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Verbsfollowedbygerunds|EnglishGrammarGuide|EF

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VERBS FOLLOWED BY
GERUNDS
The gerund is commonly used after quite a few dierent verbs. The most important of these verbs are shown below.
All of these verbs can be followed by nouns instead of gerunds. Remember, gerunds always function as nouns in
sentences. Some of these verbs can also be followed by a that-clause. The verbs that require additional usage
explanation are displayed as links which lead to more detailed pages.

VERBS WHICH CAN BE FOLLOWED BY NOUNS OR GERUNDS

avoid

celebrate

consider

contemplate

defer

delay

detest

dislike

dread (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingdread/)

enjoy

entail

escape

excuse (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingexcuse-forgiveand-pardon/)

nish

forgive (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingexcuse-forgiveand-pardon/)

involve

keep

loathe

mind

miss

pardon (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingexcuse-forgiveand-pardon/)

postpone

prevent (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingprevent/)

resent

resist

risk

save

stop (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingstop/)

EXAMPLES
I avoid going to the dentist.

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Verbsfollowedbygerunds|EnglishGrammarGuide|EF

I avoid chocolate.
I miss taking walks in the morning.
I miss England.
I have nished working.
I have nished the cake.

VERBS WHICH CAN BE FOLLOWED BY NOUNS, GERUNDS, OR A THAT-CLAUSE

acknowledge

admit

anticipate

appreciate
(/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingappreciate/)

deny

imagine

mean (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingmean/)

mention

propose (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingpropose/)

recall

recollect

report

suggest (/englishresources/englishgrammar/usingsuggest/)

understand

EXAMPLES
I can't imagine living in that big house.
I can't imagine a purple unicorn in my yard.
I can't imagine that he lied on purpose.
I understand French.
I understand shing pretty well.
I understand that you would prefer to stay.

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or by an innitive. When this is the case, the meaning of the two will be
identical for some verbs, but dierent for others. Detailed pages go into the individual verbs which can be followed
by a gerund or an innitive with equivalent meaning (/english-resources/english-grammar/gerund-equals-innitive/)
and verbs which can be followed by a gerund or an innitive with dierent meanings (/english-resources/englishgrammar/gerund-does-not-equal-innitive/).

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