Gerund

The gerund takes the same form (ending in -ing) as the present participle, but is used as a noun (or rather the verb phrase introduced by the gerund is used as a noun phrase). Many uses of gerunds are thus similar to noun uses of the infinitive. Uses of gerunds and gerund phrases are illustrated below:

As subject or predicative expression:

• Solving problems is satisfying.
• My favorite activity is spotting butterflies.

As object of certain verbs that admit such constructions:

• I like solving problems.
• We tried restarting the computer.

In a passive-type construction after certain verbs, with a gap (zero) in object or complement position, understood to be filled by the subject of the main clause:

• That floor wants/needs scrubbing.
• It doesn't bear thinking about.

As complement of certain prepositions:

• No one is better at solving problems.
• Before jogging, she stretches.
• After investigating the facts, we made a decision.
• That prevents you from eating too much.

It is considered grammatically correct to express the agent(logical subject) of a gerund using a possessive form (they object to my helping them), although in informal English a simple noun or pronoun is often used instead (they object to me helping them).

Subject

The subject is the part of a sentence or clause that tells you who or what the sentence is about. It typically comes before the verb and controls the verb's form — meaning the verb must agree with the subject in number and person.

How to identify the subject

The subject is usually a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action or is described by the predicate.

• She works at a hospital.
• The old bridge collapsed during the storm.
• Running every morning keeps me healthy.

The verb agrees with the subject: She works (singular) vs. They work (plural). This subject-verb agreement is one of the most reliable ways to find the subject.

Self-check trick: Ask "Who or what + verb?" to locate the subject. "Who works at a hospital?" → She. That's your subject.

Types of subjects

• Simple subject — the core noun or pronoun alone: Dogs bark.
• Complete subject — the simple subject plus all its modifiers: The two large dogs next door bark every night.
• Compound subject — two or more subjects joined by a conjunction: Coffee and tea are available.

Tricky cases

Sometimes the grammatical subject isn't the "doer." In passive sentences, the subject receives the action:

• ❌ Thinking the subject must be the doer: "The window" broke itself?
• ✅ The window was broken by a ball. (The window is the subject, but the ball did the breaking.)

English also uses dummy subjects — words like it or there that fill the subject position without carrying real meaning:

• It is difficult to learn French.
• There are three problems with this plan.

In the first example, the "real" subject (the thing that is difficult) is to learn French, but grammatically it holds the subject slot. These are sometimes called expletive subjects.

Why it matters

Getting the subject right is essential for subject-verb agreement, choosing correct pronoun forms (he vs. him), and building clear sentences. Misidentifying the subject is one of the most common sources of grammar errors, especially with longer or inverted sentences.

Practice identifying subjects and building correct sentences with challenges like Basics. Common Questions. and Basics. Pronouns and Possessives..

B1 | Intermediate

B1 is the intermediate level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It marks the point where you move beyond survival English and start expressing yourself with real independence — describing experiences, explaining opinions, and handling everyday situations without a script.

What a B1 user can do

At this level, you're expected to:

• Understand the main points of clear, standard speech and writing on familiar topics — work, school, travel, hobbies.
• Handle most travel situations in English-speaking environments.
• Produce simple connected text on topics you know or care about.
• Describe experiences, events, hopes, and plans, and give brief reasons and explanations for your opinions.
• Communicate in routine tasks that require a straightforward exchange of information.

What B1 grammar looks like

B1 is where grammar starts to get more layered. You're not just forming basic sentences anymore — you're combining ideas, using different tenses with more precision, and starting to handle structures like the passive voice, modal verbs for necessity and possibility, and gerunds vs. infinitives. You're also expected to build complex sentences with linking words and dependent clauses.

Typical B1 grammar areas include:

• Future tenses — distinguishing will, going to, and the present continuous for future plans
• Passive voice — The report was written yesterday.
• Modal verbs — You should apply early. / She might be late.
• Used to — I used to live in Berlin.
• Verb patterns — knowing whether a verb takes a gerund, an infinitive, or both (I enjoy reading vs. I decided to leave)

What B1 doesn't mean

B1 speakers still hesitate, make grammatical errors, and sometimes struggle with less familiar topics. That's normal. The key difference from A2 is that you can keep a conversation going and get your point across even when things aren't perfect. The step up to B2 involves handling more abstract topics, understanding nuance, and producing more complex, accurate language.

Self-check: Can you tell a friend about a recent trip — what happened, what you liked, and what you'd do differently — without switching to your native language? If yes, you're likely operating at B1 or above.

Ready to find out where you stand? Try Are you B1/Intermediate? Test your English CEFR Level to figure out!, then build your skills with challenges like Basics. Passive Voice, Basics. Modal verbs, and Used to.

Difficulty: Medium

Medium difficulty. Difficulty levels represent author's opinion about how hard a question or challenge is.