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).

Participle

Participles are verb forms that do double duty — they help build tenses and voices, but they also work as adjectives and adverbs. Understanding both types of participles is essential for forming correct verb tenses, using the passive voice, and writing more sophisticated sentences.

The Two Participles

English has two participles:

1. Present participle — formed by adding -ing to the base verb: doing, running, sleeping. It's identical in form to the gerund, but serves a different function (more on that below).
2. Past participle — for regular verbs, it's the -ed form (walked, boiled). For irregular verbs, it varies widely: done, written, sung, gone.

How the Present Participle Is Used

• Progressive tenses: She is reading a book.
• As an adjective: The woman sitting by the window is my boss.
• As an adverb: Looking up from his phone, he noticed the bus had arrived.
• In absolute constructions (with its own subject): The weather being terrible, we cancelled the trip.

Present participles used as adjectives carry an active meaning — an exciting movie is one that excites you.

How the Past Participle Is Used

• Perfect tenses: They have finished the project.
• Passive voice: The email was sent this morning.
• As an adjective: The broken window needs replacing.
• Adverbially: Exhausted from the hike, we fell asleep immediately.

Past participles used as adjectives usually carry a passive meaning — the attached file is one that has been attached. However, past participles of intransitive verbs can have active meaning: fallen leaves (leaves that have fallen).

Participle vs. Gerund

Both the present participle and the gerund end in -ing, but they do different jobs. The participle acts as an adjective or adverb; the gerund acts as a noun.

• ✅ Swimming in the lake, she felt completely free. (participle — describes she)
• ✅ Swimming is her favourite hobby. (gerund — subject of the sentence)

The famous example Flying planes can be dangerous is ambiguous: flying could be a gerund ("the activity of flying planes") or a participle ("planes that fly").

Self-check: If you can replace the -ing word with a noun like "it" or "the activity," it's a gerund. If it describes a noun or tells you more about an action, it's a participle.

Watch Out: Past Tense vs. Past Participle

For regular verbs, the past tense and past participle look the same (walked, played). For many irregular verbs, they differ:

• ✅ I went home early. (past tense)
• ✅ I have gone home early. (past participle)
• ❌ I should have went home early.

If you're unsure, check whether the verb follows a helping word like have, has, or had — if it does, you need the past participle form.

Ready to practise? Try Gerund vs. Participle: Understanding -ing Word Functions, Participle Clauses: Shortening Sentences with -ing and Having + Past Participle, or Participle vs Gerund.

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.