs as nouns/gerund

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Using verbs as nouns/gerund
Message from hemanathan posted on 05-02-2012 at 10:56:31 (D | E | F)
Hello,

could you please teach me how to use verbs as nouns like get - getting?
Thank you for your help.

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Edited by lucile83 on 05-02-2012 11:27

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Re: Using verbs as nouns/gerund from gerondif, posted on 05-02-2012 at 11:40:42 (D | E)
Hello,
It is not that difficult !

1) a verb comes to life in the infinitive: "to write"

You can use the infinitive for example:

a) after an adjective: I am happy to write. I am sad not to write.

b) after verbs expressing will or hope: I want to write, I would like to write, I hope to write,
I expect (you) to write to him soon......, I order you to write, I invite you to write...

2) The verbal base (the infinitive without the to) will be used after auxiliary verbs, or modals.
I can read, write and count. I can't swim. I will come, I should come, I may come,
I don't smoke, I didn't write to him, I can't swim, I mustn't smoke, You shouldn't insist, I won't come.

3) The ing form can be a present participle expressing that you are doing an action at this precise moment:
I am writing to you at the moment, I am explaining something. He came in, smiling.

4) The ing form can also be a verb turned into a noun, a gerund, and that ing form can then replace a noun and become the subject or the object of a verb.

Sports is good for you = Running is good for you. I accept your help, I welcome your helping me.

It is often used with verbs expressing love or hate or indifference towards an activity that you have already done :

I like food = I like eating.
I enjoy sports = I enjoy running.
I love flowers = I love gardening, planting flowers.
I don't mind music = I don't mind listening to music, dancing.
I dislike my work = I dislike working for him.
I hate water = I hate swimming.
I can't stand heat = I can't stand sweating.

Note that if you have never done that activity, you should use the infinitive:
I like swimming.
I would like to swim in Australia but I have never been there yet !
I hate waiting.
I would hate to live in a country at war.

As prepositions are followed by a noun, they will also be followed by a gerund, a verb turned into a noun thanks to ing:

I am fond of cycling, I am interested in swimming, I am keen on rafting, I am crazy about shooting, I am fed up with waiting, Thanks for waiting, I am against mercy-killing, I am surprised at hearing this.

By typing "gerund"or "gérondif" in the yellow box "rechercher sur le site" you will have other examples or exercises.

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