What Is A Gerundnc

What is a Gerund?
Gerunds
A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. The term
verbal indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based
on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, since
a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence that a
noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject
complement, and object of preposition.
Gerund as subject:
 Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

 The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new
experiences.
Gerund as direct object:
 They do not appreciate my singing.

 They do not appreciate my assistance.
Gerund as subject complement:
 My cat's favorite activity is sleeping.

 My cat's favorite food is salmon.
Gerund as object of preposition:
 The police arrested him for speeding.

 The police arrested him for criminal activity.
A Gerund Phrase is a group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s)

and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct
object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state
expressed in the gerund, such as:
LATTC Writing Center Rev. September 1, 2007 Title V Funded

The gerund phrase functions as the
subject of the sentence.
Finding (gerund)
Finding a needle in a haystack would be
a needle (direct object of action expressed
easier than what we're trying to do. in gerund)
in a haystack (prepositional phrase as
adverb)

direct object of the verb appreciate.
my (possessive pronoun adjective form,
modifying the gerund)
I hope that you appreciate my offering you
offering (gerund)
this opportunity. you (indirect object of action expressed in
gerund)
this opportunity (direct object of action
expressed in gerund)

subject complement.
Newt's favorite tactic has been lying to his
lying to (gerund)
constituents. his constituents (direct object of action

object of the preposition for.
You might get in trouble for faking an faking (gerund)
illness to avoid work. an illness (direct object of action
to avoid work (infinitive phrase as adverb)

subject of the sentence.
Being the boss made Jeff feel uneasy. Being (gerund)
the boss (subject complement for Jeff, via
state of being expressed in gerund)
Punctuation
A gerund virtually never requires any punctuation with it.

Points to remember:
1. A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun.
2. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s),
and/or complement(s).
3. Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.
Exercise on Gerunds:
Underline the gerunds or gerund phrases in the following sentences
and label how they function in the sentence (subject, direct object,
subject complement, object of preposition).
1. Swimming keeps me in shape.

2. Swimming in your pool is always fun.
3. Telling your father was a mistake.
4. The college recommends sending applications early.
5. He won the game by scoring during the overtime period.
6. Her most important achievement was winning the national
championship.
7. Going to work today took all my energy.
8. Fighting for a losing cause made them depressed.
Exercise Answers: 1. Swimming keeps me in shape. [subject];2. Swimming in your pool is always fun. [subject];3. Telling your father
was a mistake. [subject];4. The college recommends sending applications early. [direct object];5. He won the game by scoring during
the overtime period. [object of preposition];6. Her most important achievement was winning the national championship. [subject
complement];7. Going to work today took all my energy. [subject];8. Fighting for a losing cause made them depressed. [subject]
Comparing Gerunds and Participles
Look at the following pair of sentences. In the first, the use of a gerund
(functioning as a noun) allows the meaning to be expressed more precisely
than in the second. In the first sentence the interrupting itself, a specific
behavior, is precisely indicated as the cause of the speaker's irritation. In the
second the cause of the irritation is identified less precisely as Bill, who just
happens to have been interrupting. (In the second sentence, interrupting is
actually a participle, not a gerund, since it functions as an adjective
modifying Bill.)
I was irritated by Bill's constant interrupting.

I was irritated by Bill, constantly interrupting.

The same pattern is shown in these other example pairs below: in the first of
each pair, a gerund (noun-function) is used; in the second, a participle
(adjective-function). Notice the subtle change in meaning between the two
sentences in each pair.
Examples:
The guitarist's finger-picking was extraordinary. (The technique was

extraordinary.)
The guitarist, finger-picking, was extraordinary. (The person was
extraordinary, demonstrating the technique.)
He was not impressed with their competing. (The competing did not
impress him.)
He was not impressed with them competing. (They did not impress
him as they competed.)
Grandpa enjoyed his grandchildren's running and laughing.

Grandpa enjoyed his grandchildren, running and laughing.*
(Ambiguous: who is running and laughing?)
Comparing Gerunds and Infinitives
The difference in the form of gerunds and infinitives is quite clear just from
comparing the following lists:
Gerunds: swimming, hoping, telling, eating, dreaming

Infinitives: to swim, to hope, to tell, to eat, to dream
Their functions, however, overlap. Gerunds always function as nouns, but

infinitives often also serve as nouns. Deciding which to use can be confusing
in many situations, especially for people whose first language is not English.
Confusion between gerunds and infinitives occurs primarily in cases in which

one or the other functions as the direct object in a sentence. In English some
verbs take gerunds as verbal direct objects exclusively while other verbs
take only infinitives and still others can take either. Many such verbs are
listed below, organized according to which kind of verbal direct object they
take.

Verbs that take only infinitives as verbal direct objects
agree decide expect hesitate
learn need promise neglect
hope want plan attempt
propose intend pretend
Examples:
▪ I hope to go on a vacation soon.
(not: I hope going on a vacation soon.*)
▪ He promised to go on a diet.
(not: He promised going on a diet. *)
▪ They agreed to sign the treaty.
(not: They agreed signing the treaty.*)
▪ Because she was nervous, she hesitated to speak.
(not: Because she was nervous, she hesitated speaking.*)
▪ They will attempt to resuscitate the victim
(not: They will attempt resuscitating the victim.*)
Verbs that take only gerunds as verbal direct objects
deny risk delay consider
can't help keep give up be fond of
finish quit put off practice
postpone tolerate suggest stop (quit)

regret enjoy keep (on) dislike
admit avoid recall mind
miss detest appreciate recommend
get/be
get/be get/be tired get/be used
accustomed
through of to
to
Examples:
They always avoid drinking before driving.

(not: They always avoid to drink before driving.*)
I recall asking her that question.

(not: I recall to ask her that question.*)
She put off buying a new jacket.

(not: She put off to buy a new jacket.*)
Mr. Allen enjoys cooking.

(not: Mr. Allen enjoys to cook.*)
Charles keeps calling her.

(not: Charles keeps to call her.*)
Verbs that take gerunds or infinitives as verbal direct objects
start begin continue hate
prefer like love try

remember
Examples:
She has continued to work at the store.

She has continued working at the store.
They like to go to the movies.

They like going to the movies.
Brent started to walk home.

Brent started walking home.
Forget and remember
These two verbs change meaning depending on whether a gerund or

infinitive is used as the object.
Examples:
Jack forgets to take out the cat. (He regularly forgets.)

Jack forgets taking out the cat. (He did it, but he doesn't remember
now.)
Jack forgot to take out the cat. (He never did it.)
Jack forgot taking out the cat. (He did it, but he didn't remember
sometime later.)
Jack remembers to take out the cat. (He regularly remembers.)

Jack remembers taking out the cat. (He did it, and he remembers
now.)
Jack remembered to take out the cat. (He did it.)

Jack remembered taking out the cat. (He did it, and he remembered
sometime later.)
In the second of each pair of example sentences above, the past progressive
gerund form having taken can be used in place of taking to avoid any
possible confusion.

Sense verbs that take an object plus a gerund or a simple verb
Certain sense verbs take an object followed by either a gerund or a simple

verb (infinitive form minus the word to). With many of the verbs that follow
the object, the use of the gerund indicates continuous action while the use of
the simple verb indicates a one-time action. Still, sometimes the simple verb
can indicate continuous action if one-time action wouldn't make sense in the
context.
feel hear notice watch
see smell observe
Examples:
We watched him playing basketball. (continuous action)

We watched him play basketball. (continuous action)
I felt my heart pumping vigorously. (continuous action)

I felt my heart pump vigorously. (continuous action)
She saw them jumping on the bed. (continuous action)

She saw them jump on the bed. (one-time action)
Tom heard the victim shouting for help. (continuous action)

Tom heard the victim shout for help. (one-time action)
The detective noticed the suspect biting his nails. (continuous action)
The detective noticed the suspect bite his nails. (one-time action)
We could smell the pie baking in the kitchen. (continuous action)

We could smell the pie bake in the kitchen. (continuous action)
Sometimes the simple-verb version might seem unconventional, so it's safer
in most cases to use the gerund version.
Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_verbals.html
Throughout this document, occasional example sentences with wording that might be
considered nonstandard, ambiguous, or at least peculiar in formal writing are marked with
an asterisk (*).

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What is a Gerund?

 Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

Gerund as direct object:

 They do not appreciate my singing.

Gerund as subject complement:

 My cat's favorite activity is sleeping.

Gerund as object of preposition:

 The police arrested him for speeding.

A Gerund Phrase is a group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s)

LATTC Writing Center Rev. September 1, 2007 Title V Funded

The gerund phrase functions as the

The gerund phrase functions as the

The gerund phrase functions as the

The gerund phrase functions as the

A gerund virtually never requires any punctuation with it.

LATTC Writing Center Rev. September 1, 2007 Title V Funded

1. Swimming keeps me in shape.

Comparing Gerunds and Participles

I was irritated by Bill's constant interrupting.

LATTC Writing Center Rev. September 1, 2007 Title V Funded

The guitarist's finger-picking was extraordinary. (The technique was

Grandpa enjoyed his grandchildren's running and laughing.

Comparing Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds: swimming, hoping, telling, eating, dreaming

Their functions, however, overlap. Gerunds always function as nouns, but

Confusion between gerunds and infinitives occurs primarily in cases in which

LATTC Writing Center Rev. September 1, 2007 Title V Funded

agree decide expect hesitate

learn need promise neglect

hope want plan attempt

propose intend pretend

Verbs that take only gerunds as verbal direct objects

deny risk delay consider

can't help keep give up be fond of

finish quit put off practice

postpone tolerate suggest stop (quit)

LATTC Writing Center Rev. September 1, 2007 Title V Funded

admit avoid recall mind

miss detest appreciate recommend

They always avoid drinking before driving.

I recall asking her that question.

She put off buying a new jacket.

Mr. Allen enjoys cooking.

Charles keeps calling her.

Verbs that take gerunds or infinitives as verbal direct objects

start begin continue hate

prefer like love try

She has continued to work at the store.

They like to go to the movies.

Brent started to walk home.

Forget and remember

These two verbs change meaning depending on whether a gerund or

Jack forgets to take out the cat. (He regularly forgets.)

Jack remembers to take out the cat. (He regularly remembers.)

Jack remembered to take out the cat. (He did it.)

LATTC Writing Center Rev. September 1, 2007 Title V Funded

Certain sense verbs take an object followed by either a gerund or a simple

feel hear notice watch