B2 Upper-intermediate Advanced sentence structure
Gerunds as subjects
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can use the gerund (V-ing) in its four obligatory positions, especially as the subject.
When to use it
- As the subject: Learning English is useful.
- After a preposition: good at cooking, interested in reading.
- After a possessive: I don't mind his arriving late.
- After certain verbs: enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest.
Form
| Position | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| subject | Swimming is good for you. | the main verb is singular |
| after a preposition | She is good at cooking. | all prepositions, including to in look forward to |
| after a possessive | I like his singing. | formal writing |
| after certain verbs | I enjoy reading. | enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest |
Step by step
- Ask: is this word sitting in a noun position?
- Yes (subject, after a preposition) → use V-ing.
- As a subject, the main verb takes the singular.
- Careful: the to in look forward to and be used to is a preposition, so V-ing follows.
V-ing or to-infinitive as subject
| Form | Feeling | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V-ing | natural and most common | Smoking is bad for you. |
| to + verb | formal, less common | To smoke is bad for you. |
| bare infinitive | sai | Smoke is bad for you. |
Examples
Learning English is useful for my future.
Getting up early is difficult for me.
She is very good at cooking.
Thank you for helping me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Eating vegetables is good for you.
Common mistakes
Learn English is important. → Learning English is important.
Vietnamese needs no change, so learners leave the bare verb. English requires -ing when a verb acts as subject.
To learn a language take time. → Learning a language takes time.
The subject is a single activity → the main verb is singular: takes.
I look forward to hear from you. → I look forward to hearing from you.
The to in look forward to is a preposition, so V-ing must follow.
Memory tip
Try replacing the phrase with a plain noun like “English”. If the sentence still works, that slot needs a noun — and a verb entering it must wear -ing.
Summary
- A verb as subject takes V-ing, and the main verb is singular.
- After a preposition always V-ing, including the to in look forward to.
- Also after possessives and after enjoy, finish, avoid, mind.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.