Gerunds and Identification

Look at the following sentence: Swimming strengthened his arm and leg muscles. What purpose does the word "swimming" serve in the sentence?

• Swimming acts as an adjective

• Swimming acts as the subject of the sentence

Look at the following sentence: He was awakened by the constant ringing of the telephone. What purpose does the word "ringing" serve in the sentence?

• Ringing is a gerund and acts as the object (noun) of a preposition

• Ringing is a present [participle and acts as the main verb

Look at the following sentence: My brother practiced kicking the ball into the goal. What purpose does the word "kicking" serve in the sentence?

• Kicking is a gerund and acts as the object (noun) of a prepostition

• Kicking serves as the direct object

Look at the following sentence: Amy Tan's writing reflects her Asian American Heritage. What purpose does the word "writing" serve in the sentence?

• Writing acts as the subject of the sentence

• Writing is a present participle and acts as the main verb

Look at the following sentence:Wondering what to do with his gift money was Josh's biggest problem. What purpose does the word "wondering" serve in the sentence?

• Wondering acts as an adjective

• Wondering acts as the subject of the sentence

Look at the following sentence: He could hear the banging of the drums in the distance. What purpose does the word "banging" serve in the sentence?

• Banging is a present participle and acts as the main verb

• Banging serves as the direct object

Look at the following sentence: Marsha enjoys singing Mexican corridos, or ballads . What purpose does the word "singing" serve in the sentence?

• Singing serves as a direct object

• Singing is a gerund and acts as the object (noun) of a preposition

Look at the following sentence: You gain nothing by giving up. What purpose does the word "nothing" serve in the sentence?

• Nothing serves as an adjective`

• Nothing serves as a direct object

Look at the following sentence: Would you mind showing me your paragraph? What purpose does the word "showing" serve in the sentence?

• Showing serves as the subject of the sentence

• Showing acts as an direct object

Look at the following sentence: Exercising can be difficult at times. What purpose does the word "exercising" serve in the sentence?

• Exercising serves as the subject in the sentence

• Exercising is a present participle and acts as the main verb