Gerunds as Subjects and Objects Gerunds, Part One Gerunds as Subjects and Objects

What’s a Gerund? A gerund is a kind of noun, the name of an activity or an idea. Some people call it a verbal noun. Usually a gerund names an activity, something we do or something does. walking, sitting, reading, thinking Walking is good exercise for the body, and reading is good exercise for the mind. Can you think of 3 more gerunds?

How to Write Gerunds A gerund looks like the –ing form of the verb. Usually we spell it by adding –ing to the base form of the verb. You can find complete spelling rules in many grammar books and dictionaries. For example, look at page 343, part 19, Spelling Rules for the Present Progressive, in Grammar Express. If a verb ends in –y, DON’T drop the –y from the end of the verb if you add -ing. → study, studying

Try It! How to Write Gerunds, Write the gerund for these verbs: Publish Play Study Run Consider Watch Come Suggest

Use of Gerunds:Subjects Use gerunds like other nouns that are names of activities. They can be the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. If it is the subject, it answers the question What (+ verb.) (Subjects often come at the beginning of a sentence, before the verb.) Drinking is not permitted in the computer lab. What is not permitted in the computer lab? Drinking

Use of Gerunds: Subjects: Examples Running makes your legs stronger. What makes your legs stronger? Running. Dancing looks like a lot of fun. What looks like a lot of fun? Dancing.

Use of Gerunds: Objects/Complements We also use gerunds as complements or objects. If it is the object or complement, it answers the question, What (does) (is) etc. subject … (Objects and complements often come after the verb.) Maria likes walking in the park. What does Maria like? Walking.

Use of Gerunds: Objects/Complements: Examples Many people enjoyed growing vegetables last summer. What did many people enjoy? Growing vegetables. Seeing it is believing it. What is seeing it? Believing.

Try It! Gerunds as Subjects or Objects Use a gerund to answer these questions. What is good exercise? What activity is a lot of fun at parties? What activity is necessary for life? What do you enjoy doing on Sunday? What activity might you try doing this year?

Gerunds after Certain Verbs After some verbs, if you want to use another verb afterwards, you need to use the gerund form. enjoy I enjoyed reading your essays. Have you enjoyed working with your partners? Some people enjoy playing soccer, and other people enjoy watching soccer.

Gerunds after Certain Verbs: Examples finish Alvaro finished working mandatory overtime on Saturdays. You will finish writing your second essay in a few weeks. quit My mother quit smoking when she was 40 years old.

Try It! Gerunds after Certain Verbs Use a gerund in your answer. What do you enjoy doing on Saturday night? When will you finish studying English? What should you quit doing?

Gerunds vs. Progressive Gerunds and progressive forms look the same. Both end with –ing. I enjoy reading. I’m reading this sentence. BUT Progressive forms ALWAYS need a BE verb, too. We were learning about present perfect, and now we’re learning about gerunds.

Gerunds vs. Progressive #2 We ALWAYS need to use another verb in a sentence with a gerund. I quit drinking coffee at night. Olivia finished writing her essay about her son. How should we practice listening to English?

Gerunds vs. Progressive Sometimes the verb in a sentence with a gerund can be the BE verb. Drinking too much alcohol is bad for your health. Watching TV can be good for your English. You can have both gerunds AND progressive in one sentence. He’s considering applying for another job.

Try It! Gerunds vs. Progressive Find the –ing words. Gerund? Progressive? Neither? They’re trying to learn about grammar. He has finished his drawing. Some people think browsing and window shopping are fun. They’re going shopping at Walmart. Many people think grammar is boring or confusing.

Try It! Gerunds Write 2 sentences. Use a gerund in each sentence. _____________________________________

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