Gerund

Hello, students! Today, we’re going to learn about an important concept in English grammar: gerunds. Gerunds are an effective way to discuss actions as ideas, hobbies, or objects in a sentence. Let’s explore this topic step by step so you can use gerunds confidently in your writing and speaking.

What Is a Gerund?

A gerund is a word that looks like a verb but acts like a noun in a sentence. Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb.

For example:

• • Running is my favourite activity.
  • She loves painting.

In both examples, the gerunds (running and painting) are not describing actions—they’re being used as things (nouns) in the sentence.

How Do Gerunds Function in a Sentence?

Gerunds can be used in many ways, just like regular nouns. Let’s look at six common ways gerunds function in a sentence:

1. As the Subject of a Sentence

The gerund is the main focus of the sentence.

• • Swimming is great exercise.
  • Reading improves your vocabulary.

2. As the Direct Object

The gerund receives the action of the verb.

• • She enjoys dancing.
  • They love traveling.

3. As the Indirect Object

The gerund benefits from or is affected by the action.

• • He gave gardening a try.
  • She showed cooking to her friends.

4. As the Object of a Preposition

The gerund comes after a preposition like on, in, of, or for.

• • They are excited about skiing.
  • We are interested in learning new things.

5. As the Subject Complement
The gerund completes the subject by renaming or describing it.

• • Her favourite hobby is drawing.
  • Their goal is winning the tournament.

6. As the Object Complement

The gerund renames or modifies the object of the verb.

• • She imagined herself climbing a mountain.
  • They saw him running across the field.

Gerund Phrases

A gerund phrase is a group of words that includes a gerund and its modifiers or objects. Together, they act as a noun in a sentence.

For example:

• • Apologizing to your teacher shows maturity.
  • Consuming excessive sugar can lead to various health issues.

In both examples, the entire phrase is treated as a noun.

How to Identify a Gerund

It’s simple! Look for a word that:

• • Ends in -ing.
  • Acts as a noun in the sentence.

Gerund:

• • Playing soccer is fun. (Playing is the subject of the sentence.)

Not a Gerund (Present Participle):

• • He is playing soccer. (Playing is part of the verb phrase.)

Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Sometimes, a verb can act as a noun in two ways: as a gerund or as an infinitive.

• • Gerund: She enjoys dancing.
  • Infinitive: She enjoys to dance.

Both are correct, but some verbs prefer one over the other. For example:

• • Prefer gerunds: enjoy, avoid, consider, finish
    • • I enjoy reading. (Correct)
      • I enjoy to read. (Incorrect)
  • Prefer infinitives: decide, hope, plan, want
    • • I plan to travel. (Correct)
      • I plan traveling. (Incorrect)

How to Create a Gerund

You create a gerund by adding -ing to the base form of a verb.

Examples:

• • Verb: eat → Gerund: eating
  • Verb: write → Gerund: writing

Special Rules:

1. Drop the silent -e for verbs ending in -e.

• • Verb: make → Gerund: making

2. Double the final consonant for verbs ending in one vowel + one consonant.

• • Verb: run → Gerund: running

3. Change -ie to -y for verbs ending in -ie.

• • Verb: die → Gerund: dying

Examples of Gerunds in Sentences

1. Subject:

• • Running is good for your health.
  • Singing makes her happy.

2. Direct Object:

• • I love dancing.
  • He avoids speaking in public.

3. Object of a Preposition:

• • She’s interested in learning French.
  • They talked about traveling to Europe.

4. Subject Complement:

• • His passion is writing stories.
  • My dream is painting landscapes.

5. Object Complement:

• • I saw her skating on the ice.
  • He imagined himself winning the game.

Gerund FAQs

Q: What is a gerund?
A gerund is a verb in its -ing form that acts as a noun in a sentence.

Q: How is a gerund different from a present participle?
A gerund functions as a noun, while a present participle functions as a verb or adjective.

Q: Can gerunds and infinitives be used interchangeably?
Sometimes! For example:

• • I love swimming.
  • I love to swim.
    Both are correct.

However, some verbs only work with gerunds or infinitives. For example:

• • I avoid swimming. (Correct)
  • I avoid to swim. (Incorrect)

Practice Exercise

Identify the gerunds in these sentences:

1. Swimming every day keeps me healthy.
2. She apologized for being late.
3. His hobby is collecting stamps.
4. They enjoy playing video games together.
5. Cooking is her favorite activity.

Answers:

1. Swimming
2. Being
3. Collecting
4. Playing
5. Cooking