Does the gerund or continuous tenses end in "ing"? If the answer is difficult, it is easy to tell if the sentence is gerund or continuous after reading this lesson.
Gerund and Continuous Tenses
1. Continuous tenses
The continuous tenses are formed by to be and the verb form + ING. Examples:
- He is reading a book. (Present Continuous)
- He was reading a book. (Past Continuous)
- He has been reading a book for three hours. (Present perfect continuous)
- He had been reading a book before Mary came in. (Past perfect continuous
- He will be reading a book when I get home. (Future continuous)
- He will have been reading a book. (Future perfect continuous)
- He would be reading a book if he. (Continuous Conditional Sentences)
- He would have been reading a book if he had had time. (Perfect continuous conditional)
- A book is being read. (Present continuous passive form)
- A book was being read. (Past continuous in the passive form)
2. Gerund
The gerund is formed only with the verb form + ING. Examples:
- Reading books is great fun.
- He likes Reading books.
- He is looking forward to Reading books on Sunday.
- He is keen on Reading books.
- He is used to Reading books.
- What about Reading books?
- He likes the idea of Reading books.
- After Reading the book, he went to bed.
See: Gerund and Infinitive With Verbs