Gerunds

Gerunds

Gerunds are words which are formed with the root verb but play the role of a noun. Gerunds are easy to recognize as every gerund is a verb ending with the word -ing.

You know grammar is a complex part of English. A gerund is a tricky one. As present participles are formed with the root verb + ing. So, you should be able to spot the difference between a gerund and a present participle. Gerunds are not the -ing forms you use in progressive tenses.

So, remember gerunds are formed with verbs + ing but act as nouns. Present participles are also formed with verbs + ing but they don’t play the role of nouns. They are modifiers.

Like nouns, gerunds can act as a subject, direct object, indirect object, objects of preposition and predicate nouns.

Gerund as a subject of the sentence

Gerund takes the position of the subject in a sentence.

Example:

• Swimming is a sport which keeps the heart rate up.
• Reading helps to enhance memory power.
• Travelling paves a way to explore new things around the world.

Gerund as an object of the sentence

Gerunds can also capture the position of the subject

Example:

• Ann goes for walking.
• They enjoy drawing.
• Leesa spends time on reading.

Gerunds after preposition

Gerunds are used after the preposition when a verb comes after the preposition.

Example:

• John is good at swimming since his childhood.
• In spite of meeting him directly, you can send an email to him.
• She is tired of explaining the situation to him.

The gerund after phrasal verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of the main verb together with an adverb or preposition or a combination of both.

Gerunds are used after the phrasal verbs.

Example:

• She kept on practising to dance well.
• Grace burst out laughing when Lia fell down.
• He ended up solving the issue when Lucy scolded him.

Examples of Gerunds