Things We Love Doing (J8A)
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EN: The verb 'enjoy' is always followed by a gerund (V-ing) when expressing an action that someone likes doing. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
She enjoys playing the piano after dinner.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'on weekends' is used to describe habits or regular activities that happen every Saturday and Sunday. 'On the weekend' (singular) is also common, especially in American English.
They usually go hiking on weekends.
EN: The phrase 'be good at' is used to express proficiency in a certain activity. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (V-ing).
She is good at playing tennis.
EN: When referring to playing musical instruments, the definite article 'the' is used before the instrument (e.g., play the violin, play the piano).
He is learning to play the piano.
EN: The verb 'finish' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) when expressing the completion of an activity. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
They finished painting the house yesterday.
EN: The word 'early' is used here as an adverb to modify the verb phrase 'finished doing her homework', indicating that the action was completed before the expected or usual time.
He arrived early for the meeting.
EN: The verb 'love' can be followed by a gerund (V-ing) to express a strong, general preference or enjoyment of an activity.
She loves playing the piano.
EN: The word 'watching' is a gerund acting as the direct object of the verb 'love'. It is followed by 'basketball games', which acts as the object of the gerund.
He enjoys watching movies.
EN: Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and many other countries. Expressing a love for watching sports games is a very common way to start a casual conversation or find common ground with others.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) functions as a noun and can be used as the subject of a sentence. It takes a singular verb.
Reading books expands your mind.
EN: Noun Adjunct (Noun modifying another noun): The word 'summer' is a noun used as an adjective to modify the noun 'hobby', describing what kind of hobby it is.
He attends a winter camp every year.
EN: The verb 'mind' is followed by a gerund (V-ing) when expressing the action that someone might object to. In polite requests, 'Do you mind + V-ing...?' is used to ask for permission or help in a courteous manner.
Do you mind opening the window?
EN: The verb 'help' can be followed by an object and the pattern 'with + noun' to specify the task or area in which assistance is being provided.
Can you help me with my homework?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking 'Do you mind...?' is considered a very polite and indirect way to make a request, as it gives the other person an easy option to decline without being rude. Remember that answering 'No' means 'I don't mind (I will help you)', while 'Yes' means 'I do mind (I won't help you)'.
EN: The pattern 'be interested in + noun/gerund' is used to express a hobby, passion, or curiosity about something. Since 'in' is a preposition, it must be followed by a noun or a gerund (V-ing).
She is interested in learning photography.
EN: The verb 'learn' can be followed by an infinitive ('to' + base verb) to indicate acquiring the ability to perform an action.
He wants to learn to play the piano.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun, so it takes a singular verb (is).
Reading books expands your mind.
EN: Coordinate Adjectives: 'Fun' and 'relaxing' are adjectives connected by the coordinating conjunction 'and' to describe the subject. They share the same weight in the sentence.
The movie was long and boring.
EN: The verb 'keep' is followed by a gerund (V-ing) to express the continuation of an action or state, meaning 'to continue doing something' or 'to do something repeatedly'.
She kept working despite being tired.
EN: The phrase 'every single day' is an emphatic form of 'every day', used to emphasize that the action happens without exception, every day.
I practice English every single day.
EN: The phrasal verb 'feel like' is used to express a desire or inclination for something at a particular moment. It is followed by a gerund (V-ing) or a noun.
I feel like going for a walk in the park.
EN: Indefinite pronouns ending in -thing (like 'something', 'anything', 'nothing') are modified by adjectives that come *after* them, rather than before.
Do you have anything interesting to read?
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (V-ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun, so the verb that follows must be singular (e.g., 'makes').
Reading books expands our knowledge.
EN: Causative Verb Pattern (make + object + adjective): The verb 'make' can be used to express causing a state or emotion. The structure is 'make + object + adjective', meaning to cause the object to be in that state.
The good news made her happy.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) when expressing an activity that someone likes doing. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
They enjoy playing board games on rainy days.
EN: The phrase 'spend time' means to pass time doing something or being with someone. It is often followed by 'together' to emphasize shared experiences.
We should spend more time together.
EN: The indefinite pronoun 'everyone' is grammatically singular. Therefore, the verb that follows it must take the third-person singular form (e.g., 'enjoys' with an -s).
Everyone in the class has a textbook.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is followed by a gerund (V-ing) as its object, not an infinitive (to V). In this sentence, 'doing' is the gerund acting as the object of 'enjoys'.
She enjoys playing the piano in her free time.
EN: The verb 'love' can be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express a general preference or enjoyment of an activity. In this sentence, 'growing' is the gerund acting as the direct object of 'loves'.
She loves taking photos of sunsets.
EN: The simple present tense is used here to describe a habitual action or a permanent state. Because the subject 'My mom' is third-person singular, the verb 'love' takes the ending '-s' to become 'loves'.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, gardening is a highly popular and therapeutic hobby. Having a 'small garden' or backyard is a common feature of suburban homes, and tending to flowers or vegetables is often associated with relaxation and family pride.
EN: The phrase 'be good at' is a common idiom used to express proficiency or skill in a particular area. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (verb-ing).
She is good at playing the piano.
EN: A gerund (verb-ing) is used after prepositions like 'at'. In this sentence, 'fixing' acts as the object of the preposition 'at'.
He is interested in learning new languages.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is always followed by a gerund (V-ing) when expressing an action that someone likes doing. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
She enjoys reading novels in her free time.
EN: The simple present tense is used here to describe a regular habit or routine. Since 'My brother' is a third-person singular subject, the verb 'enjoy' takes the ending '-s' to become 'enjoys'.
EN: The verb 'like' can be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express a general preference or hobby. When expressing multiple hobbies, the gerunds should be parallel in form (e.g., 'drawing and writing').
She likes swimming and playing tennis on weekends.
EN: Adjective order: When multiple adjectives describe a noun, they follow a general order. Here, 'short' (size) comes before 'funny' (opinion/observation) to modify the noun 'stories'.
He wrote a short, interesting article.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express liking an activity. This is a common pattern for verbs of liking or disliking.
They enjoy playing board games on rainy days.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'on weekends' is used to describe habits or regular activities that happen every weekend. It can be placed at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
On weekends, I usually sleep in.
EN: In many English-speaking cultures, cooking 'big meals' (like a Sunday roast or a large family dinner) on weekends is a traditional way for families and friends to gather, slow down, and connect after a busy work week.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It takes a singular verb.
Swimming is a great way to stay healthy.
EN: Prepositional Phrase as Modifier: The prepositional phrase 'before bed' acts as an adjective modifying the gerund 'Reading', specifying when the action takes place.
A walk after dinner is very relaxing.
EN: In many English-speaking cultures, establishing a 'bedtime routine' or 'quiet habit' before sleeping, such as reading a physical book, is highly valued for mental well-being and sleep hygiene, contrasting with the modern habit of looking at screens.
EN: The verb 'keep' is followed by a gerund (V-ing) to express that an action continues or is repeated. In this sentence, 'keeps practicing' means the action of practicing is done repeatedly or continuously.
She keeps talking about her new job.
EN: The verb 'practice' is also followed by a gerund (V-ing) when it takes an action as its object. Here, 'practicing the guitar' uses the gerund 'practicing' which itself takes 'the guitar' as its direct object.
He practices speaking English every day.
EN: A gerund phrase (verb-ing + object/modifier) can function as the singular subject of a sentence. In this sentence, 'Doing what we love' is the gerund phrase acting as the subject, which takes the singular verb 'makes'.
Reading books in the morning helps me focus.
EN: The verb 'make' can be used as a causative verb followed by an object and an adjective (make + object + adjective) to describe causing someone or something to be in a certain state.
The good news made everyone happy.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express pleasure in doing an activity. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
I enjoy reading books in my free time.
EN: In English, when addressing someone directly by name (vocative case), a comma is placed before the name at the end of the sentence.
How are you feeling today, John?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking about someone's hobbies or what they enjoy doing is a very common and polite way to make small talk and build rapport, especially when getting to know someone.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is transitively followed by a gerund (V-ing) as its object, not an infinitive (to V). When connecting multiple activities, parallel structure must be maintained (V-ing and V-ing).
We enjoy listening to music and dancing.
EN: The phrase 'take photos' uses the plural noun 'photos' to refer to the general activity of photography rather than taking one specific picture.
She loves taking photos of nature.
EN: The phrase 'be good at' is used to express proficiency or skill in a particular activity. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (verb-ing).
She is good at playing the piano.
EN: A gerund (verb-ing) is used after prepositions like 'at'. Here, 'fixing' acts as a noun representing the activity of repairing.
He is interested in learning new languages.
EN: Using gerunds (verb + -ing) as objects of the verb 'like'. A gerund functions as a noun, representing the activity itself.
I prefer swimming to running.
EN: The use of 'A or B more' in alternative questions to ask about a preference between two options.
Do you like tea or coffee more?
EN: Gerunds (V-ing) as Objects and Subjects: A gerund is a verb ending in '-ing' that functions as a noun. In the first clause, 'dancing' acts as the direct object of the verb 'love'. In the second clause, 'singing' acts as the subject of the sentence.
Swimming is fun, but I prefer running.
EN: Coordinating Conjunction 'but': The conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that show a contrast or conflict. A comma is typically placed before 'but' when it connects two complete sentences.
He wants to buy a car, but he doesn't have enough money.
EN: The verb 'finish' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to indicate the completion of an activity. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
She finished doing her homework early.
EN: The Simple Past Tense is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past (in this case, 'today').
They watched a movie yesterday.
EN: Gerunds as Subjects: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun, so it takes a singular verb (e.g., 'is').
Reading books expands your mind.
EN: Superlative Adjectives: The superlative form of 'good' is 'the best'. It is used to compare three or more things, indicating the highest degree of a quality.
This is the best movie I have ever seen.
EN: The verb 'keep' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express the continuation of an action or state. It means to do something repeatedly or continuously.
She keeps practicing the piano every day.
EN: The conjunction 'until' is used to connect an action with a point in time or an event when that action stops. In this sentence, it introduces an adverbial clause of time.
We waited until the rain stopped.
EN: The phrase 'get it right' is a very common idiomatic expression in English-speaking cultures, reflecting a mindset of perseverance, trial and error, and ultimate mastery.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun, so it takes a singular verb (e.g., 'is').
Reading books expands your mind.
EN: Present Participle as Adjective (-ing adjective): Adjectives ending in '-ing' are used to describe the characteristic of a thing or situation that causes a certain feeling (e.g., 'exciting' means something makes you feel excited).
Traveling to new places is always interesting.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun, so the verb that follows must agree with it (e.g., 'makes' with an 's').
Reading books expands our knowledge.
EN: Make + Object + Adjective (Causative/Resultative): The verb 'make' can be followed by an object and an adjective to describe the state or change of state caused by the action.
The warm weather makes me sleepy.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To be able to do something well; proficient in an activity.
To continue doing an activity repeatedly to improve skills.
To have a desire or inclination for something.
To pass time in a specific way or with a particular person.