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Gerunds
Gerunds always end in –ing
They are used in the sentence as
nouns and in every way that any
other noun can be used:
– Swimming is a good exercise. (subject)
– Jane does not enjoy cooking. (direct
object)
– After eating, relax for a while. (object of
preposition)
Gerund Phrases
Like participles, gerunds can have a
direct object.
To find out whether or not the
gerund has a direct object, begin
with the gerund and ask the
following question:
Gerund + whom/what? = direct
object
Gerund Phrases
Example:
Giving the money proved a mistake.
Giving + What? = money
Money is the direct object of the
gerund.
Gerund Phrases
Gerund phrases can also have
indirect objects:
To find out whether or not the
gerund phrase has an indirect object,
begin with the gerund, locate the
direct object, then ask the question
to/for whom/what?
Gerund Phrase
Example:
Giving Jerry the money proved a
mistake.
Giving + what = money (direct
object)
Giving money to/for whom? =
Jerry
Jerry is the indirect object of the
gerund phrase.
Gerund Phrases
Gerund phrases can also have
prepositional phrases in them:
Giving Jerry the money on Friday
night proved a major mistake.
Since on Friday night tells when?
The prepositional phrase functions as
an adverb. It completes the gerund
phrase.
Gerunds
Gerunds end in –ing
Gerunds are nouns.
To find out how they function as a
noun, isolate the gerund or gerund
phrase, locate the main verb in the
sentence and the main direct object
(if there is one). Ask the following
question:
Key Questions to Determine Noun
Functions in Gerunds
What? + the main verb = subject
Example:
– Giving Jerry the money on Friday night
proved a major mistake.
– Proved is the main verb. Mistake is
the direct object.
– What? + Proved a mistake=Giving
Jerry the money
– The gerund phrase is the subject of the
main sentence.
Key Questions to Determine Noun
Functions in Gerunds
Subject + verb + what? = direct object
We can’t afford making the same mistake.
We + can afford + What? = direct
object
Answer:
Making the same mistake is the direct
object of the sentence.
Key Questions to Determine Noun
Functions in Gerunds
Preposition + gerund phrase =
Object of the Preposition
Example:
After waiting patiently for an hour
Bill left the office.
Waiting patiently for an hour
functions as the object of the
preposition.
Key Questions to Determine Noun
Functions in Gerunds
Subject + verb + direct object +
to/for what? = indirect object
The tribe gave naming their children
extreme importance.
Tribe gave importance to what? =
naming their children
Naming their children functions as
the indirect object of the sentence.
Key Questions to Determine Noun
Functions in Gerunds
Subject + Linking verb + what? =
Predicate nominative
His hobby is collecting stamps.
His mother is driving a car.
Note: since the subject hobby cannot do
the action of the verb (collect), collecting
is a gerund.
Collecting stamps becomes the gerund
phrase and it functions as predicate
nominative.
Summary of Noun Functions
What? + main verb = subject
Subject + verb + what = direct
object
Subject + Linking verb + what =
predicate nominative
Subject + verb + Direct Object +
to/for what? = indirect object
Preposition + gerund phrase =
object of the preposition.
Verbs that take only Gerunds
Appreciate
Avoid
Delay
Deny
Discuss
Dislike
Enjoy
Excuse
Finish
Keep
Mention
Mind
Miss
Postpone
Quit
Recall
Recommend
Resent
Suggest
Summary
Gerunds always end with –ing
Gerunds are always nouns
Gerunds can be
– Subjects
– Direct objects
– Indirect objects
– Objects of the prepositions
– Predicate nominatives (Predicate nouns)
Note
Ask the key questions:
– What + the verb = subject
– Subject + verb + what = Direct object
– Subject + linking verb + what =
Predicate nominative
– Subject + verb + direct object + to/for
what = indirect object
– Preposition + gerund = object of the
preposition