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 后缀，将其变成动名词（Gerund）。I like swimming.）升华为更具概括性和客观性的陈述（如 Swimming is my favorite sport.）。通过使用动名词主语，你可以更专业地表达观点、总结经验或描述一种普遍现象。这不仅能让你的英语听起来更地道，还能帮助你在雅思、托福或高考作文中展现出对语言结构的驾驭能力。接下来，我们将深入探讨这一语法的奥秘，并结合我们中国学习者的思维习惯，扫清学习过程中的障碍。Eat breakfast is important.，英国人或美国人会觉得这个句子“缺了点什么”，因为 Eat 是一个纯粹的动作指令。为了把它变成一个“概念”，我们需要加上 -ing：Eating breakfast is important.。这时候，Eating 就不再是指某个人正在吃的动作，而是指代“吃东西”这整件事。- 例子：
Reading books is helpful.（读书是有益的。） - 这里的
is对应的是Reading这个行为，而不是books。即使你读了一万本书，Reading依然是一个单数概念。
Smoking is bad for the lungs. | 中文动词原形直接做主语，英语必须变 -ing。 |Playing games wastes time. | 注意英语谓语动词 wastes 要加 s，因为主语是单数。 |Drinking milk tea every day makes you fat. | 动名词短语可以很长，但核心依然是那个 -ing。 |-ing），但为了在写作中不丢分，我们需要牢记几条拼写规则。这些规则和现在进行时中的 -ing 变化完全一致。-ing-ing 即可。work→workinglearn→learninggo→going- 例子：
Working from home is becoming popular in China.（在家办公在中国正变得流行。）
e 结尾：去 e 加 -inge 不发音，我们需要先把它去掉，否则会影响单词的视觉平衡。make→makingwrite→writingpractice→practicing- 例子：
Making new friends on WeChat is easy.（在微信上交新朋友很容易。）
-ingrun→runningswim→swimmingget→getting- 例子：
Running every morning keeps me energetic.（每天早起跑步让我精力充沛。）
ie 结尾：变 ie 为 y 再加 -inglie(躺/撒谎) →lyingdie(死) →dying- 例子：
Lying to your parents is never a good idea.（对父母撒谎绝不是个好主意。）
Not + 动名词not。- 例子：
Not wearing a mask is risky in crowded places.（在拥挤的地方不戴口罩是有风险的。）
Exercising regularly reduces the risk of heart disease.（规律运动能降低患心脏病的风险。）Saving money is a traditional virtue in Chinese culture.（勤俭节约是中国文化中的传统美德。）
Traveling allows us to experience different cultures.（旅行让我们体验不同的文化。）Collecting Pop Mart toys is expensive but fun.（收集泡泡玛特玩具很贵但很有趣。）
Taking a break after long hours of work improves efficiency.（长时间工作后休息一下能提高效率。）Ordering takeout every day is not very healthy.（每天点外卖不太健康。）
Speaking English fluently requires a lot of practice.（流利地说英语需要大量的练习。）Coding is a valuable skill in today's job market.（在当今的就业市场上，编程是一项宝贵的技能。）
Protecting the Environment: Our Shared Responsibility（保护环境：我们共同的责任）No Smoking.（禁止吸烟 —— 这里Smoking实际上是省略了is forbidden的主语）
- 错误：
Eat fruit is good for you. - 正确：
Eating fruit is good for you. - 解析： 动词原形（Base Form）在句首通常表示命令（祈使句）。如果你说
Eat fruit...，听起来像是你在命令对方吃水果，而不是在陈述一个道理。请记住：主语位置的动作必须穿上-ing这件“名词外衣”。
- 错误：
Watching movies are my favorite hobby. - 正确：
Watching movies is my favorite hobby. - 解析： 这是一个视觉上的干扰。你的主语是
Watching（看这个行为），而不是movies（电影）。即使你看了几千部电影，这个“看”的行为依然是一个整体。在英语逻辑中，动作主语 = 单数概念。
To read books is good. 语法上也正确，但在现代英语（尤其是 B1 级别的口语和日常写作）中，它显得过于严谨、死板，甚至有点像 18 世纪的哲学书。- 不自然：
To drive a car requires a license. - 更自然：
Driving a car requires a license. - 解析： 中国学生受教科书影响，有时会过度使用
To do开头。记住：谈论一般的活动、习惯或事实时，-ing是首选，它听起来更随性、更现代。
Learning English is fun. | 强调“学习”这个过程本身，比较直接。 |It is fun to learn English. | 英语中更常用的平衡句式，把长主语放在后面，重点在 fun。 |easy, hard, important），用 It is... 结构。Verb-ing），但在句中的功能完全不同。Swimming is great. (游泳很棒) |He is swimming. (他正在游泳) |-ing 是不是句子的“主角”？如果是，它就是动名词主语。Taking photos of all the food before everyone starts eating is a common habit in China.，虽然语法正确，但读起来很累。这时候建议改用 It is... 句型：It is a common habit in China to take photos of all the food...。being 也可以，比如 Being a teacher requires patience.（当老师需要耐心）。His arriving late made me angry.。但在口语中，大家常直接用宾格：Him arriving late made me angry.。这对于 B1 级别的学习者来说稍微有点超前，但了解一下很有帮助。to do 作主语完全没区别吗？to do 往往带有“目的、未来、特定一次性”的色彩。但在 B1 级别，你只需要记住：日常表达用 -ing 绝对不会错！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
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Gerund + Singular Verb
|
Walking is good for you.
|
|
Negative
|
Not + Gerund + Singular Verb
|
Not exercising is risky.
|
|
Gerund Phrase
|
Gerund + Object + Singular Verb
|
Buying books is expensive.
|
|
Question
|
Is + Gerund + Adjective?
|
Is skiing dangerous?
|
|
Past Tense
|
Gerund + was/were
|
Winning was everything to him.
|
|
With Modal
|
Gerund + can/might/should
|
Smoking can cause cancer.
|
|
Complex Phrase
|
Adverb + Gerund + Verb
|
Always being late is annoying.
|
正式程度
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)
The Gerund as a Bridge
Looks like
- Verb Action
Acts like
- Noun Thing/Concept
Position
- Subject Start of sentence
Gerund vs. Infinitive
Is it a Gerund Subject?
Does it end in -ing?
Is it at the start of the sentence?
Does it name an activity?
Common Gerund Subjects
Hobbies
- • Painting
- • Gardening
- • Singing
Health
- • Dieting
- • Jogging
- • Sleeping
Skills
- • Coding
- • Typing
- • Writing
按水平分级的例句
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.
容易混淆
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').
常见错误
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.
句型
___ 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!
The 'It' Test
Singular Only
Sound Natural
Polite Complaints
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.
发音
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.
记住它
记忆技巧
The 'ING' thing is the 'SUBJECT' king.
视觉联想
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
挑战
Write 5 sentences about your morning routine using only gerunds as subjects (e.g., 'Waking up is hard').
文化笔记
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.
对话开场白
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?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
___ (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.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
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
练习题
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
常见问题 (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
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