1.4 Common Verbs Followed By Gerunds

Gerunds are used as the object of certain verbs.

Example:

I enjoy playing tennis.

In the example, enjoy is followed by a gerund (playing). Enjoy I not followed by an infinitive.

INCORRECT: I enjoy to play tennis.

Common verbs that are followed by gerunds are given in the list below

Some phrasal verbs, *e.g., give up, are followed by gerunds. These phrasal verbs are given in parentheses in the list below.

Examples:

a. Joe quite smoking.

b. Joe give up smoking.

(a) and (b) have the same meaning.

VERB + GERUND

enjoy                                 quite (give up)                        avoid                                       consider

appreciate                         finish (get through)                 postpone (put off)                   discuss

mind                                  stop **                                    delay                                       mention

keep (keep on)                  suggest

* A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a particle (a small word such as a preposition) that together have a special meaning. For example, put off means “postpone.”

** Stop can also be followed immediately by an infinitive of purpose (in order to). See gerunds and infinitives – 2.1

COMPARE the following:

(1) stop + gerund: When the professor entered the room, the students stopped talking. The room became quiet.

(2) stop + infinitive of purpose: While I was walking down the street, I ran into an old friend. I stopped to talk to him (I stopped walking in order to talk to him).

B A C K    T O

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