BELAJAR GERUND
INTRODUCTION:
A gerund is the –ing form of a verb used as a noun. A gerund is used in the same ways as a noun, i.e. as a subject or an object.
Example:
- Playing tennis is fun. (playing is a gerund. It is used as the subject of the sentence. Playing tennis is a gerund phrase).
- We enjoy playing tennis. (Playing is used as the object of the verb enjoy).
- He’s excited about playing tennis. (playing is used as the object of the preposition about.
The use of gerund:
1. Using gerund as the objects of prepositions:
- We talked about going to Bali for our next vacation.
- Andy is in charge of organizing the meeting.
- He is interested in learning more about Biology.
2. Using gerund as the objects of certain verbs;
- I enjoy playing tennis.
- Rudy quit smoking.
- Andy gave up smoking
3. Using gerund after preposition.
- She is used to sleeping with the window open.
- Rudy accustomed to sleeping with the window open.
- My aunt looks forward to going home next month.
- They object to changing their plans at this late date.
4. Negative form: not preceded a gerund.
- We talked about not going to the meeting, but finally decided we should go.
5. Either infinitive or gerund can be the subject of a sentence when an action is being considered in a general sense. We can say:
- Reading French is easier than speaking it or
- It is easier to read French than to speak it.
- No smoking, no fishing and no waiting. (the gerund is used in short prohibitions)
6. As a complement of a verb:
- Her hobby is painting.
7. Using gerund after “go”. Go is followed by a gerund in a certain expressions to express, for the most part, recreational activities. Such as:
- Did my mother go shopping?
- My uncle and friends went fishing yesterday night.
List of verbs followed by gerund:
- enjoy - stop - consider (think about)
- appreciate - avoid - discuss (talk about)
- mind - postpone (put off) - mention
- quit (give up) - delay - suggest
- finish (get through) - keep (keep on)
The following verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or the gerund with no change in meaning.
- begin - cannot stand - continue - dread
- hate - like - love - prefer
- regret - start - try
e.g.: - He started to study after dinner or He started studying after dinner.
- John hates to ride his bicycle to school or John hates riding her bicycle to school.
Verb + preposition followed by the gerund.
a. verb + preposition:
- enjoy - stop - consider (think about)
- appreciate - avoid - discuss (talk about)
- mind - postpone (put off) - mention
- quit (give up) - delay - suggest
- finish (get through) - keep (keep on)
Object to, look forward to and confess to = the to here are the preposition, so do not confuse with the to in the infinitive.
b. Adjective + preposition:
- accustomed to - afraid to - capable of - fond of
- intent to - interested in - successful in - tired of
C. Noun + preposition
- choice of - excuse for - intention of - method for
- possibility of - reason for (method of)
Exercises 1:
Supply an appropriate preposition and verb form.
E.g.: - Ali isn’t interested in (look) looking for a new job.
- Harry is excited ……. (leave) …… for Bali.
- You are capable …… (do) ….. better works.
- Fredy is always complaining ……. (have) …… a headache.
- Instead ………. (study) …….., Harry went to a football game with his friends.
- He showed us how to make a robot ………. (draw) …… a schema.
- I have no excuse ………… (be) ……….. late.
- Rina had a good reason ….. (go, not) …… to class yesterday.
- I apologized to Ali ….. (make) ….. him wait for me.
- The weather is terrible tonight. I don’t blame you ……. (want, not) …….. to go to the meeting.
- I’m going to visit my family during the vacation. I’m looking forward ……. (eat) ……. My mother’s cooking and (sleep) ……. in my own bed.