Elementary 📐 Grammar · #78 of 305

Gerunds as Subjects

-ing forms can act as nouns.

Examples

  • Swimming is fun.

Key rules

  • A gerund (verb-ing) can act as a noun and a subject: Swimming is fun
  • It takes a singular verb
  • It can also be an object after enjoy, avoid, finish
  • Negative: Not smoking is healthy

Common mistakes

  • Swim is fun → Swimming is fun
  • Reading are good → Reading is good
💡 Tip: Use -ing when an activity is the subject.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Elementary quiz
← Used ToInfinitive of Purpose →

Related Elementary topics

See all Elementary grammar lessons →

Past Simple: Regular Verbs

Add -ed to finish actions in the past.

Past Simple: Irregular Verbs

Many common verbs have special past forms.

Past Simple: Negatives and Questions

Use did/didn't + base verb.

Was and Were

Past forms of be.

Past Continuous

was/were + -ing for actions in progress in the past.

Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Use continuous for background; simple for interrupting events.