1. What is a…

2. A Gerund is a word ending in “ing” that is used as a NOUN. This means that words like: Singing Running Swimming Eating can all be used as NOUNS.

3. EXAMPLES 1. Singing is fun.  “singing” is used as the subject. 2. Their favorite exercise is running.  “running” is used as a predicate nominative.

4. EXAMPLES (cont.) 3. Shelly likes swimming.  “swimming” is used as a direct object. 4. You should buy special knives for eating.  “eating” is used as an object of the preposition.

5. Gerunds as subjects: 1. Her laughing attracted my attention. 2. Writing in my journal has helped me understand myself better. 3. The ringing of my alarm wakes me every day. 4. Floating lazily in the pool is my favorite summer pastime. 5. Buzzing like a bee is funny.

6. Gerunds as predicate nominatives: 1. Yvette’s favorite exercise is hiking. 2. One of Alvin’s bad habits is boasting. 3. Mitch’s error was creating a division between his mother and father. 4. George’s greatest pleasure is fishing. 5. My idea was assembling the best writers to create one story.

7. Gerunds as direct objects: 1. Why did the birds stop chirping? 2. Yesterday, Mrs. Jacobs was discussing flying. 3. Our horse enjoys galloping briskly in the cold weather. 4. My brother likes yelling at pigeons in the park. 5. I will continue whispering until class is over.

8. Gerunds as a objects of the preposition: 1. By studying, you can improve your grades. 2. Before leaving the beach, we sat and watched the sunset. 3. Without knocking, the small child threw open the door. 4. Mortimer was sad when he was arrested for hurting his mother. 5. Penny was tricked into spying on us.

9. Find the Gerunds: 1. Mary Shelley is famous for creating the Gothic novel Frankenstein. 2. Completing Frankenstein at 19 was an incredible accomplishment. 3. One night, after listening to ghost stories, Mary and three others agreed to write their own horror stories. 4. Mary Shelley heard her husband and a friend discuss the possibility of reviving a corpse.

10. Find the Gerunds (cont.): 5. Another idea was assembling a human body from various body parts. 6. Falling asleep was difficult for Mary that night. 7. She dreamed of a man who was responsible for creating a ghastly creature. 8. After seeing this mental image, Mary was terrified.

11. Find the Gerund (cont.): 9. Opening her eyes reminded her that the vision was not real. 10. Imagining this ghastly creature inspired Frankenstein.