Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Turn any action into a noun by adding -ing and placing it at the start of your sentence.
- Add -ing to the base verb to create a noun (e.g., 'Running').
- Place the gerund at the start of the sentence as the subject (e.g., 'Running is fun').
- Always use a singular verb like 'is' or 'was' with a gerund subject.
Overview
-ing を付けた「動名詞」です。動名詞を文の主語（Subject）に据えることで、特定の動作そのものを一つの「概念」や「テーマ」として語ることができるようになります。Reading is fun.（読書は楽しい）という文では、Reading（読むこと）という動作が文の主人公になっています。これを使いこなせると、単に「私は〜をする」という個人の行動の話だけでなく、一般論や習慣、価値観について洗練された表現ができるようになります。この記事では、日本人学習者が特につまずきやすいポイントや、日本語との構造的な違いを意識しながら、2000文字を超えるボリュームで徹底的に解説していきます。-ing 形を置くことができます。-ing を付けるだけで名詞の働きをさせることができます。- 日本語： 英語を学ぶことは難しい。
- 英語： Learning English is difficult.
Learn English is difficult. とは言えず、必ず -ing 形にする必要があります。Reading books（本を読むこと）が主語の場合、books が複数形なのでついつい are を使いたくなりますが、正解は is です。Running が主語 |friends に惑わされない |not を置きます。これは日本語の「〜しないこと」という語順と似ているので覚えやすいでしょう。Not sleeping enough is bad for your health.（十分な睡眠をとらないことは健康に悪い。）
- 1語尾が e で終わる場合：
eを取って-ingを付けます。
make→making/write→writing/take→taking- 例：
Taking the subway is convenient in Tokyo.（東京では地下鉄に乗るのが便利です。）
- 1語尾が ie で終わる場合：
ieをyに変えて-ingを付けます。
lie→lying/die→dying- 例：
Lying is never a good idea.（嘘をつくのは決して良い考えではない。）
- 1短母音 + 子音字で終わる 1 音節の語： 最後の子音字を重ねて
-ingを付けます。
run→running/swim→swimming/get→getting- 例：
Swimming in the ocean is refreshing.（海で泳ぐのは気分が爽快だ。）
- 1語尾が y の場合： そのまま
-ingを付けます（yをiに変えたりしないよう注意！）。
study→studying/play→playing- 例：
Studying at a cafe helps me concentrate.（カフェで勉強することは集中するのに役立つ。）
Cooking is my favorite way to relax.（料理をすることは、私にとって一番のリラックス方法です。）Traveling abroad broadens your horizons.（海外旅行をすることは、視野を広げてくれます。）
Saving money is important for the future.（貯金することは将来のために重要だ。）Working overtime has become a social issue in Japan.（残業をすることは日本で社会問題になっている。）
Living alone can be lonely sometimes.（一人暮らしをすることは、時々寂しくなることもある。）Using a smartphone while walking is dangerous.（歩きスマホをすることは危険だ。）
Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me.（あなたに出会えたことは、私の人生で最高の出来事でした。）
Improving Communication Skills in the Workplace（職場でのコミュニケーション能力の向上）
Read is fun. と言ってしまう人が非常に多いです。しかし、英語では動詞の原形は「命令形」か「助動詞の後」にしか来られません。主語の位置に置くには、必ず名詞化（動名詞化）が必要です。- ❌ Incorrect:
Commute by train takes an hour. - ✅ Correct:
Commuting by train takes an hour. - 解説: 日本語の感覚で「電車通勤は〜」を
Commuteだけで済ませないようにしましょう。
are にしてしまう- ❌ Incorrect:
Watching movies are my hobby. - ✅ Correct:
Watching movies is my hobby. - 解説: この文の主語は
moviesではなく、Watching（見ること）という一つの行為です。したがって、動詞は必ずisになります。
To read（不定詞の名詞的用法）もあります。文法的には To read is fun. も間違いではありませんが、現代の日常英語では動名詞を主語にする方が圧倒的に自然です。不定詞を主語にすると、非常に硬く、哲学的、あるいは古めかしい響き（例： To be, or not to be）になります。- ❌ Unnatural:
To eat sushi is popular in Japan. - ✅ Natural:
Eating sushi is popular in Japan.
Learning a second language while working a full-time job is difficult. のように、長いフレーズ全体を一つの主語として扱えます。ただし、あまりに長すぎると聞き手が混乱するため、その場合は It is difficult to learn... という形式主語の構文を使うのが一般的です。know や believe など）を主語にする場合は、Knowing the truth is important. のように、特定の文脈が必要になります。基本的には動作を表す動詞（action verbs）が動名詞主語として最もよく使われます。Reading books is my hobby. と My hobby is reading books. は同じですか？my などの所有格を置くことはありますか？My arriving late upset the boss.（私が遅刻したことがボスを怒らせた）のように、「誰の動作か」を明確にしたい場合に所有格を置くことがありますが、これはややフォーマルな表現です。B1レベルでは、まずは一般的な動作としての動名詞主語をマスターしましょう。Studying English is... や Drinking coffee is... といった文を一つ作ってみることから始めてみましょう。頑張りましょう（Keep it up）！How to turn Verbs into Gerund Subjects
| Base Verb | Gerund Form | Spelling Rule | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eat
|
Eating
|
Add -ing
|
Eating fruit is healthy.
|
|
Run
|
Running
|
Double consonant
|
Running is my passion.
|
|
Dance
|
Dancing
|
Drop the 'e'
|
Dancing makes me happy.
|
|
Study
|
Studying
|
Keep the 'y'
|
Studying is necessary.
|
|
Lie
|
Lying
|
Change 'ie' to 'y'
|
Lying is a bad habit.
|
|
Stop
|
Stopping
|
Double consonant
|
Stopping now is impossible.
|
Meanings
A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun. When used as a subject, it represents the activity itself rather than the person doing the activity.
General Activities
Using a gerund to discuss hobbies, sports, or general habits.
“Cooking helps me relax after a long day.”
“Traveling broadens the mind and opens new perspectives.”
Abstract Concepts
Using a gerund to discuss philosophical or complex ideas.
“Understanding the universe is a lifelong pursuit.”
“Forgiving someone is often harder than staying angry.”
Negative Habits
Using a negative gerund (not + -ing) to discuss things to avoid.
“Not sleeping enough can lead to serious health issues.”
“Not checking your emails regularly might cause you to miss deadlines.”
Reference Table
| 動詞 | 動名詞 (主語) | 例文 | 意味すること |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Read
|
Reading
|
Reading is my favorite hobby.
|
The act of reading
|
|
Travel
|
Traveling
|
Traveling expands your worldview.
|
The activity of traveling
|
|
Work
|
Working
|
Working from home has its perks.
|
The act of working
|
|
Sleep
|
Sleeping
|
Sleeping enough is vital for health.
|
The act of sleeping
|
|
Communicate
|
Communicating
|
Communicating clearly avoids misunderstandings.
|
The act of communicating
|
|
Exercise
|
Exercising
|
Exercising daily boosts energy levels.
|
The habit of exercising
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
Smoking is detrimental to one's health. (Health warning)
Smoking is bad for you. (Health warning)
Smoking sucks for your lungs. (Health warning)
Ripping cigs is a bad move. (Health warning)
動名詞を主語にする：核心となるアイデア
機能
- 名詞として機能 「動作主」またはトピック
- 常に単数 単数動詞をとる
作り方
- 動詞 + -ing 作るのが簡単
用途
- 一般的な活動 趣味、事実
- 意見 信念、アドバイス
よくある間違い
- 不定詞が主語に ❌ To run is fun
- 複数動詞 ❌ Running are fun
主語としての動名詞 vs 不定詞
動名詞の主語かな？
-ingの言葉が文頭にある？
それは「物」や「アイデア」のように機能している？
単数動詞（is, helps, means）をとる？
日常で使う動名詞の主語
趣味
- • Gaming
- • Cooking
- • Hiking
日常の行動
- • Eating
- • Sleeping
- • Studying
社会的な交流
- • Texting
- • Chatting
- • Networking
精神状態
- • Thinking
- • Dreaming
- • Learning
レベル別の例文
Swimming is fun.
Nadar es divertido.
Reading is good.
Leer es bueno.
Cooking is hard.
Cocinar es difícil.
Dancing is my hobby.
Bailar es mi pasatiempo.
Eating vegetables is healthy.
Comer verduras es saludable.
Not sleeping is bad.
No dormir es malo.
Learning English is easy.
Aprender inglés es fácil.
Playing games is exciting.
Jugar juegos es emocionante.
Traveling alone can be a challenge.
Viajar solo puede ser un desafío.
Being late for work is unprofessional.
Llegar tarde al trabajo es poco profesional.
Finding a new apartment takes time.
Encontrar un nuevo apartamento toma tiempo.
Not knowing the answer is okay.
No saber la respuesta está bien.
Implementing the new policy will be difficult.
Implementar la nueva política será difícil.
Understanding the nuances of the law is vital.
Comprender los matices de la ley es vital.
Being recognized for your hard work is rewarding.
Ser reconocido por tu arduo trabajo es gratificante.
Having a positive attitude makes a difference.
Tener una actitud positiva marca la diferencia.
Reconciling these two opposing views is nearly impossible.
Conciliar estos dos puntos de vista opuestos es casi imposible.
His constant interrupting during the meeting was rude.
Sus constantes interrupciones durante la reunión fueron groseras.
Navigating the complexities of international trade requires expertise.
Navegar por las complejidades del comercio internacional requiere experiencia.
Not having been informed of the changes caused confusion.
No haber sido informado de los cambios causó confusión.
Quantifying the impact of climate change remains a daunting task.
Cuantificar el impacto del cambio climático sigue siendo una tarea de gran envergadura.
Whether or not the project succeeds, trying was worth it.
Independientemente de si el proyecto tiene éxito, intentarlo valió la pena.
Succumbing to pressure is often the downfall of great leaders.
Sucumbir a la presión es a menudo la caída de los grandes líderes.
Mastering the art of rhetoric is essential for any politician.
Dominar el arte de la retórica es esencial para cualquier político.
間違えやすい
Both end in -ing, but one is a noun and one is a verb/adjective.
Both can be subjects, but the infinitive is very formal.
Some words have a separate noun form (e.g., 'Decision' vs 'Deciding').
よくある間違い
Swim is fun.
Swimming is fun.
To play is good.
Playing is good.
Reading are fun.
Reading is fun.
I like swimming is fun.
Swimming is fun.
Eating apples are healthy.
Eating apples is healthy.
Not to smoke is good.
Not smoking is good.
Makeing cakes is easy.
Making cakes is easy.
The smoking is bad.
Smoking is bad.
Learn English is important.
Learning English is important.
Being late make me angry.
Being late makes me angry.
Him complaining is annoying.
His complaining is annoying.
文型パターン
___ is my favorite activity.
___ is good for your health.
___ requires a lot of practice.
Not ___ can lead to ___.
Real World Usage
Traveling to Bali was a dream come true!
Solving complex problems is what I do best.
Lifting weights helps build bone density.
Analyzing the data required several weeks of work.
No smoking. No loitering. Parking is for customers only.
Waiting for you is taking forever!
Think 'The Act of...'
Don't pluralize the verb!
Even if the activity involves many people or things, the *concept* of the activity is singular. So, always use a singular verb (e.g., is, was, requires).
Sound More Natural
-ingを使ってみよう！ "Using gerunds as subjects makes your English sound much more natural and less stiff, especially compared to infinitives like 'To read is my hobby.' Embrace the -ing!"Universal Usage
Look for Action-as-Concept
Not all -ing words are gerunds!
Smart Tips
Always add -ing. It's the most natural way to name a topic.
Ignore all the nouns in the middle and look only at the first -ing word to decide if the verb is singular.
Use gerund subjects to define your terms clearly at the start of paragraphs.
Use a gerund subject to talk about a rule without pointing fingers at a person.
発音
The -ing sound
The 'g' in -ing is usually soft or silent. Focus on the nasal 'n' sound.
Sentence Stress
Stress the gerund itself as it is the most important piece of information.
Rising-Falling
Swimming (up) is healthy (down).
A standard declarative statement.
暗記しよう
記憶術
The 'ING' thing is the 'SUBJECT' king.
視覚的連想
Imagine a giant letter 'G' wearing a crown and sitting at the very beginning of a long train (the sentence). The 'G' represents the Gerund leading the way.
Rhyme
When -ing starts the line, the subject is doing fine!
Story
A verb named 'Run' wanted to be a noun. He put on an '-ing' hat and moved to the front of the house. Now, everyone calls him 'Running' and treats him like a person (a subject).
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write 5 sentences about your morning routine using only gerunds as subjects (e.g., 'Waking up is hard').
文化メモ
British speakers often use gerunds to express mild complaints about social behavior.
Americans use gerund subjects frequently in motivational speaking and self-help contexts.
In universities worldwide, gerunds are used to name fields of study or research topics.
The English gerund evolved from the Old English suffix '-ung' or '-ing', which was used to form nouns from verbs.
会話のきっかけ
Is learning English harder than you expected?
Does living in a big city appeal to you?
Is working from home better than working in an office?
How does traveling change a person's perspective?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
___ new places is my passion.
Find and fix the mistake:
To run every morning are good for your health.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercises___ (smoke) is not allowed in this building.
Eating many vegetables ___ good for your health.
Find and fix the mistake:
To learn a new language take a lot of time.
It is dangerous to drive fast.
1. Exercising... 2. Not sleeping... 3. Traveling...
Select the best option.
___ ___ (not / study) will result in poor grades.
Find and fix the mistake:
Runing in the morning is very refreshing.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises___ without a map can be an adventure.
Talk about your feelings are important.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Trabajar en equipo fomenta la creatividad.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the gerunds with the correct singular verb:
___ too much screen time affects your eyes.
To listen to music while studying are relaxing.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Esquiar en la montaña es emocionante.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the activities (gerunds as subjects) with their benefits:
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
Yes, but it sounds very formal or poetic. In daily life, always use '-ing'.
Because the subject is the *act* of eating (one thing), not the apples themselves.
Almost every verb can, except for some auxiliary verbs like 'can' or 'must'.
Usually, we don't use 'the'. Use 'the' only if you are talking about a specific instance, like 'The swimming we did yesterday'.
A gerund is a noun ('Swimming is fun'). A participle is a verb ('I am swimming').
Put 'not' right before the -ing word. Example: 'Not knowing is okay.'
Yes! 'Winning the race was the best moment of my life.'
Yes, 'Being' is the gerund of 'to be'. Example: 'Being kind is important.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Infinitivo
English uses -ing; Spanish uses the base verb form.
Infinitif présent
French uses the infinitive for subjects; English uses the gerund.
Substantiviertes Verb
German uses the infinitive form and an article ('Das'); English uses -ing and usually no article.
Koto / No (こと / の)
Japanese uses a particle/nominalizer after the verb; English changes the verb ending.
Masdar (مصدر)
The Masdar is a distinct noun form, whereas the English gerund is always verb + ing.
Verb as Noun
Chinese has no morphological change; English requires the -ing suffix.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
関連動画
06:24 Your Theme
05:37 What’s the best way to lift people out of poverty?
07:21 The Business of Piracy: How Pirate Ships Actually Worked
GERUNDS & INFINITIVES | WINNING is everything? OR TO WIN is everything?
Arnel's Everyday English
English Grammar | GERUNDS in 5 simple steps
Arnel's Everyday English
Gerunds & Infinitives – English Grammar Lessons
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