The rule, as people use it

Put -ing on a verb and it can work like a noun: the name of an activity. "Swimming is good for your back." "I love traveling." The term is gerund, but what matters is where it shows up in real speech. There are three places.

First, as the subject, when the activity itself is the topic: "Running every morning changed my life." Second, after certain verbs. The common ones are enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, keep, suggest, miss, practice, consider and can't stand. "I enjoy cooking." "Do you mind waiting?" "She kept talking." Third, after any preposition, because a preposition needs a noun after it: "I'm good at fixing things." "Thanks for coming." "I'm thinking about quitting."

The mistake you'll hear constantly is "to" after these verbs: "I enjoy to cook", "I'm looking forward to see you". Both sound wrong to an English speaker. After enjoy, finish and mind, it's always -ing. And "looking forward to" is a trap, because "to" there is a preposition, not part of the verb: "I'm looking forward to seeing you."

Examples

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Fill the gap

Type the missing words, then check. The full sentence plays when you get it.

  1. 1

    I enjoy (read) before bed.

  2. 2

    Do you mind (open) the window?

  3. 3

    Thanks for (call) me back.

  4. 4

    I'm looking forward to (meet) your family.

  5. 5

    Aiko avoids (drive) in the city.

  6. 6

    (learn) a language takes time.

  7. 7

    He's thinking about (move) to Dubai.

  8. 8

    Have you finished (eat)?

Practice · 3 min

Answer these out loud in full sentences, then write your answers. What do you enjoy doing on weekends? What do you avoid doing if you can? What can't you stand? What are you looking forward to this month? What are you good at? Check that every answer has an -ing verb, and that "looking forward to" is followed by -ing, not the base verb.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.