Learn high-school-level uses of gerunds, including the logical subject of a gerund, perfect gerunds, and passive gerunds.
Basic Rules
① Logical subject of a gerund: Place a possessive form (my/his/her, etc.) or an objective form before the gerund.
“I object to his leaving so early.” In conversation, the objective form (him) is also acceptable.
② Perfect gerund: having + past participle. An action occurring before the main verb. “He regrets having wasted his youth.”
③ Passive gerund: being + past participle / having been + past participle
“She hates being criticized.” “He denied having been involved.”
Do you mind my opening the window? ← Logical subject: my
She is ashamed of having told a lie. ← Perfect gerund
The child is afraid of being left alone. ← Passive gerund
Points to Note
Gerund only: enjoy / avoid / finish / mind / give up / admit / deny / postpone
Infinitive only: hope / want / wish / decide / refuse / plan / promise / agree
Both (with a change in meaning): remember / forget / try / stop / regret
“remember doing” = remember having done something (past), “remember to do” = remember to do something (future)
It is no use + gerund: “It is useless to〜” “It is no use crying over spilt milk.”
- Logical subject: place a possessive form (my/his) or objective form (me/him) before the gerund
- Perfect gerund: having + p.p. (an action occurring before the main verb)
- Passive gerund: being + p.p.
- remember/forget/try/stop/regret change meaning depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or infinitive
Practice
- Translate “I remember that she left the room” into English using remember + gerund (a past event).
- Translate “He was afraid of being criticized” into English using a passive gerund.
- Translate “It is useless to cry” into English using It is no use.