GERUND

Gerunds (-ing) from www.englishclub.com When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a 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: Fishing is fun. When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verb or an adjective, it is usually a present participle: Anthony is fishing. I have a boring teacher. Gerunds are sometimes called "verbal nouns". we use gerunds: Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement Gerunds after Prepositions Gerunds after Certain Verbs Gerunds in Passive Sense Many grammarians do not like to use the expression "gerund". That is because there is sometimes no clear difference between a gerund and a present participle. Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement Try to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form. Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence: Smoking costs a lot of money. I don't like writing. My favourite occupation is reading. But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression [gerund + object] can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence. Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money. I don't like writing letters. My favourite occupation is reading detective stories. Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners): pointless questioning a settling of debts the making of Titanic his drinking of alcohol But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object: a settling of debts (not a settling debts) Making "Titanic" was expensive. The making of "Titanic" was expensive. Do you see the difference in these two sentences? In one, "reading" is a gerund (noun). In the other "reading" is a present participle (verb). My favourite occupation is reading. My favourite niece is reading. Gerunds after Prepositions This is a good rule. It has no exceptions! If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund. It is impossible to use an infinitive after a preposition. So for example, we say: I will call you after arriving at the office. Please have a drink before leaving. I am looking forward to meeting you. Do you object to working late? Tara always dreams about going on holiday. Notice that you could replace all the above gerunds with "real" nouns: I will call you after my arrival at the office. Please have a drink before your departure. I am looking forward to our lunch. Do you object to this job? Tara always dreams about holidays. The above rule has no exceptions! So why is "to" followed by "driving" in 1 and by "drive" in 2? I am used to driving on the left. I used to drive on the left. Gerunds after Certain Verbs We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the infinitive form, for example: I want to eat. But sometimes the second verb must be in gerund form, for example: I dislike eating. This depends on the first verb. Here is a list of verbs that are usually followed by a verb in gerund form: admit, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider, defer, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, can't help, imagine, involve, leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off, report, resent, risk, can't stand, suggest, understand Look at these examples: She is considering having a holiday. Do you feel like going out? I can't help falling in love with you. I can't stand not seeing you. Some verbs can be followed by the gerund form or the infinitive form without a big change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start I like to play tennis. I like playing tennis. It started to rain. It started raining. Gerunds in Passive Sense We often use a gerund after the verbs need, require and want. In this case, the gerund has a passive sense. I have three shirts that need washing. (need to be washed) This letter requires signing. (needs to be signed) The house wants repainting. (needs to be repainted) The expression "something wants doing" is not normally used in American English Gerunds A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. The term verbal indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence that a noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject complement, and object of preposition. Gerund as subject: Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (Traveling is the gerund.) The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (The gerund has been removed.) Gerund as direct object: They do not appreciate my singing. (The gerund is singing.) They do not appreciate my assistance. (The gerund has been removed) Gerund as subject complement: My cat's favorite activity is sleeping. (The gerund is sleeping.) My cat's favorite food is salmon. (The gerund has been removed.) Gerund as object of preposition: The police arrested him for speeding. (The gerund is speeding.) The police arrested him for criminal activity. (The gerund has been removed.) A gerund phrase is a group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the gerund, such as: The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence. Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do. Finding (gerund) a needle (direct object of action expressed in gerund) in a haystack (prepositional phrase as adverb) The gerund phrase functions as the direct object of the verb appreciate. I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity. my (possessive pronoun adjective form, modifying the gerund) offering (gerund) you (indirect object of action expressed in gerund) this opportunity (direct object of action expressed in gerund) The gerund phrase functions as the subject complement. Tom's favorite tactic has been jabbering away to his constituents. jabbering away to (gerund) his constituents (direct object of action expressed in gerund) The gerund phrase functions as the object of the preposition for: You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work. faking (gerund) an illness (direct object of action expressed in gerund) to avoid work (infinitive phrase as adverb) The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence. Being the boss made Jeff feel uneasy. Being (gerund) the boss (subject complement for Jeff, via state of being expressed in gerund) Punctuation: A gerund virtually never requires any punctuation with it. Points to remember: A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s). Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.