Gerunds After Prepositions

1. Introduction to Gerunds

A gerund is the –ing form of a verb that acts like a noun in a sentence. For example, in “Swimming is fun,” the word “swimming” is a gerund because it is used as the subject of the sentence.

Gerunds are important because they let us use verbs as nouns. This flexibility makes our sentences more complex and fluid.

• 1. Swimming is fun.
• 2. Reading improves your mind.
• 3. Dancing brings joy.
• 4. Running is healthy.
• 5. Cooking is creative.
• 6. Writing expresses thoughts.
• 7. Singing connects people.
• 8. Traveling broadens horizons.
• 9. Painting calms the mind.
• 10. Gardening relaxes you.

2. The Rule: Gerunds After Prepositions

In English, whenever a verb follows a preposition, the verb must be in the gerund (-ing) form. This is a simple and consistent rule.

For example:

• 1. She is interested in learning Spanish.
• 2. After finishing dinner, we went out.
• 3. He left without saying goodbye.
• 4. They talked about traveling abroad.
• 5. We are excited about starting the project.
• 6. I apologized for being late.
• 7. She succeeded in solving the puzzle.
• 8. He is used to working long hours.
• 9. They insisted on joining the meeting.
• 10. We look forward to meeting you.

3. Common Prepositions Followed by Gerunds

Many common prepositions in English are followed by gerunds. Here are some examples:

• 1. After: After completing the project, they celebrated.
• 2. Before: Think before speaking.
• 3. By: You can improve your skills by practicing regularly.
• 4. In spite of: In spite of feeling unwell, he went to work.
• 5. On: On arriving at the station, she called her friend.
• 6. Without: He left without saying a word.
• 7. Instead of: Instead of complaining, try solving the problem.
• 8. After: After reading the book, I understood the topic.
• 9. Before: Finish your homework before playing games.
• 10. Without: She left without noticing the mistake.

4. Adjective + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds

Many adjectives pair with specific prepositions that must be followed by a gerund. These combinations help to describe feelings, abilities, or preferences.

• 1. She is afraid of flying.
• 2. They are good at solving puzzles.
• 3. He is interested in learning new languages.
• 4. I am tired of waiting.
• 5. We are excited about traveling together.
• 6. He is proud of winning the award.
• 7. She is fond of reading.
• 8. They are capable of solving difficult problems.
• 9. I am keen on cooking Italian food.
• 10. He is bored with watching the same movie.

5. Noun + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds

Some nouns combine with prepositions that are then followed by gerunds. These structures are useful for expressing benefits, opportunities, and reasons.

• 1. The advantage of studying early is better retention.
• 2. There is a chance of meeting interesting people.
• 3. His interest in painting has grown.
• 4. We have an opportunity of traveling abroad.
• 5. The reason for leaving early was traffic.
• 6. The benefit of exercising regularly is improved health.
• 7. There is a possibility of making new friends.
• 8. The result of practicing daily is better performance.
• 9. The impact of studying hard is higher grades.
• 10. A feature of learning online is flexible timing.

6. Verb + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds

Some verbs require a specific preposition before a gerund. These combinations help explain reasons, beliefs, or actions.

• 1. They apologized for being late.
• 2. She believes in helping others.
• 3. Success depends on working hard.
• 4. He insisted on paying the bill.
• 5. I am thinking of going on vacation.
• 6. They object to changing the rules.
• 7. She complained about waiting too long.
• 8. He dreams about traveling the world.
• 9. The team succeeds by practicing daily.
• 10. We focus on improving our skills.

7. Phrasal Verbs Ending with Prepositions Followed by Gerunds

Some phrasal verbs end with a preposition, and when a verb follows them, it appears in the gerund form.

• 1. He gave up smoking.
• 2. I look forward to meeting you.
• 3. They put off making a decision.
• 4. She kept on talking despite the noise.
• 5. We ended up staying longer than planned.
• 6. He carried on working all night.
• 7. They settled for staying indoors.
• 8. I came up with improving the design.
• 9. She stuck with choosing that option.
• 10. We looked into investigating the issue.

8. Special Case: ‘To’ as a Preposition

Although “to” is usually seen as part of the infinitive (to + base verb), sometimes it works as a preposition. In these cases, “to” must be followed by a gerund.

• 1. She is accustomed to working late.
• 2. They are committed to improving the system.
• 3. He is looking forward to meeting his new team.