vurtheory.blogg.se - What is a gerund

What is a gerund?Ī gerund is an instance when a verb is being used in a very particular way – as a noun! Read on to find out what exactly a gerund is, and how to make sure you’re using them correctly. You’ll find gerunds in virtually everything you read, write or hear – and they’re quite easy to use!

A gerund can function in any way a noun can function.Gerunds might sound like a strange term to come across in English grammar, but they describe a very common part of the language.

Summary: What is a Gerund?ĭefine gerund: A gerund is a noun that is formed from a verb, ending in “ing.” The second example includes the adjective modifier “three songs” telling how many songs Sarah enjoyed singing. The first example includes the adverb modifier “at the concert” telling where the singing is taking place. Each one starts with a gerund and includes modifiers. The italicized texts in the above examples are the gerund phrases. Like a gerund, a gerund phrase functions as a noun.Ī gerund phrase is a group of words beginning with a gerund and including any modifiers to that gerund. “Singing” is the present progressive verb, telling what the subject “Sarah” is doing.

In this example, “is singing” is the verb phrase.

In this example, “Sarah” is the subject, “enjoys” is the verb, and “singing” is a noun acting as the direct object of the sentence.Present ParticiplesĪ gerund is not the same thing as a present participle even though both terms end in “-ing.”Ī present participle is always part of a verb phrase. “Singing” is a noun and the object of the preposition “besides.” Gerunds vs. However, “besides singing” has been added to the sentence as a prepositional phrase opener. Here, “Sarah” is the subject of the sentence, “likes” is the verb and “dancing” is the noun (direct object).

Here, “Sarah” is the subject complement of the sentence because it follows the linking verb “was.” “It” is the subject and the gerund “singing” serves as the complement.īecause a gerund is a noun, it can be the object of a preposition in a prepositional phrase. Gerund as Subject Complementīecause a gerund is a noun, it can be a subject complement. “Singing” is a noun acting as an indirect object in the sentence. Here, “singing” is a noun following the verb “made.” “Priority” is the direct object of the sentence. Gerunds as Indirect Objectīecause a gerund is a noun, it can be an indirect object. Here, “singing” is the subject of the sentence, “enjoys” is the verb, and “singing” is the direct object. Gerunds as Direct Objectīecause a gerund is a noun, it can be the direct object. Here, “singing” is the noun doing the action “to make.” Because it completes the action, “singing” is the subject of the sentence.