Errors in the use of Gerund
GERUND
Gerunds are verbal nouns. This means that they are nouns formed from verbs.
Method of Formation:
By adding “ing” with the first form of verb.
| 1. Catch | 1st verb | Catch+ing | Gerund |
| 2. Swim | 1st verb | Swim+ing | Gerund |
| 3. Eat | 1st verb | Eat+ing | Gerund |
| 4. Run | 1st verb | Run+ing | Gerund |
Errors in the use of Gerund:
1. The possessive case of the noun and pronoun should be used before gerunds.
Example:
i. I dislike my friend coming so early. Incorrect
I dislike my friend’s coming so early. Correct
Note: In this sentence ‘coming’ is gerund and ‘my friend’s is possessive case.
ii. I dislike khalid of going to the cinema. (incorrect)
I dislike Khalid’s going to the cinema. (correct)
Example:
I dislike you wandering about the streets at night. Incorrect
I dislike your wandering about the streets at night. Correct
Possessive case of pronouns
| Pronouns | Possessive case | Pronouns | Possessive case |
| I | My | He | His |
| We | Our | She | Her |
| You | Your | It | Its |
| They | Their |
2. Possessive cases should be placed immediately before the noun they refer to. This rule is applied when a noun is a gerund.
Example:
I ask you favour of granting me an interview. Incorrect
I ask favour of your granting me an interview. Correct
(Here granting is gerund use possessive case ‘your’ with it.)
3. The use of Gerund and infinitive is often confused
a. If a sentence expresses some purpose, infinitive should be used instead of gerund.
i. He went to Lahore for study. Incorrect
He went to Lahore to study. Correct
ii. I went to the bazaar for buy clothes. Incorrect
I went to the bazaar to buy clothes. correct
b. If a verb is followed by a preposition, it often takes gerund.
As:
i. I am fond of eat. Incorrect
I am fond of eating. Correct
ii. He is good at hunt. Incorrect
He is good at hunting. correct
Verbs followed only by Infinitive
4. These verbs are followed only by infinitives.
Advise: I advise them to be careful.
Agree: she agreed to meet us for dinner.
Hope: I hope to meet her.
Refuse: He refused to take medicine.
Ask: She asked to use the restroom.
Tell: I told her to get ready for school.
Offer: She offered to give us direction.
Remind: My mother reminded me to take an umbrella today.
The other verbs: appear, plan, expect, invite, decide, warn and promise.
Words followed only by Gerund
5. These verbs are followed only by gerunds.
Bad at: He is bad at drawing.
Excel in: He excels in reading.
Give up: She gave up taking the bus after she bought a car.
Keep on: She kept on looking at me.
Persist in: He persisted in buying a new car.
Finish: He finished watching the movie at eleven.
Look forward to: He is looking forward to meeting me..
With a view to: With a view to going there, I took a taxi.
The other verbs are enjoy, fond of, insist on and suggest
6. Verbs followed by Gerund and Infinitive
i) Begin: They began to work at 8:30. (Infinitive)
They began working at 8:30. (Gerund)
ii) Can’t stand: I can’t stand to hear this music. (Infinitive)
I can’t stand hearing this music. (Gerund)
iii)Go: He loves to go fishing. (Infinitive)
He loves going fishing. (Gerund)
iv) Hate: I hate to wash dishes. (Infinitive)
I hate washing dishes. (Gerund)
v) Like: Salma likes to swim. (Infinitive)
Salma likes swimming. (Gerund)
vi) Start: He started to smoke. (Infinitive)
He started smoking. (Gerund)
vii) Love I love to swim.
I love swimming.
Exercise:
1. He is bad to draw. (incorrect)
He is bad at drawing.(correct)
2. He is addicted to gamble.(incorrect)
He is addicted to gambling..(correct)
3. He has no intention of meet him.(incorrect)
He has no intention of meeting him. (correct)
Hopefully, your concept about Errors in the use of Gerund is clear now, This lecture is part of the whole series of English Grammar by Miss Nabila Gulzar, For Other Lectures Click Here also We have an Essay on every topic, Check the complete list here. If you are Studying in Matric Free Video Lectures of Maths, Physics and English are here, and we have got you covered for I.COM Business Maths also.
