Gerunds as the subject
Start a sentence with an -ing form acting as the subject — "Cooking at home saves money," "Taking notes helps me focus." The gerund names an activity and takes a singular verb.
Read the sentences below, then practice the whole lesson with audio.
- 1Spending a few minutes stretching in the morning helps my back
- 2Taking notes during meetings helps me stay focused
- 3Cooking at home on weekdays saves money
- 4Reading short news on the subway keeps me informed
- 5Calling my parents on Sundays makes them smile
- 6Practicing deep breathing before a test calms my nerves
- 7Listening to podcasts while walking improves my English
- 8Planning my tasks the night before reduces morning stress
- 9Limiting screen time before bed helps me sleep better
- 10Learning a musical instrument as an adult is challenging but rewarding
- 11Writing down three small goals every Monday gives me momentum
- 12Taking the stairs instead of the elevator strengthens my legs
- 13Volunteering at the library on weekends broadens my view
- 14Starting emails with a warm greeting builds trust
- 15Reviewing vocabulary before class boosts my confidence
FAQ
- How does this dictation practice work?
- Play a sentence, type exactly what you hear, then press check — Dictation Trainer shows word-level feedback: which words you misheard, misspelled, confused for a homophone, or missed.
- Do I need an account, and is it free?
- You can read the sentences here without signing up. To practice with audio and save progress, create a free account — practice runs on Echoes you earn for free, starting with 100.
- What level is this lesson?
- This lesson is graded B1 on the CEFR scale and has 15 sentences. Dictation Trainer lessons currently run from A1 to B2, with more lessons on the way.