Gerund Example Sentences as Subjects, Objects and Complements

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun, as in swimming, painting, and walking. These 318 gerund example sentences are written for subjects, objects, complements, prepositions, verbs such as enjoy and avoid, phrasal verbs, fixed expressions, and everyday contexts. You get model sentences for speaking, essays, and exam practice, together with related practice on gerund phrases, infinitives, and participles.

Quick Answer: Gerund Example Sentences

• Subject: Reading before bed helps me sleep.
• Object of a verb: Lena enjoys cycling to work.
• Subject complement: His favourite hobby is collecting stamps.
• After a preposition: She left without saying goodbye.
• After avoid: Tariq avoided answering the question.
• Possessive form: We appreciated her helping us move.
• Negative form: Not winning the toss disappointed the team.
• Passive form: The child loves being read to at night.

Gerund Example Sentences for Everyday Use

The -ing form is used as a subject, an object, and a complement, as in “swimming”, “waiting”, and “baking”.

1. Swimming keeps my grandfather strong at the age of seventy-nine.
2. Her favourite hobby is painting landscapes in watercolour.
3. We enjoyed walking along the river after dinner.
4. Reading before bed helps Tariq fall asleep within minutes.
5. Maria is fond of cooking for large groups of friends.
6. Travelling by train gave the students time to talk.
7. Nobody minded waiting in the rain for the bus.
8. Dancing at the village festival lasted until midnight.
9. He gave up smoking after his daughter was born.
10. My sister loves collecting old maps from street markets.
11. Learning a new language takes patience and daily practice.
12. They talked about moving to Nairobi for a year.
13. Cycling to school saves Hao forty minutes every morning.
14. The chef is famous for baking bread in a stone oven.
15. Laughing loudly in the library earned the boys a warning.
16. Priya started writing poetry when she was nine.
17. Gardening is the best cure for a stressful week.
18. We were tired after climbing the hill all afternoon.
19. Her dream is flying a small plane over the mountains.
20. Listening carefully is the first step in any good interview.

Function Sentences with Gerunds

A gerund is a subject, an object, a complement, or the word after a preposition, as in “entering”, “leaving”, and “crossing”.

Gerund Example Sentences as Subjects

Beginning the sentence, a gerund is the subject, as in “jogging”, “teaching”, and “eating”.

1. Jogging along the beach clears Daniel’s head before work.
2. Volunteering at the shelter taught Amara how much a small gift matters.
3. Sharing a taxi cuts the fare in half.
4. Lying to a friend damages trust quickly.
5. Teaching young children requires enormous patience.
6. Cheating during the exam will cost you the whole grade.
7. Driving in heavy fog is dangerous for everyone on the road.
8. Skiing in the Alps costs more than most students expect.
9. Saving a little each month builds a safety net.
10. Eating vegetables with every meal improves the whole family’s health.
11. Painting the fence took Lars and his sons three Saturdays.
12. Asking for help is no sign of weakness.
13. Singing together calms the nervous choir before a concert.
14. Making mistakes is part of learning any craft.

Gerund Example Sentences as Objects of Verbs

After a verb, a gerund is the object, as in “working”, “building”, and “sketching”.

1. Rosa quit working night shifts when her contract ended.
2. The pianist practises playing scales for an hour each morning.
3. Our guide described crossing the desert on camels.
4. Kenji mentioned leaving the company at the end of June.
5. The mayor discussed building a new bridge over the creek.
6. Lucia dislikes ironing shirts on Sunday evenings.
7. Sunil recalls meeting his future wife at a charity dinner.
8. The report recommended closing the old factory by June.
9. They resented paying extra for the delayed delivery.
10. Hana loves sketching strangers on the metro.
11. The doctor advised resting for a week after the operation.
12. Mr Okoye prefers walking to driving on sunny days.
13. Beth began learning the cello at forty.
14. Our neighbours reported hearing loud music last night.

Gerund Example Sentences as Subject Complements

Following be, a gerund completes the subject, as in “rowing”, “talking”, and “failing”.

1. My favourite exercise is rowing on the lake at sunrise.
2. Her job is training new pilots for the airline.
3. The best part of the holiday was snorkelling with the turtles.
4. His only fault is talking too much during films.
5. Our goal this year is saving enough for a small house.
6. The hardest part of the course is writing the final essay.
7. Her biggest fear was failing in front of her classmates.
8. The plan is leaving at dawn to avoid the traffic.
9. My cousin’s passion is restoring old motorbikes.
10. Ivan’s plan for Sunday is sleeping until noon.

Gerund Example Sentences After Prepositions

By, without, and after are followed by a gerund, as in “training”, “learning”, and “studying”.

1. Lena improved her stamina by training every day.
2. He left the office without complaining about the schedule.
3. After finishing the test, the girls went to the playground.
4. Before leaving, please switch off the lights.
5. Zara is excellent at solving puzzles.
6. I am interested in learning how bridges are built.
7. They are afraid of losing their home.
8. Instead of arguing, the brothers shook hands and left.
9. Besides singing, Mei plays the violin and the drums.
10. The mayor was criticised for ignoring the flood warnings.
11. Despite studying until midnight, Omar failed the quiz.
12. Thank you for helping me move the sofa.
13. She insisted on paying for the whole meal.
14. Are you tired of waiting for the results?
15. The athlete was banned from competing for two seasons.
16. On entering the hall, the guests found their names on small cards.

Verb Pattern Sentences with Gerunds

Verbs that take a gerund are followed by an -ing form, as in “winning”, “taking”, and “playing”.

Gerund Example Sentences After Enjoy and Avoid

Enjoy, avoid, mind, and finish are followed by a gerund, as in “reading”, “painting”, and “packing”.

1. Nadia enjoyed reading on the balcony every evening.
2. The drivers avoided using the main road during the festival.
3. I do not mind waiting if the coffee is hot.
4. Would you mind closing the window, please?
5. Tomas finished painting the shed before the rain arrived.
6. Children enjoy splashing in puddles after a storm.
7. She narrowly avoided hitting the cyclist.
8. Hamid enjoys listening to the radio while he cooks.
9. We finished packing at ten and left before breakfast.
10. My aunt did not mind sharing her bedroom with two cousins.
11. He avoids eating dinner after nine at night.
12. The musicians enjoyed playing in the old stone church.

Gerund Example Sentences After Suggest and Consider

Suggest, consider, admit, and keep take a gerund as their object, as in “going”, “starting”, and “meeting”.

1. Fatima suggested going to the market before noon.
2. The couple considered moving to the coast for a quieter life.
3. The boy admitted breaking the greenhouse window.
4. My little brother kept asking the same question all the way home.
5. Our coach suggested starting the warm-up ten minutes earlier.
6. Have you ever considered studying medicine abroad?
7. The driver admitted driving faster than the limit.
8. It kept raining for three days without a break.
9. Ingrid suggested meeting at the station instead of the museum.
10. The manager is considering opening a second branch in Lagos.
11. She admitted taking the keys, though her sister had seen her.
12. He kept working even after the lights went out.

Gerund Example Sentences After Imagine and Risk

With imagine, risk, postpone, and practise, the next verb ends in -ing, as in “living”, “speaking”, and “catching”.

1. Can you imagine living on a boat for a year?
2. The climbers risked losing the trail in the dense fog.
3. The council postponed voting on the new road until spring.
4. Aisha practises speaking French with her neighbour every Friday.
5. The club postponed repairing the roof until the summer.
6. I can’t imagine telling her the truth now.
7. You risk catching a cold if you walk home in this rain.
8. The school has postponed announcing the winners until next week.
9. Diego practised parking between the cones until he stopped touching them.
10. Nobody could imagine winning against such a strong team.

Phrasal Verb and Fixed Expression Sentences with Gerunds

Phrasal verbs, look forward to, and fixed expressions are followed by an -ing form, as in “queuing”, “visiting”, and “cleaning”.

Gerund Example Sentences After Phrasal Verbs

Give up, carry on, and take up are phrasal verbs that precede a gerund, as in “driving”, “painting”, and “repairing”.

1. Grandpa gave up driving when his eyesight weakened.
2. The band carried on playing despite the broken amplifier.
3. Aisha took up running to prepare for a charity race.
4. We put off painting the kitchen until the weekend.
5. Liam ended up sleeping on a friend’s sofa.
6. The teacher kept on repeating the instructions until everyone understood.
7. Jorge set about repairing the roof before the rains arrived.
8. She owned up to breaking the vase.
9. The shop has cut down on using plastic bags.
10. Eventually they got round to cleaning the garage.

Gerund Example Sentences After Look Forward To

In look forward to, be used to, and object to, the word to is a preposition and a gerund follows, as in “seeing”, “paying”, and “working”.

1. I am looking forward to seeing the northern lights.
2. Rashid is used to waking at five because of the farm.
3. They objected to paying a second deposit.
4. We are committed to improving the school library.
5. She is not accustomed to speaking in front of crowds.
6. The new nurse got used to working nights within a month.
7. Samira looks forward to meeting her pen friend in June.
8. He admitted to feeling nervous before the interview.

Gerund Example Sentences in Fixed Expressions

Expressions such as no use and worth are followed by a gerund, as in “crying”, “repairing”, and “hearing”.

1. It is no use crying over spilt milk.
2. The castle is worth visiting if you have a free afternoon.
3. I can’t help laughing when my uncle tells that joke.
4. There is no point in arguing with a locked door.
5. Ben’s old bicycle is worth repairing rather than replacing.
6. There is no harm in trying a different route.
7. Do you feel like going for a walk?
8. It’s no good waiting for a bus that has been cancelled.
9. She has trouble hearing in a noisy café.
10. It was no use looking for the keys in the dark garden.
11. Everyone had difficulty understanding the weather warnings.
12. My brother can’t stand queuing at the post office.

Possessive Sentences with Gerunds

A possessive word before the gerund names who does the action, as in “his leaving”, “her singing”, and “my being late”.

1. We were surprised by his leaving the party so early.
2. The teacher did not like Tom’s constant shouting in class.
3. I appreciate your coming on such short notice.
4. Her singing brought tears to the audience.
5. The manager objected to their arriving without notice.
6. Nobody noticed the dog’s barking at midnight.
7. My being late again annoyed the whole team.
8. The residents complained about the factory’s dumping waste in the river.
9. Do you mind my opening the window?
10. Lucy’s winning the scholarship delighted her family.

Negative Sentences with Gerunds

Negation is placed before the gerund or before the main verb.

Gerund Example Sentences with Not Before the Gerund

Not or never comes directly before the gerund, as in “not knowing”, “never giving”, and “not wearing”.

1. Not knowing the answer made Ravi nervous.
2. She regrets not telling her parents about the trip.
3. Ali was upset about not being invited to the party.
4. Never giving up is the lesson of the whole story.
5. Not eating breakfast leaves Jonas tired by ten.
6. I am proud of not losing my temper in the argument.
7. They were fined for not wearing safety helmets.
8. Not having a map did not stop the hikers from finding the lake.
9. He insisted on never lending money to relatives.
10. Not receiving a reply worried Chloe for a week.

Gerund Example Sentences with Negative Verbs

Before the main verb, not or never makes the sentence negative.

1. Marcus did not enjoy swimming in the cold sea.
2. The children never stopped talking during the film.
3. She doesn’t mind walking to work in the rain.
4. We could not avoid getting wet in the storm.
5. He didn’t admit breaking the window until Friday.
6. They don’t recommend driving through the pass in winter.
7. My grandmother does not enjoy flying over the ocean.
8. Nobody suggested leaving the meeting early.
9. Dina has never considered quitting her job.
10. It wasn’t worth waiting another hour for a table.

Perfect and Passive Sentences with Gerunds

Perfect and passive gerunds are built with having, being, or both, as in “having been dismissed”, “being sent”, and “having noticed”.

Gerund Example Sentences in the Perfect Form

Having plus a past participle names an action finished earlier, as in “having seen”, “having stolen”, and “having met”.

1. He denied having seen the letter.
2. She regrets having left school at sixteen.
3. The prisoner admitted having stolen the painting.
4. I am proud of having finished the marathon.
5. Omar was accused of having cheated in the exam.
6. They remember having met at a train station in Lyon.
7. Alicia apologised for having forgotten the tickets.
8. Nobody mentioned having noticed the smoke.

Gerund Example Sentences in the Passive Form

Being plus a past participle makes the gerund passive, as in “being interrupted”, “being compared”, and “being ignored”.

1. I hate being interrupted when I am speaking.
2. Kofi enjoys being praised for his cooking.
3. The twins dislike being compared with each other.
4. She was delighted at being chosen for the national team.
5. She hates being stopped by reporters on the street.
6. Nobody likes being ignored at a meeting.
7. The patient feared being sent home too early.
8. Being laughed at made the child shy for weeks.

Gerund Example Sentences in the Perfect Passive Form

Having been plus a past participle makes the gerund perfect and passive, as in “having been chosen”, “having been promoted”, and “having been taught”.

1. She was proud of having been chosen as team captain.
2. He complained about having been told the wrong time.
3. The staff were pleased at having been promoted together.
4. After having been warned twice, the driver slowed down.
5. I remember having been taught to swim in a cold lake.
6. He was upset about having been dismissed without notice.

Phrase Sentences with Gerunds

Objects and modifiers follow the gerund, as in “reading old letters”, “collecting stamps from distant countries”, and “winning the regional chess title”.

1. Reading old letters gave Mia a strange comfort.
2. Waiting for the bus takes twenty minutes in winter.
3. Playing the guitar badly did not stop Gustav from performing.
4. Walking through the forest at night frightened the youngest campers.
5. Nina’s hobby is collecting stamps from distant countries.
6. Painting the house yellow was Dad’s idea.
7. We congratulated Leo on winning the regional chess title.
8. Growing vegetables in small pots is possible on a balcony.
9. The coach praised them for running the last lap together.
10. Opening a bakery in a small town requires careful planning.

Question Sentences with Gerunds

In questions, the gerund follows a question verb, as in “opening”, “playing”, and “climbing”.

1. Do you mind opening the door for me?
2. Have you finished writing your report?
3. What about taking a taxi instead of the bus?
4. Is swimming in this lake allowed?
5. Why did Karim give up playing the piano?
6. Would you consider teaching music at our school?
7. How about visiting the museum on Sunday?
8. Did she enjoy living in Seoul?
9. Is climbing that mountain safe in October?
10. Who suggested meeting at the old bridge?
11. Are you interested in joining the debate club?
12. What is the point of repeating the same mistake?

Reported and Passive Sentences with Gerunds

Reported statements and passive main verbs appear with gerunds, as in “gardening”, “stealing”, and “running”.

1. Tomas said that he enjoyed gardening on rainy afternoons.
2. She admitted forgetting her sister’s birthday.
3. The driver denied ignoring the red light.
4. Lucas apologised for being late to the meeting.
5. The boy was accused of stealing apples from the orchard.
6. The visitors were thanked for donating books to the school.
7. She told us she was looking forward to starting university.
8. Smoking is not allowed inside the station.
9. The pupils were warned against running in the corridors.
10. The mayor was praised for rebuilding the market so quickly.
11. He explained that he had given up playing football after the injury.
12. The thief was punished for breaking into three shops.

Context Sentences with Gerunds

The eight settings are homes, classrooms, offices, journeys, newsrooms, stories, sports, and clinics.

Gerund Example Sentences for Home Life

At home, the sentences describe chores and family routines, as in “washing”, “feeding”, and “tidying”.

1. Washing the dishes took Ayesha ten minutes after dinner.
2. My father hates folding laundry but loves ironing.
3. Feeding the cat is Tomas’s first job every morning.
4. We spent the weekend painting the spare room.
5. Grandma enjoys knitting by the fire.
6. Tidying the garage became a family project.
7. Cooking together has made the twins more patient.
8. Anna is thinking about buying a new sofa.

Gerund Example Sentences for School Life

In the classroom, the sentences describe lessons and revision, as in “reading”, “revising”, and “explaining”.

1. Reading aloud helps Hugo remember new words.
2. The teacher praised Elif for asking thoughtful questions.
3. Revising a little every day is better than cramming the night before.
4. Copying homework from a friend risks a zero for both pupils.
5. Taking notes slowed down Farah’s reading at first.
6. Mr Chen is good at explaining fractions.
7. Rehearsing the school play took every evening of March.
8. Listening to the instructions saved the group from a mistake.

Gerund Example Sentences for Work

At work, the sentences describe meetings and deadlines, as in “attending”, “meeting”, and “Negotiating”.

1. Attending meetings takes up half of Carla’s week.
2. She spends the first hour answering emails.
3. Meeting the deadline required three late nights.
4. The engineer is responsible for testing every machine.
5. Delegating tasks is part of managing a team.
6. Negotiating the contract took longer than expected.
7. Our supervisor insisted on checking the figures twice.
8. He is thinking of applying for a transfer to Dubai.

Gerund Example Sentences for Travel

On a journey, the sentences describe bookings and packing, as in “booking”, “packing”, and “checking”.

1. Booking flights early saved us two hundred pounds.
2. We are looking forward to sailing around the islands.
3. Packing light is the only way to travel with one bag.
4. Nora loves exploring old towns on foot.
5. Crossing the border took three hours.
6. Checking the weather forecast before a flight saves a lot of stress.
7. They enjoyed sightseeing in the rain.
8. Driving through the desert at night requires careful planning.

Gerund Example Sentences for News Reports

In the news, the sentences describe votes and public plans, as in “voting”, “receiving”, and “protesting”.

1. Voting closed at eight in the evening.
2. Residents welcomed the council’s plan for rebuilding the flooded school.
3. The minister denied receiving gifts from the company.
4. Campaigning for the election starts next month.
5. Reporters were prevented from entering the courtroom.
6. Protesting peacefully is allowed in the main square.
7. The strike ended after the union agreed to resuming talks.
8. Police advised drivers against crossing the flooded bridge.

Gerund Example Sentences for Stories

Across stories, the sentences describe fear and secrecy, as in “hiding”, “whispering”, and “climbing”.

1. Hiding in the cellar was the boy’s only hope of survival.
2. The captain dreaded returning to the island.
3. Whispering was forbidden in the abbey.
4. The detective could not resist opening the locked drawer.
5. Her only comfort was wandering the empty halls at night.
6. Climbing the tower felt like leaving the world behind.
7. The old sailor never tired of telling the same legend.
8. The villagers feared speaking the witch’s name.

Gerund Example Sentences for Sports

Among athletes, the sentences describe training and matches, as in “training”, “warming up”, and “winning”.

1. Training twice a day made the swimmers faster.
2. The striker is famous for scoring from impossible angles.
3. Warming up properly prevents injuries.
4. Our captain insists on passing before shooting.
5. The runner was disqualified for cutting the corner.
6. Winning the championship is less important than playing fairly.
7. Coaching teenagers requires energy and humour.
8. The team practised defending corners for an hour.

Gerund Example Sentences for Health

Regarding health, the sentences describe sleep, exercise, and diet, as in “sleeping”, “stretching”, and “quitting”.

1. Sleeping eight hours helps the body recover.
2. The nurse recommended drinking more water.
3. Stretching every morning has eased Walter’s back pain.
4. Doctors advise against skipping breakfast.
5. Walking after meals improves digestion.
6. She succeeded in quitting sugar for a whole month.
7. Meditating for ten minutes calms many patients.
8. Avoid lifting heavy boxes until the wrist has healed.

Kids and Student Sentences with Gerunds

Levels range from short sentences for beginners to formal sentences for exam answers.

Gerund Example Sentences for Kids

For kids, the sentences use hobbies and play, as in “playing”, “sharing”, and “chasing”.

1. Playing football is my favourite part of school.
2. My little brother loves jumping in puddles.
3. Drawing animals makes Lily happy.
4. Sharing toys is a kind thing to do.
5. I like eating pancakes on Sunday mornings.
6. Singing in the bath is fun for Sam.
7. The puppy enjoys chasing the ball in the garden.
8. Helping Mum bake cookies is my best job.
9. Do you like riding your bike to the park?
10. Reading picture books makes bedtime special.

Short Gerund Sentences for Beginners

Beginners start with sentences of three or four words, as in “swimming”, “painting”, and “singing”.

1. Swimming is fun.
2. I love dancing.
3. Running makes me hot.
4. She likes painting clouds.
5. Eating is my hobby.
6. Dogs enjoy digging holes.
7. Singing makes me smile.
8. We stopped talking.
9. He hates cleaning rooms.
10. Jumping keeps us fit.

Gerund Example Sentences for Exams

Exam answers use formal wording, as in “understanding”, “having studied”, and “neglecting”.

1. Understanding historical sources requires comparing several accounts of the same event.
2. By analysing the survey results, the researchers identified three distinct patterns.
3. Reducing carbon emissions will depend on governments investing in public transport.
4. Despite having studied the topic for years, the professor still revised his view.
5. Writing a persuasive essay involves choosing evidence carefully.
6. The experiment succeeded in proving that the new fertiliser doubled the harvest.
7. Being able to argue both sides of a question is a mark of a mature debater.
8. Critics blamed the failure on the committee’s neglecting the early warnings.
9. Memorising formulas is less valuable than understanding where they come from.
10. Having completed the first draft, Yasmin asked a friend to read it critically.

FAQs

Related:

• Bare Infinitive Examples
• Infinitive Phrase Examples
• Participial Phrase Examples
• Verb Phrase Examples
• Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences
• Noun Phrase Examples