Introduction

In English, some verbs are naturally followed by an -ing form (a gerund). At B1 level, this pattern becomes essential because it appears constantly in everyday conversations: talking about preferences, giving advice, reporting ideas, and describing habits. If you choose the wrong form, your sentence may still be understandable, but it will not sound accurate or confident. In this unit, you will learn the most common verbs that require a gerund and how to use them in realistic contexts.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: use common verbs followed by gerunds (enjoy, avoid, suggest, finish, keep, mind, consider); build correct negative forms and questions with these patterns; and produce natural sentences about preferences, advice, and routines.

1) What is a gerund in verb patterns?

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used like a noun. In verb patterns, it often comes after another verb: I enjoy reading. Here, reading is the activity (a “thing”) that the speaker enjoys.

Important concept
When a verb requires a gerund, the -ing form is not optional. The correct pattern is part of the verb’s grammar: avoid doing, suggest doing, finish doing.

2) Key verbs followed by gerunds (B1 focus)

Below are common verbs that are typically followed by a gerund. Read the examples as short scenes; imagine the speaker and the situation.

enjoy + -ing
I enjoy cooking on Sundays.
She enjoys working with children.

avoid + -ing
He avoids driving at night.
Try to avoid making the same mistake again.

suggest + -ing
They suggested taking a break.
I suggest starting earlier tomorrow.

finish + -ing
I finished writing the email.
When do you finish studying?

keep + -ing
She kept asking the same question.
Keep practising and you will improve.

mind + -ing (often in questions and polite requests)
Do you mind opening the window?
I don’t mind waiting.

consider + -ing
We are considering moving to a new area.
Have you considered changing your study plan?

3) Building negative forms and questions

To make these patterns negative, you usually negate the first verb, not the gerund:

Negative
I don’t enjoy studying late.
She didn’t avoid talking about the problem.
We aren’t considering buying a new car.

Questions follow normal auxiliary rules. The gerund stays the same:

Questions
Do you enjoy learning English?
Did he suggest meeting earlier?
Are they considering changing the schedule?

4) Common mistakes to avoid

Warning
A frequent error is using to + infinitive after verbs that require a gerund. For example, avoid to do is incorrect. The correct form is avoid doing.

Compare these pairs:

Correct: I enjoy reading.
Incorrect: I enjoy to read.

Correct: She suggested taking a taxi.
Incorrect: She suggested to take a taxi.

Correct: Do you mind helping me?
Incorrect: Do you mind to help me?

5) Meaning and tone in real communication

Using gerund patterns helps you sound natural and precise. Notice the tone differences:

Advice: I suggest leaving earlier. (calm, practical)
Preference: I enjoy working in the morning. (personal habit)
Polite request: Do you mind waiting a moment? (soft, respectful)
Persistence: He kept interrupting. (repeated action, often negative)

Practice

Practice section
Complete each sentence with the correct gerund form. Then check the answer column.