Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
The –ing form of a verb can be used as its present participle, functioning as an adjective. The –ing form can also be part of a verb phrase.
–ING FORM AS PART OF A VERB PHRASE
- Lonnie has been cleaning house all day. [Cleaning is part of the verb phrase has been cleaning.]
–ING FORM AS A PRESENT PARTICIPLE
- These cleaning brushes work well on many surfaces. [Cleaning is a participle and functions as an adjective describing brushes.]
–ING FORM AS A GERUND
- Lonnie doesn’t mind cleaning if the rest of his family will pitch in, too. [Cleaning is a gerund and functions as the direct object of the verb phrase does mind.]
A gerund can function in all the ways a noun can function: as a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.
Gerund Phrases
A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or complements the gerund has. The entire phrase is used as a noun.
As with nouns, gerund phrases can function as subjects, predicate nominatives, direct and indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
EXAMPLES
- Janet earns top scores for solving math problems quickly. [The gerund solving has a complement, math problems, and is modified by the adverb quickly. The whole phrase acts as the object of the preposition for.]
- Riding in the parade was a fun experience. [The gerund Riding is modified by a prepositional phrase, in the parade. The whole phrase acts as the subject of the sentence.]