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Gerunds and Gerund Phrases

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Gerunds and Gerund Phrases

Gerunds and Gerund Phrases

Gerunds

A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun.

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.


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.]
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Gerunds and Gerund Phrases Quiz

Gerunds and Gerund Phrases Quiz

Choose the gerund phrase in each sentence.

FAQs:

Q: What is a gerund?
A: A gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun. Gerunds can act as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. For example, Swimming is my favorite sport. I enjoy reading books. His hobby is cooking.

Q: What is a gerund phrase?
A: A gerund phrase consists of a gerund along with its objects, complements, and modifiers. For example, Swimming laps at the pool is great exercise. Here "Swimming laps at the pool" is a gerund phrase acting as the subject.

Q: How are gerunds and present participles different?
A: Present participles also end in "-ing," but they act as adjectives modifying nouns. Gerunds act as nouns. For example, The smiling child (present participle) / Smiling makes me happy (gerund).

References

  1. English Grammar Demystified, 2nd Edition, by Jim Peterson, McGraw-Hill Education, 2012.
  2. A Student's Introduction to English Grammar by Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
  3. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, University of Chicago Press, 2017.
  4. Garner's Modern English Usage, 4th Edition by Bryan A. Garner, Oxford University Press, 2016.
  5. Practical English Usage, 4th Edition by Michael Swan, Oxford University Press, 2016.
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Mr. ‏El-Sayed Ramadan ‎ ‎

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