How to Use Gerunds in a Sentence?
A gerund can be used as a subject, a direct object or an indirect object in a sentence. In this case, it performs the role of a noun. It can also be employed as the object of a preposition. It also works as a present participle to indicate different continuous tenses. However, for a verb to act as a gerund, it has to act as a noun. Gerunds can also be used along with an object or a modifier, thereby forming gerund phrases.
Look at the following sentences to see which is a gerund and which is not.
- Remya is combing Ann’s hair.
- Ashish has not been working for an hour.
- I will be meeting my cousins next week.
- We were watching a movie when they came home.
In the above sentences, the words ‘combing’, ‘working’, ‘meeting’ and ‘watching’ are also in the form of verb + ing, but they are present participles and are used to denote various tenses.
- Exercising daily will help you stay fit and healthy.
- Following a diet will help you reduce weight and maintain your BMI.
- Wow! She is great at singing.
In the above sentences, the words ‘exercising’, ‘following’ and ‘singing’ are gerunds. Furthermore, The word ‘exercising’ is a subject, ‘following a diet’ is a gerund phrase which acts as a noun and ‘singing’ acts as an object.
What is A Gerund? Definition and Examples
Understanding the difference between a gerund and other parts of speech is an important step in perfecting your grammar and writing skills. A gerund is a verb form used in the third person, meaning it’s used as a noun. The form of the gerund is not that important, because this blog post is about how it functions in English sentences. Gerunds can be used as nouns, adjectives, or verbs. In this article, I will explain what a gerund is, provide definitions, and include examples to help you easily grasp the concept. Read on to learn more about how a gerund can add complexity and clarity to your sentences!
Table of Content
- What is a Gerund?
- Gerund Definition
- Gerund Examples in Sentences
- How to Use Gerunds in a Sentence?
- What is a Gerund Phrase?
- Types of Gerunds
- Gerunds vs Infinitives
- Functions of Gerund
- List of Gerunds
- Important Things to Consider When Forming a Gerund