Understanding Emotion Verbs with Gerunds
When expressing feelings about activities, we use emotion verbs followed by gerunds (verb + -ing). This structure shows how we feel about doing something. Common emotion verbs include: love, enjoy, hate, like, detest, can't stand, and (don't) mind.
Structure Pattern
Emotion verb + verb-ing
Example: I enjoy swimming. (NOT: I enjoy to swim)
Example: I enjoy swimming. (NOT: I enjoy to swim)
Examples
She loves reading mystery novels before bed.Uses 'love' + gerund to express a strong positive feeling about the activity of reading
They can't stand waiting in long queues.Uses 'can't stand' + gerund to express strong dislike of the activity of waiting
I don't mind working late on Fridays.Uses 'don't mind' + gerund to express neutral or slight acceptance of the activity
He enjoys cooking Italian food.Uses 'enjoy' + gerund to express pleasure in the activity of cooking
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Incorrect: I enjoy to watch movies.
✅ Correct: I enjoy watching movies.
Explanation: After emotion verbs, use the gerund form, not the infinitive
❌ Incorrect: She can't stand to wait.
✅ Correct: She can't stand waiting.
Explanation: The expression 'can't stand' must be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive
❌ Incorrect: They don't mind to help.
✅ Correct: They don't mind helping.
Explanation: The phrase 'don't mind' requires a gerund to describe the activity
Tips for Success
- Remember that emotion verbs express how you feel about an activity, so the activity needs to be in gerund form
- Create a mental list of common emotion verbs (love, hate, enjoy, can't stand) that always need gerunds
- Think of the gerund as naming the activity that causes the emotion
- If you're expressing a feeling about an activity, use the gerund form
Learning Path Notes
Key Concepts in This Series:
- Basic gerund formation
- Emotion verb patterns
- Activity descriptions
What Comes Next:
Next pages should cover other verb patterns that require gerunds, such as verbs of preference (prefer, would rather) and avoidance verbs (avoid, postpone)