Gerund: A Verb That Acts Like a Noun
In English grammar, the gerund is a fascinating hybrid: a verb form that functions as a noun.1 This unique characteristic often causes confusion for English learners. This article aims to clarify what gerunds are, how they are formed, and how they are used in sentences.
What is a Gerund?
A gerund is a verb ending in “-ing” that is used as a noun.2 It describes an action or activity.3 Think of it as a verb “turned into” a noun.
- Verb: swim (action)4
- Gerund: swimming (activity)5
How to Form a Gerund
Forming a gerund is simple: just add “-ing” to the base form of the verb.6
- read → reading
- write → writing7
- eat → eating
- play → playing
Functions of Gerunds in Sentences
Gerunds can perform various roles within a sentence, just like any other noun:8
- Subject of a sentence:
- Swimming is my favorite exercise.
- Reading before bed helps me relax.9
- Object of a verb:
- I enjoy cooking.
- She avoids driving in the city.
- Object of a preposition:
- He is good at painting.
- They talked about traveling to Europe.
- Subject complement:
- My favorite hobby is gardening.
- One of her duties is attending meetings.
Gerund Phrases
A gerund can also be part of a gerund phrase, which includes the gerund and any related words, such as objects or modifiers.10 The entire phrase then functions as a noun.11
- Reading books online is convenient.12 (gerund phrase as subject)
- She spends her free time writing short stories. (gerund phrase as object)
- He improved his English by watching movies in English. (gerund phrase as object of preposition)
Gerunds vs. Present Participles
It’s important to distinguish gerunds from present participles, which also end in “-ing.” While they look the same, they have different functions:
- Gerund: Functions as a noun.13
- Present Participle: Functions as an adjective or part of a verb tense.
Examples:
- Gerund: Running is good for your health.14 (“Running” is the subject of the sentence)
- Present Participle: The running water sounded soothing. (“Running” describes the noun “water”)
- Present Participle: She is running a marathon. (“Running” is part of the present continuous tense)
Common Verbs Followed by Gerunds
Certain verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.15 Here are a few examples:
- enjoy (I enjoy listening to music.)16
- avoid (He avoids eating fast food.)
- finish (She finished writing her essay.)17
- consider (They are considering moving to a new city.)18
- suggest (I suggest trying the local cuisine.)19
Conclusion
Gerunds are an essential part of English grammar, allowing us to use verbs as nouns and express actions as activities.20 By understanding their form and function, you can improve your English fluency and accuracy.
Other Useful Links
| Introduction to English Grammar | Noun | Pronoun | Adjectives | Verbs | Adverb | Preposition | Conjunction | Interjection | Articles | Phrases | Clause | Modal Verbs | Tenses | Passive Voice | Gerund