Verbals: Gerunds
You have learned that a participle is one kind of verbal You have learned that a participle is one kind of verbal. Another kind of verbal is a gerund. Bowling is a very old sport. Gardening is a satisfying hobby. Collecting baseball cards can be a lucrative pastime. Gerunds modified with pronouns, must be modified with the possessive form. I like to watch him singing. (WRONG) I like to watch his singing. (RIGHT)
A gerund is the present participle of a verb (the –ing form) used as a noun. In a sentence a gerund can function in all of the ways that a noun does. Subject: Reading is my favorite activity. D.O. : I enjoy reading. Object of Preposition: Today is a good day for reading. Predicate Noun: My favorite activity is reading.
To determine whether a word ending in –ing is a verb, participle, or gerund, you must see how the word is used in the sentence. First find the simple subject and the simple predicate. They will help you know whether a word is a gerund.
Cora and Andy are running in tomorrow’s big race Cora and Andy are running in tomorrow’s big race. (Running is part of the verb phrase are running) The running water overflowed. (Running is a participle, modifying the subject water) Running is both a fun and healthful exercise. (Running is the subject of this sentence. It is a gerund)
Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D. O Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D.O. , object of a preposition, or a predicate noun? Sketching is fun for me. Marya exercises everyday by swimming. Her other leisure activity is painting. She and I are singing in the chorus tonight. Of all my interests, I care most about reading. Traveling comes second or third on my list of favorites. What is the most interesting hobby for you?
Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D. O Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D.O. , object of a preposition, or a predicate noun? 8. A hobby can be anything from fishing to painting. 9. Few things are better for relaxing than a satisfying hobby. 10. Some people enjoy gardening whereas others prefer reading. 11. Gardening gloves protect the hands of those who do yard work. 12. Many people find pleasure in painting, sculpting, or carving.
Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D. O Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D.O. , object of a preposition, or a predicate noun? 13. Practical hobbies include sewing, building, and cooking. 14. Skating, skiing, and swimming are some healthful hobbies. 15. Reading about faraway places is satisfying to many people. 16. People of all ages relax and get in shape by jogging. 17. In fact, running has become a hobby as much as an exercise.
Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D. O Find each gerund in these sentences. Is it used as a subject, D.O. , object of a preposition, or a predicate noun? 18. Winston Churchill, a former Prime Minister of Great Britain, liked painting and writing. 19. Collecting was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s hobby, and he acquired an amazing stamp collection. 20. President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s favorite kind of exercise was golfing.