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Gerunds (-ing):

When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund ora present participle. It is important to

understand that they are not the same.

When we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, it is usually a gerund:

Fishingis fun.

When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verbor an adjective, it is usually a present

participle:

Anthony is fishing.

I have a boringteacher.

Gerunds are sometimes called verbal nouns.

Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

!ry to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form.

"ike nouns, gerunds can be the sub#ect, ob#ect or complement of a sentence:

Smoingcosts a lot of money.

I don$t like !riting.

%y favourite occupation is reading.

&ut, like a verb, a gerund can also have an ob#ect itself. In this case, the whole e'pression

(gerund ) ob#ect* can be the sub#ect, ob#ect or complement of the sentence.

Smoing cigarettescosts a lot of money.

I don$t like !riting letters.

%y favourite occupation is reading detective stories.

"ike nouns, we can use gerunds with ad#ectives +including articles and other determiners:

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pointless "uestioning

a settlingof debts

the maingof Titanic

his driningof alcohol

&ut when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct ob#ect:

a settling of debts +nota settling debts

%aking !itanic was e'pensive.

!he making of !itanic was e'pensive.

o you see the difference in these two sentences In one, reading is a gerund +noun. In the

other reading is a present participle +verb.

%y favourite occupation is reading.

%y favourite niece is reading

readingas gerund +noun %ain /erb 0omplement %y favourite occupation is reading. %y

favourite occupation is football.

readingas present participle +verb Au'iliary /erb %ain /erb %y favourite niece is reading.

%y favourite niece has finished.

http:11www.englishclub.com1grammar1verbs-gerunds23.htm

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Gerunds

Summar#:!his handout provides a detailed overview +including descriptions and e'amplesof gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

Contributors:4urdue 5W"

$ast %dited:3677-73-68 67:9:;9

A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ingand functions as a noun. !he term verbalindicates that

a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore e'presses

action or a state of being.

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A gerund phrase is a group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier+s and1or

+pronoun+s or noun phrase+s that function as the direct ob#ect+s, indirect ob#ect+s, or

complement+s of the action or state e'pressed in the gerund, such as:

&he gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence'

=inding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we$re trying to do.

=inding +gerund

a needle +direct ob#ect of action e'pressed in gerund

in a haystack +prepositional phrase as adverb

&he gerund phrase functions as the direct object of the verb appreciate'

I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity.

my +possessive pronoun ad#ective form, modifying the gerund

offering +gerund

you +indirect ob#ect of action e'pressed in gerund

this opportunity +direct ob#ect of action e'pressed in gerund

&he gerund phrase functions as the subject complement'

!om$s favorite tactic has been #abbering away to his constituents.

#abbering away to +gerund

his constituents +direct ob#ect of action e'pressed in gerund

&he gerund phrase functions as the object of the preposition for'

>ou might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work.

faking +gerund

an illness +direct ob#ect of action e'pressed in gerund

to avoid work +infinitive phrase as adverb

&he gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence'

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&eing the boss made ?eff feel uneasy.

&eing +gerund

the boss +sub#ect complement for ?eff, via state of being e'pressed in gerund

Punctuation

A gerund virtually never re@uires any punctuation with it.

Points to remember:

7. A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun.

3. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier+s, ob#ect+s, and1or

complement+s.

. Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never re@uire punctuation.

http:11owl.english.purdue.edu1owl1resource1B31671