Gerund

Gerund

 

Gerunds are the words that are formed with verbs but act as nouns.

All gerund end with -ing. 

For example-  Acting is fun.

 

Properties of Gerund

 


Gerund can be modified with an adverb

Unlike a normal noun, a gerund has some verb-like properties. Gerund can be modified with an adverb like a verb.

For example- 

Driving carefully is an important thing.

(The gerund ‘driving’ is modified with adverb ‘carefully’.)

 

Gerund can take an object

Regularly visiting the hospital during the course of treatment is necessary.

(The gerund ‘visiting’ is modofied with the adverb ‘regularly’ and has a direct object ‘the hospital’.)

 

Gerund as subject

As they are nouns, gerund can function as the subject of a verb.

 

Exercising is good for your body.

 

Gerund as object

A gerund can also act as an object of a verb.

 

She enjoys cooking daily for her family.

(Here the gerund ‘cooking’ is the object for the verb ‘enjoys’.)

 

Gerund as a subject complement 

Gerunds can also function as subject complement. A subject complement follows a linking verb. Linking verbs are the forms of the verb ‘to be’.

 

One of life’s pleasures is having coffee in bed. 

Their main goal is eliminating poverty.

(Here ‘eliminating’ is a gerund that acts as a complement of the subject ‘goal’.)

 

Gerund after preposition

After having shower I went to bed.

You can not make an omelet without breaking eggs.

Is she good at painting?

There is no point in arguing.

(Here gerund is after prepositions ‘at’ and ‘in’.)

 

Gerund after phrasal verb

A phrasal verb consists of a verb and an another element (preposition).

 

When will you give up smoking.

He kept on asking for the raw material.

 

Gerund Phrase

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund, its objects and all modifiers.

 

Eating bananas at night, makes you cough.

(Here ‘Eating’ is a gerund, ‘bananas’ is an object and ‘at night’ are modifiers.)

 

Every word that ends with -ing, is not a gerund. Like gerunds, present participle are also formed from verbs but they are not used as nouns. They are used as adjectives or verbs in continuous (progressive) tense.

For example- 

Can you fix the running tap? (Here ‘running’ is an adjective, so it is a present participle).

The tap was running for an hour. (Here ‘running’ is past participle used in past continuous tense)

Running the tap will empty the overhead tank. (Here ‘running’ is acting like a noun, therefore it is a gerund) 

 

Exercise

 

Underline gerund in these sentences.

 

1.    Humour is laughing at your own mistakes.

2.    Do not eat before swimming.

3.    Sitting in a group of ladies, she missed her favourite TV programme.

4.    Eating curry leaves will make your hair grow fast. 

5.    I am addicted to reading books.

6.    Running the tap water will clear the air pockets.

7.    Playing football is fun.

8.    Skating is fun.

9.    Skating is merely the art of balancing on wheels.

10.   Reading is to mind what exercise is to the body.

11.   Eating almonds will make you wise.

12.   They say that eating ginger and turmeric fixes arthritis.

13.     Art is the skill to make something out of nothing and then selling it.

14.    Swimming is Anjalis’s passion since she was five year old.

15.    Let’s go tracking this weekend.

16.    As soon as I reached home, it started raining.

17.    Making noise is what happy children do best.

18.    My daughter enjoys fixing broken toys.

19.    Rita avoided doing her math assignment as she found it difficult.

20.    I surprised them by visiting on weekend.


Ans-

1.    Humour is laughing at your own mistakes.

2.    Do not eat before swimming.

3.    Sitting in a group of ladies, she missed her favourite TV programme.

4.    Eating curry leaves will make your hair grow fast. 

5.    I am addicted to reading books.

6.    Running the tap water will clear the air pockets.

7.    Playing football is fun.

8.    Skating is fun.

9.    Skating is merely the art of balancing on wheels.

10.   Reading is to mind what exercise is to the body.

11.   Eating almonds will make you wise.

12.   They say that eating ginger and turmeric fixes arthritis.

13.     Art is the skill to make something out of nothing and then selling it.

14.    Swimming is Anjalis’s passion since she was five year old.

15.    Let’s go tracking this weekend.

16.    As soon as I reached home, it started raining.

17.    Making noise is what happy children do best.

18.    My daughter enjoys fixing broken toys.

19.    Rita avoided doing her math assignment as she found it difficult.

20.    I surprised them by visiting on weekend.


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