A gerund is a special type of verb form that functions as a noun within a sentence. The name 'gerund' might sound intimidating, but we use gerunds regularly in daily life! Let's define the term and then see how they are used.
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What is a gerund?
A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that is used as a noun.
What is a gerund phrase?
A gerund phrase is a gerund and any words modifying it in a sentence.
Eg. in the sentence 'Eating at a restaurant is a fun activity', 'eating at a restaurant' is a gerund phrase.
How do you identify a gerund in a sentence?
First, the word must end in -ing. Second, if the sentence remains grammatically correct when the word is replaced with a noun, then the word is a gerund.
What is an example of a gerund?
In the sentence 'Swimming is a good way to exercise', 'swimming' is a gerund (-ing word used as a noun).
What are the different types of gerunds?
Gerunds as a
subject
subject complement
direct object
object complement
object of a preposition
object of a possessive
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