LoginGerunds For Intermediate learners
Understand gerunds with clear explanations and examples such as 'reading' and 'dancing'. Exercises help reinforce your understanding of gerunds.
Functions
Gerunds can serve different functions in sentences. The list below presents some of their functions:
Now, let us discuss some of them in more detail.
Gerunds as the Subject
Gerunds are commonly used as the subject of the verb. Study the following examples carefully:
Singing has always been my passion.
Crying is her greatest weakness.
Gerunds as the Object
Gerunds can also serve as the object of the verb. Take a look at the following examples:
Do you think she enjoys writing?
Anna hates exercising.
Gerunds as Objects of Prepositions
Gerunds can also appear after prepositions and function as objects of prepositions. Check out the following examples:
I'm not afraid of jumping.
She is really skilled at convincing my dad.
Spelling Rules
Sometimes the spellings of verbs undergo changes when forming gerunds. Let us learn more about them below:
If the verb ends in '-ie', change it to '-y' before adding '-ing':
Die → dying
Lie → lying
If the verb ends in '-e', remove it and then add the '-ing':
Strike → striking
Take → taking
Gerunds Vs. Present Participles
Although gerunds and present Participles look the same, they have different functions. Present Participles are used as verbs or adjectives while gerunds function as nouns. Compare the following examples:
Going on a trip to the country is one of my favorite hobbies.
Here, the highlighted phrase is a gerund because it is functioning as a noun.
I'm eating lunch.
As you can see, the highlighted word is a present participle and is functioning as a verb.
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