GERUND PHRASES
Gerund definition
A gerund is a verb form that indicates the action that is being carried out and does not have an end time of the action.
Notion of gerunds
A word ending in "-ing" that is made from a verb and used like a noun
In the sentence "Everyone enjoyed Tyler's singing", the word "singing" is a gerund
Gerund phrases examples
Running with barefoot is a favorite activity of mine.
Both the gerund and the gerund phrase above function as subject nouns and take the third-person singular verb is. We could substitute a non-gerund noun such as chess to mentally confirm its function.
Running is a favorite activity of mine.
Gerund Phrases Act Like a Noun
Running with scissors is a favorite activity of mine.
Both the gerund and the gerund phrase above function as subject nouns and take the third-person singular verb is
Running is a favorite activity of mine.
We could substitute a non-gerund noun such as chess to mentally confirm its function.
Gerunds can appear alone or band together with other words to form a gerund phrase. Collectively, this phrase behaves like a single noun.
5 Simple Rules to Master the Use of Gerunds and Infinitives
Rule 3:Infinitives should be used after many adjectives.
Rule 4:Only infinitives are used after certain verbs followed by nouns or pronouns referring to a person.
Rule 2:Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as objects of a sentence.
Rule 5:Only gerunds are used after prepositions (with one exception).
Rule 1: Gerunds can be used as a subject of a sentence.
Examples
Walking is good for your health.
Examples
You may also say:
“Yesterday, I decided to draw.”
You may say:
“I enjoy drawing.”
Examples
It is necessary to speak English to work in a hotel.
It is wonderful to have close friends.
It is not easy to graduate from university.
Examples
“We asked her not to go.”
In this sentence, “we” is the subject, “asked” is the verb and “her” is the objective form of the pronoun “she.” You must use an infinitive (“to go”), never a gerund, after certain verbs followed by nouns or pronouns referring to people.
Examples
I talked him out of taking that job.
Here, the gerund “taking” follows the preposition “of.”