Gerunds

A gerund = a verb + "ing”, and then used as a noun.

Example 1: Swimming is good exercise.

"Swimming" = verb + "ing". It is now used as a noun, a subject that we talk about.

Example 2: The girls enjoy swimming. (direct object)

"Swimming" is now used as a direct object, a receiver of the action in the sentence...It is being enjoyed by the girls.

Example 3: The best exercise is swimming. (predicate nominative)

"Swimming" is the predicate nominative; it

• follows the linking verb (is) and
• tells us what the subject is (the best exercise = swimming)

Example 4: Joe was scolded for swimming. (object of a preposition)

Here, "Swimming" is the object of a preposition because it

• sticks with a preposition (for) and
• gives meaning to that sentence (Why was Joe scolded? He was scolded for swimming.)

A gerund phrase consists of

• a gerund
• its modifiers (changes the meaning)
• and complements (completes the action)

The gerund phrase is used as a noun.

Example:
Swimming in the lake is good exercise.

Not simply just swimming, but swimming in the lake.

(To identify whether you are looking at a gerund or a gerund phrase, sometimes, you need to ask yourself:
"Any more I can say about this gerund?")


Exercise 1: Underline the gerund or gerund phrase in each sentence.

1. Although he is famous today, Rudolph Nureyev’s birth on a train in Russia was a modest beginning.
2. Brisk walking is my favourite exercise. 
3. Keeping a light on in the house helps discourage robbers. 
4. Mrs. Norman enjoys playing cards. 
5. I remember promising Steve my old bike. 
6. Standing during a two-hour train trip is not my idea of fun. 
7. Do you like sailing on the lake? 
8. Volunteering at the hospital is just one of Helen's activities. 
9. He began his great career by dancing with amateur groups.
10. Mrs. Brent enjoys watching quiz shows on television. 
11. Allow twenty minutes a pound for roasting the turkey. 
12. Taking out the garbage is not my favorite job around the house. 
13. Understanding a foreign language and speaking it well are two different things. 
14. Acting in high school and college plays helped prepare Tim for Broadway. 
15. Collecting stamps is a popular hobby. 
16. Rushing through your chores will get you nowhere. 
17. Don't you ever get tired of listening to the radio? 
18. Mr. Olson never tires of talking about his grandchildren. 
19. One of his skills was leaping like a gazelle.
20. The dance world in London, Paris, and New York competed in praising his performances.
21. At recitals in which Lisa sang, the orchestra was often drowned out by wild cheering.
22. Watching his impossibly high leaps was an unforgettable experience.
23. His dancing is known to everyone.
24. Bird watching with binoculars is a popular pastime. 
25. Arguing with me takes much of my little brother's time. 
26. Constant complaining helps no one. 
27. Listening to the concerto is sheer pleasure for Joan. 
28. After standing behind the counter all day, Jim likes to relax at night. 
29. Driving in a crowded city was a new experience for Nick.
30. She could not stop humming that tune.

Exercise 2: Write gerund or gerund phrase to identify the underlined words. Write subject, direct object, predicate nominative, or object of a preposition to identify how each gerund or gerund phrase is used in the sentence.

1. Dancing takes many forms. 
2. Preparation for dancing in a troupe begins early in life. 
3. Stretching all the muscles takes up much of a dancer’s practice time. 
4. The grandest movement of ballet is leaping. 
5. In the 1920s, modern dancers started moving in a completely new way. 
6. Now dancers enjoy studying traditional forms. 
7. The darkness of the night prevented us from finishing the job. 
8. Rising with the sun did not appeal to him.