What are gerunds?

A gerund is a verb that ends in -ing and functions as a noun in a sentence. For example: "Swimming is my favorite hobby." In this sentence, "swimming" is the gerund and it functions as the subject of the sentence.

Gerunds can also function as the object of a verb or the object of a preposition. For example:

• "I enjoy swimming." In this sentence, "swimming" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
• "I'm afraid of swimming in the ocean." In this sentence, "swimming" is the object of the preposition "of."

Gerunds are formed from verbs, but they function as nouns. This means that they can be used in the same way as nouns in a sentence, such as being the subject or object of a verb or the object of a preposition.

Examples of gerunds as subjects:

• Running is good exercise.
• Singing in the shower is one of my favorite pastimes.

Examples of gerunds as objects:

• She enjoys skiing.
• He's looking forward to traveling.

Examples of gerunds as objects of prepositions:

• He's been thinking about moving to a different city.
• They talked about starting a family.

Gerunds can also be modified by adjectives and can take objects. For example:

• She's excited about starting a new job. (In this sentence, "starting" is the gerund and "a new job" is its object.)
• He's proud of himself for finishing the marathon. (In this sentence, "finishing" is the gerund and "the marathon" is its object.)

Gerunds can be used in the possessive form, just like nouns. For example:

• My sister's singing is really good.
• Their traveling plans are up in the air.

It's important to note that not all verbs ending in -ing are gerunds. Some words ending in -ing can be participles, which are used to form verb tenses and can also function as adjectives. For example:

• The boy running down the street is my neighbor. (In this sentence, "running" is a participle modifying "boy" and is not a gerund.)

Quiz: Test your knowledge of gerunds

Conclusion

In this article, we learned about gerunds in English and how they function as nouns in a sentence. We also saw some examples of gerunds used as subjects, objects, and objects of prepositions, as well as being modified by adjectives and taking objects. Finally, we practiced identifying gerunds in a quiz. Understanding the use of gerunds can help you improve your grammar and write and speak more effectively in Engl

Quiz: Test your knowledge of gerunds

1. Running is good exercise. (gerund/participle)
2. She enjoys skiing. (gerund/participle)
3. The boy running down the street is my neighbor. (gerund/participle)
4. He's proud of himself for finishing the marathon. (gerund/participle)
5. Singing in the shower is one of my favorite pastimes. (gerund/participle)
6. They talked about starting a family. (gerund/participle)
7. He's been thinking about moving to a different city. (gerund/participle)
8. I'm afraid of swimming in the ocean. (gerund/participle)
9. I enjoy swimming. (gerund/participle)
10. She's excited about starting a new job. (gerund/participle)
11. My sister's singing is really good. (gerund/participle)
12. Their traveling plans are up in the air. (gerund/participle)
13. The flowers blooming in the garden are beautiful.
14. He loves cooking for his family. (gerund/participle) 

Answers

1. gerund
2. gerund
3. participle
4. gerund
5. gerund
6. gerund
7. gerund
8. gerund
9. gerund
10. gerund
11. gerund
12. gerund
13. participle
14. gerund