Gerund Phrase Examples After Verbs and Prepositions

A gerund phrase is a gerund together with its object and modifiers, and the whole phrase functions as a noun, as in reading novels before bed, painting landscapes, and growing vegetables. These 301 gerund phrase examples are written for subjects, objects, complements, appositives, verbs such as enjoy and avoid, prepositions, possessives, negatives, passives, and everyday contexts. You get model sentences for speaking, essays, and exam practice, together with related practice on gerunds, infinitive phrases, and participial phrases.

Quick Answer: Gerund Phrase Examples

• Subject: Hiking in the mountains relaxes me after a long week.
• Object of a verb: Mia enjoys painting portraits of her friends.
• Subject complement: My goal is finishing the course by June.
• After a preposition: He improved by practising scales every day.
• Possessive form: We appreciated your driving us home.
• Negative form: She regrets not saving more money.
• Perfect form: He admitted having broken the window.
• Passive form: The boy dislikes being teased by his classmates.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Everyday Use

A gerund phrase is an -ing verb with its object and modifiers, used as a subject, an object, or a complement, as in “reading novels before bed”, “laughing at the puppy”, and “designing posters for local shops”.

1. Reading novels before bed helps Mei relax.
2. She enjoys painting landscapes on quiet Sunday mornings.
3. Grandpa is proud of growing his own vegetables.
4. Singing in the shower is Leo’s daily habit.
5. The kids kept laughing at the puppy.
6. We talked about moving to the coast.
7. Baking sourdough bread takes patience and a warm kitchen.
8. Nobody minds waiting a few minutes.
9. She improved her pronunciation by reciting poems aloud.
10. My job is designing posters for local shops.
11. Cycling to school keeps the pupils active.
12. They suggested meeting after lunch in the garden café.
13. Omar is thinking of starting his own company.
14. I am tired of hearing the same excuse.

Function Sentences with Gerund Phrases

Four roles are covered: subject, direct object, subject complement, and appositive.

Gerund Phrase Examples as Subjects

Beginning a sentence, a gerund phrase names an activity, as in “cooking for forty people”, “raising a child”, and “playing the violin in public”.

1. Swimming in the lake every morning keeps Pedro fit.
2. Cooking for forty people requires careful planning.
3. Learning a second language gives young people more job choices.
4. Walking to work saves Gina about ten pounds a week.
5. Raising a child takes patience and a great deal of love.
6. Painting the old fence took the whole weekend.
7. Collecting rainwater reduces the garden’s water bill.
8. Waiting for the results made the whole family anxious.
9. Playing the violin in public terrified young Elias.
10. Driving through the desert at night is dangerous.
11. Teaching adults to read gave Mrs Boateng great satisfaction.
12. Sharing a flat with three students taught Lucia how to compromise.

Gerund Phrase Examples as Direct Objects

After verbs such as start, hate, love, and practise, a gerund phrase names the action, as in “planning the trip”, “meeting your sister”, and “selling the old house”.

1. We started planning the trip in January.
2. The students continued working through the exercises until the bell rang.
3. Dad hates wasting food after a big family dinner.
4. Kiran loves riding her bicycle along the river.
5. I remember meeting your sister at the market.
6. Luka tried adding more flour to the dough.
7. She began studying law at nineteen.
8. The farmers resumed harvesting the wheat after the rain.
9. Chen prefers travelling by train on very long journeys.
10. Pilar regrets selling the old house.
11. The class practised speaking French before the oral exam.
12. Anita welcomes working with new teams.
13. The corner shop stopped selling fireworks after the new law.
14. Finn keeps losing his glasses on the school bus.

Gerund Phrase Examples as Subject Complements

Be or become is followed by a gerund phrase, as in “collecting old coins”, “baking bread on Sundays”, and “jogging before breakfast”.

1. Her favourite hobby is collecting old coins.
2. My main job is teaching beginners.
3. His biggest fear was speaking in public.
4. The best exercise is walking briskly for thirty minutes.
5. Our tradition is baking bread on Sundays.
6. Her dream became running a children’s hospital.
7. The real challenge is keeping the students interested.
8. My cousin’s specialty is repairing antique clocks.
9. Their daily routine is jogging before breakfast.
10. Fatima’s passion is designing gardens for small city flats.
11. His only wish was sleeping late on Sunday.
12. Their plan is renting a boat for the weekend.

Gerund Phrase Examples as Appositives

Between commas, a gerund phrase names the same thing as the noun before it, as in “collecting stamps”, “wearing a helmet on site”, and “singing in four languages”.

1. Her hobby, collecting stamps, fills every weekend.
2. Mr Ruiz’s job, driving a delivery van, starts at five.
3. Their favourite pastime, playing cards after dinner, continues every Sunday.
4. The new rule, wearing a helmet on site, applies to every visitor.
5. My brother’s dream, sailing around the world, began in childhood.
6. The doctor’s advice, sleeping eight hours a night, was easy to follow.
7. Our main goal, finishing the bridge before winter, requires extra workers.
8. Nadia’s talent, singing in four languages, amazed the judges.
9. Her ambition, opening a small bakery, grew stronger every year.
10. The coach’s rule, arriving ten minutes early, applies to every player.
11. Our family tradition, eating together on Fridays, began fifty years ago.

Verb Pattern Sentences with Gerund Phrases

Verbs of liking, finishing, suggesting, and verb and preposition pairs come before the gerund phrase.

Gerund Phrase Examples After Enjoy and Dislike

Enjoy, dislike, and mind come before the gerund phrase, as in “cooking for large families”, “turning down the radio”, and “receiving handwritten cards”.

1. Selim enjoys cooking for large families.
2. Ana adores walking along the harbour at dusk.
3. Kofi dislikes waiting in long queues.
4. Would you mind turning down the radio?
5. My father detests listening to loud music.
6. I can’t stand hearing the same song all day.
7. Mrs Park appreciates receiving handwritten cards.
8. The twins love building towers from blocks.
9. Tariq doesn’t mind sharing his room.
10. Lucy enjoys sketching strangers on the train.

Gerund Phrase Examples After Finish and Avoid

The gerund phrase follows finish, avoid, quit, and postpone, as in “painting the fence”, “repainting the hall”, and “playing their old songs”.

1. Ola finished painting the fence before lunch.
2. The driver avoided hitting the cyclist by braking hard.
3. Grandpa quit smoking cigars ages ago and never started again.
4. They postponed repainting the hall until spring.
5. The company delayed announcing the results.
6. The prisoners narrowly escaped drowning in the flood.
7. Don’t risk losing your job over a small lie.
8. The band kept playing their old songs despite the rain.
9. Hana gave up trying to fix the radio.
10. The workers put off repairing the road until the flood receded.
11. The mechanic stopped talking about the engine when the manager entered.

Gerund Phrase Examples After Suggest and Consider

With suggest, recommend, consider, and deny, the verb is followed by a gerund phrase, as in “taking the earlier train”, “entering the building”, and “laughing at his hat”.

1. Mira suggested taking the earlier train.
2. The doctor recommended drinking more water.
3. We are considering adopting a rescue dog.
4. Can you imagine living without a phone?
5. The suspect denied entering the building.
6. Paulo admitted making a serious mistake.
7. She mentioned moving to Lisbon in the spring.
8. The job involves travelling to remote villages.
9. I couldn’t help laughing at his hat.
10. The council discussed widening the main road.
11. Ravi recalls visiting the old fort as a boy.
12. The guide advised bringing warm clothes.

Gerund Phrase Examples After Verb and Preposition Pairs

Insist on, look forward to, and believe in take a gerund phrase as the object, as in “paying for dinner”, “reaching the summit”, and “lying under oath”.

1. Dara insisted on paying for dinner.
2. I look forward to meeting your family.
3. The manager apologised for missing the call.
4. Many people believe in giving second chances.
5. The team succeeded in reaching the summit.
6. She dreams of opening a small bakery.
7. They talked about buying a boat.
8. He relies on working at night.
9. The jury accused him of lying under oath.
10. Teachers thanked the parents for volunteering at the fair.
11. Luca confessed to breaking the window.
12. We object to paying extra fees.

Preposition Sentences with Gerund Phrases

A gerund phrase is the object of a preposition.

Gerund Phrase Examples After Adjective and Preposition Pairs

Good at, afraid of, and tired of are followed by a gerund phrase, as in “solving puzzles”, “going to the park”, and “cooking over an open fire”.

1. Jin is good at solving puzzles.
2. Hannah is afraid of flying over the ocean.
3. The students are interested in learning Japanese.
4. Mr Das is tired of repeating the same instructions.
5. Our dog is excited about going to the park.
6. She felt proud of finishing the marathon.
7. Are you capable of lifting that box alone?
8. The team is responsible for cleaning the lab.
9. He is famous for cooking over an open fire.
10. Olivia was worried about missing the bus.
11. The village is known for making blue pottery.
12. I am fond of reading by candlelight.

Gerund Phrase Examples After Prepositions

Before, after, by, without, and despite introduce a gerund phrase, as in “leaving the house”, “taking a taxi”, and “breaking a back window”.

1. Before leaving the house, Dad checked every window.
2. After finishing her exams, Zara slept for a day.
3. You learn faster by practising every day.
4. He left the party without saying goodbye to the hosts.
5. Instead of taking a taxi, they walked home.
6. Besides teaching maths, Mr Ibrahim coaches the chess club.
7. On entering the room, she noticed the open window.
8. Despite studying all night, Hugo failed the quiz.
9. The thief entered by breaking a back window.
10. Since moving to Cairo, Amina has learned Arabic.
11. They won the match through playing as a team.
12. Apart from cooking dinner, Dad likes long walks by the river.

Possessive and Pronoun Sentences with Gerund Phrases

Possessive words, object pronouns, and nouns come before the gerund.

Gerund Phrase Examples with Possessives

Before the gerund, a possessive word or a possessive noun names the doer, as in “his leaving early”, “my forgetting her birthday”, and “her refusing the offer”.

1. His leaving early surprised the whole department.
2. We were pleased about Maria’s winning the prize.
3. I appreciate your calling me so quickly.
4. Their arriving late delayed the ceremony.
5. She was upset by my forgetting her birthday.
6. The teacher objected to Ben’s talking during the test.
7. Our being together meant more than the venue.
8. Nobody liked the manager’s changing the schedule without notice.
9. They were angry about her refusing the offer.
10. We are grateful for your helping us move.
11. We were surprised by their winning so easily.
12. The teacher welcomed our asking questions during the lesson.

Gerund Phrase Examples with Object Pronouns

An object pronoun or a plain noun comes before the gerund, as in “him leaving”, “you being alone”, and “the dog barking”.

1. Nobody in the hall minded him leaving through the side door.
2. Did you mind me borrowing your pen?
3. I don’t like you being alone at night.
4. She remembers us singing on the bus.
5. Can you imagine them winning the lottery?
6. The neighbours complained about the dog barking all night.
7. I hate people talking during films.
8. I dislike him shouting at the staff.

Form Sentences with Gerund Phrases

Three forms of the gerund are covered: perfect, passive, and negative.

Perfect Gerund Phrase Examples

Having plus a past participle forms the perfect gerund, as in “having taken the money”, “having lied to the inspector”, and “having landed the plane safely”.

1. She denied having taken the money.
2. I regret having said those words.
3. Tomas is proud of having won the scholarship.
4. Thank you for having invited us.
5. He admitted having lied to the inspector.
6. The old sailor boasted of having crossed the ocean alone.
7. They were accused of having stolen the painting.
8. Naomi remembers having visited that village as a girl.
9. The pilot was praised for having landed the plane safely.
10. Nobody remembers having seen the missing key.
11. We apologise for having kept you waiting.
12. She is ashamed of having ignored the warning.
13. Ravi mentioned having met the author at a book fair.

Passive Gerund Phrase Examples

Being or having been plus a past participle forms the passive gerund, as in “being asked to speak”, “being told the truth”, and “being read to”.

1. Being asked to speak made Naima nervous.
2. She hates being interrupted while she is explaining a plan.
3. Rafael remembers being carried on his father’s shoulders.
4. We insisted on being told the truth.
5. They avoided being seen by the guards.
6. He denied having been warned about the storm.
7. Lydia is proud of having been chosen as captain.
8. The child enjoys being read to every night.
9. Nobody likes being laughed at in front of the class.
10. The actor dreaded being recognised in public.
11. Being stuck in traffic annoys my father.

Negative Gerund Phrase Examples

Not comes before the gerund, as in “not telling the truth”, “not exercising regularly”, and “not replying sooner”.

1. She regrets not telling the truth.
2. Not knowing the answer is no shame.
3. He was criticised for not paying the bill.
4. We talked about not going to the party.
5. Not exercising regularly weakens the heart.
6. Thanks for not telling Mum about the broken lamp.
7. Marta felt guilty about not calling her grandmother.
8. He is worried about not finishing the project on time.
9. Not wearing a seat belt is against the law on this island.
10. Sven apologised for not replying sooner.
11. I enjoy not having to set an alarm on Sundays.
12. The scouts succeeded in not getting lost in the fog.
13. He apologised for not attending the meeting.
14. Not having a phone made the trip peaceful for Rosa.

Question Sentences with Gerund Phrases

Questions contain a gerund phrase, as in “opening the window”, “joining our team”, and “cancelling the picnic”.

1. Do you mind opening the window?
2. Is swimming in the river allowed?
3. Did he mention moving to Berlin?
4. Have you finished writing the report?
5. Would you consider joining our team?
6. What is the point of waiting any longer?
7. Why does she dislike being photographed?
8. Are you interested in learning to sail?
9. Who suggested cancelling the picnic because of the clouds?
10. How about eating outside tonight if the weather stays warm?
11. Do you remember meeting him at the station?
12. Are you afraid of speaking in front of a crowd?

Reported Speech Sentences with Gerund Phrases

In reported speech, a statement from another speaker contains a gerund phrase, as in “leaving early”, “walking on the grass”, and “ignoring the warning”.

1. He said that leaving early was a mistake.
2. Sara admitted forgetting the keys on the kitchen table.
3. The manager suggested moving the meeting to Friday.
4. She denied breaking the vase that stood in the hall.
5. They told us that walking on the grass was forbidden.
6. Tom mentioned visiting his aunt last week.
7. The coach insisted on starting at six.
8. My neighbour complained about parking in front of his gate.
9. The reporter claimed that ignoring the warning caused the accident.
10. Nina confessed to reading her sister’s diary.
11. Lena admitted taking the last cookie from the jar.
12. The mayor said that fixing the roads would cost a million pounds.

Context Sentences with Gerund Phrases

The settings range from homes and classrooms to offices, journeys, newsrooms, stories, sports, and clinics.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Home Life

At home, the gerund phrases describe cooking, knitting, tidying, and repainting, as in “cooking dinner for the family”, “washing the same cups”, and “folding the laundry”.

1. Cooking dinner for the family is Dad’s favourite chore.
2. Grandma loves knitting scarves by the window.
3. Mum is fed up with washing the same cups.
4. The children finished tidying their bedroom.
5. Karim hates getting up before seven.
6. Folding the laundry takes me twenty minutes.
7. We talked about repainting the kitchen.
8. Dad is thinking of replacing the old sofa.

Gerund Phrase Examples for School Life

In the classroom, the gerund phrases describe reading, revising, homework, and exams, as in “reading aloud”, “waiting for exam results”, and “drawing maps”.

1. Reading aloud improves the pupils’ pronunciation.
2. The teacher praised Ravi for completing every exercise.
3. Students dislike waiting for exam results.
4. Revising for two hours daily helped Lena pass.
5. Our class suggested planting a garden behind the library.
6. Amal is good at drawing maps.
7. He apologised for forgetting his homework.
8. Mr Evans insists on checking every answer twice.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Work

At the office, the gerund phrases describe deadlines, hiring, emails, and costs, as in “meeting the deadline”, “training new employees”, and “attending long meetings”.

1. Meeting the deadline required the whole team.
2. The manager is considering hiring two designers.
3. Sophia is responsible for training new employees.
4. Answering emails takes up the first hour of Hugo’s day.
5. They avoided raising prices during the crisis.
6. She is tired of attending long meetings.
7. Nobody should sign the report without checking the figures.
8. The firm succeeded in cutting costs by ten percent.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Travel

On trips, the gerund phrases describe journeys, gates, trains, and connections, as in “travelling alone”, “carrying large bottles of liquid”, and “sailing around the Greek islands”.

1. Travelling alone taught Greta to trust strangers.
2. We enjoyed exploring the old streets of Hanoi.
3. Passengers are prohibited from carrying large bottles of liquid.
4. Waiting at the gate lasted three hours.
5. Before boarding the plane, check your seat number.
6. Ida dreams of sailing around the Greek islands.
7. He suggested taking the night train.
8. She is afraid of missing the connection.

Gerund Phrase Examples for News Reports

News reports use gerund phrases for budgets, ministers, councils, witnesses, and voters, as in “cutting the budget”, “closing the old bridge”, and “hearing a loud bang”.

1. Cutting the budget angered the teachers’ union.
2. The minister denied receiving any gifts.
3. Residents are worried about losing their homes to the river.
4. The council discussed closing the old bridge.
5. Reporting from the front line earned her an award.
6. The witness recalled hearing a loud bang.
7. Voters complained about waiting four hours to cast ballots.
8. The police were accused of ignoring the warnings.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Stories

Stories use gerund phrases for wells, captains, knights, and spells, as in “sailing into the storm”, “hearing the footsteps behind him”, and “opening the iron door”.

1. Alice dreamed of falling down a very deep well.
2. The captain risked sailing into the storm.
3. Hearing the footsteps behind him terrified the thief.
4. The old woman admitted hiding the key under the stone.
5. The knight regretted breaking his promise.
6. Nobody dared mention opening the iron door.
7. Crossing the haunted bridge required courage.
8. Elara couldn’t help whispering the spell.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Sports

In sport, the gerund phrases describe training, goals, laps, and titles, as in “running ten kilometres every morning”, “scoring late goals”, and “wasting time”.

1. Running ten kilometres every morning built Dani’s stamina.
2. The coach insisted on practising penalties.
3. Our striker is famous for scoring late goals.
4. Anna enjoys swimming laps before work.
5. Losing the final taught the players humility.
6. The referee warned him about wasting time.
7. She avoided rushing the last lap.
8. Winning the title gave the town a reason to celebrate.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Health

At the clinic, the gerund phrases describe stretching, sleep, meals, and illness, as in “stretching before a run”, “eating sugar”, and “catching a cold”.

1. Stretching before a run reduces the risk of injury.
2. The doctor recommended walking for half an hour daily.
3. Marcus quit eating sugar last spring.
4. Sleeping badly affects a person’s mood.
5. Patients are advised against skipping meals.
6. She is worried about catching a cold.
7. Washing your hands often prevents many infections.
8. Rosa is recovering from breaking her wrist.

Kids and Student Sentences with Gerund Phrases

The range runs from short sentences for kids to formal sentences for exam answers.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Kids

For kids, the gerund phrases describe play, food, and hobbies, as in “swimming in water”, “sleeping well”, and “cleaning up”.

1. Swimming in water is fun.
2. I love reading books.
3. Dancing with friends makes me happy.
4. She likes painting pictures.
5. Sleeping well helps us grow.
6. Dad enjoys fishing in lakes.
7. We love singing songs.
8. Playing outside is great.
9. He hates cleaning up.
10. Mum likes baking cakes.
11. Eating fruit is healthy.
12. I am good at jumping high.

Gerund Phrase Examples for Exams

Exam answers use formal wording, as in “imposing sudden restrictions on trade”, “Reducing carbon emissions”, and “writing a persuasive essay”.

1. Developing a reliable method for measuring rainfall requires cooperation between engineers and farmers.
2. The author is criticised for overlooking the economic causes of the war.
3. The historian objected to being denied access to the records.
4. Governments must avoid imposing sudden restrictions on trade.
5. Reducing carbon emissions remains the central challenge of the century.
6. The study focuses on comparing urban and rural attitudes to recycling.
7. Success in the course depends on submitting each assignment on time.
8. Critics accuse the minister of misleading the public about the costs.
9. Writing a persuasive essay demands a strong thesis and solid evidence.
10. Researchers insist on verifying every source before publication.
11. Many scholars question the value of memorising isolated facts.

FAQs

Related:

• Noun Phrase Examples
• Verb Phrase Examples
• Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences
• Infinitive Example Sentences
• Participle Example Sentences
• Appositive Example Sentences