Gerunds and Gerund Phrases

Gerunds and Gerund Phrases

ELAGSE8L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

a. Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences.

Gerund

• a form of a verb ending in -ing (definition)

• acts as a noun

• root verb: to hike ---> add -ing ---> gerund: hiking (example)

Gerunds as Nouns: Write the 3 uses in your notes

• subject of a sentence (use 1)

• Ex. Hiking makes me excited

• direct object of a sentence (use 2)

• Ex. I love hiking.

• object of a preposition (of, above, to, down, etc.) (use 3)

• I am never tired of hiking.

Gerunds vs. Participles: Define gerunds / participles in your notes

• Gerunds ARE the noun

• Ex. Sleeping nourishes the body.

• Participles describe the noun

• Ex. The sleeping boy dreamed.

• 
  

• 
  

Gerund Phrases vs. Gerunds

• Eating keeps you healthy. - gerund

• Eating an apple a day keeps you healthy - gerund phrase

• I love studying. - gerund

• I love studying my science notes! - gerund phrase

Multiple Choice

Francisco enjoys ________ more than spending time with his girlfriend Diana.

• to swim 
• swimming
• swim

Multiple Choice

Identify the gerund.

Halim was punished for cheating.

• Halim

• was

• punished

• cheating

Multiple Choice

Identify the gerund

Many of the laughing students love singing.

• Many

• laughing

• love

• singing

Multiple Choice

Identify the gerund.

Reading is an important skill.

• Reading

• an

• important

• skill

Multiple Select

Identify the gerunds (check three):

Acting is merely the art of keeping a large group of people from coughing.

• acting

• keeping

• coughing

• art

Multiple Choice

Identify the gerund phrase.

We're going to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

• going to see

• going to see the changing of the guard

• the changing of the guard

• changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

Multiple Choice

Identify the gerund phrase.

The frowning artist was thinking of painting my house.

• frowning artist

• was thinking

• artist was thinking of painting

• painting my house

Remember....

• a gerund is a form of a verb that acts like a noun

• ends with -ing

• Because its a noun, it can function in different part of a sentence