Grammatical Range: Gerund clauses

Gerund clauses as the subject

Gerunds are formed when we turn a verb into a noun, e.g. drive (verb) > driving (noun - gerund).

We can put gerunds at the start of the sentence, making them the subject of the sentence, e.g. Driving is fun.

We can create a whole clause with the gerund (a gerund clause) and still make it the subject of the sentence, e.g. Driving fast cars is fun.

In IELTS Writing Task 2 we usually need to talk about the world in a general way, so we can use gerund clauses instead of using real nouns and other grammatical structures. This is a good way to increase grammatical range.

For example we could say:

We’re obviously talking about people in general here so we don’t need to use the real noun “people”. Of course, an alternative way to say the same thing is using the real noun and a relative clause:

Making a gerund clause the subject puts more focus on the action/ action clause, “growing up in poverty” in this case. This can be useful if you want to emphasise the action. Look at the difference between the following sentences:

The first sentence focuses on "John" while the second focuses on the action. Obviously when using a gerund clause you don't see the person or actor, in this case "John", so it must already be clear from the context. This need for context isn't important if we're talking in a more general way, as is the case in the sentences below:

By + gerund clauses

In IELTS we often want to explain how something can be done. We want to offer solutions to problems. A great way to do this is using by + gerund clause. Have a look at the following examples:

By making electric vehicles cheaper, the government can encourage people to use them.

By investing in free to use sports facilities, governments can help citizens to get fit.

By teaching unemployed people new skills, it would be possible to reduce the unemployment rate.

Now it’s time for you to try and make some of your own gerund clauses. Look at the exercise below:

Exercise 1:

Rewrite the following sentences using a gerund clause as the subject.

Example:

It is unfair to ban mobile phone use on trains.

Answer: Banning mobile phone use on trains is unfair.

1. It is reasonable to prohibit mobile phone use in libraries.

2. It is dangerous to use a mobile phone while you drive.

3. If a person speaks loudly on their phone it can be distracting to others.

4. Mobile phones make it simple to find your way around.

5. People can stay in contact with friends and relatives more easily thanks to messaging apps.

6. It is much easier to send and receive money now.

7. These days, it is possible to access the internet wherever you are.

8. People can watch videos or listen to music any time on a mobile phone.

Activity 1:

Use by + gerund clauses to explain what governments could do to deal with the following challenges:

Problem: There is high unemployment.

Solution: By offering subsidies to manufacturers the government could increase the number of jobs in the country.

1. Problem: There are too many road accidents.

2. Problem: Many people are overweight.

3. Problem: There is a lot of litter on the streets.

4. Problem: Not enough students study the sciences.

5. Problem: Many elderly people are lonely.

6. Problem: There aren't enough sport activities in schools.

7. Problem: It is very expensive to rent or buy a property.

8. Problem: Some business pollute the environment.

9. Problem: There aren't enough doctors.

10. Problem: Most children spend too much time indoors.