Making Use of Gerunds

1. Making Use of Gerunds Lesson 23 Joseph C. Blumenthal

2. Present and past participles, as we have seen, are forms of verbs that serve as adjectives. Now we look at verbs that have crossed over into noun territory. Tennis is good exercise. Tennis is an ordinary noun. It is the subject of the verb __.

3. Present and past participles, as we have seen, are forms of verbs that serve as adjectives. Now we look at verbs that have crossed over into noun territory. Tennis is good exercise. Tennis is an ordinary noun. It is the subject of the verb is.

4. Tennis is good exercise. Walking is good exercise Both tennis and walking are nouns used as subject of the verb is. Which one of theses two italicized nouns was formed from a verb? (tennis, walking)

5. Tennis is good exercise. Walking is good exercise Both tennis and walking are nouns used as subject of the verb is. Which one of theses two italicized nouns was formed from a verb? (tennis, walking)

6. Walking is good exercise The noun walking was formed by adding ___ to the verb walk.

7. Walking is good exercise The noun walking was formed by adding -ingto the verb walk.

8. A noun that is formed by adding –ing to a verb is called a gerund (pronounced jare-und). We can turn any verb into a gerund by adding –ing to it (sometimes making minor changes in the spelling). The gerund from of the verb cook is _______.

9. A noun that is formed by adding –ing to a verb is called a gerund (pronounced jare-und). We can turn any verb into a gerund by adding –ing to it (sometimes making minor changes in the spelling). The gerund from of the verb cook is cooking.

10. We can turn any verb into a gerund by adding –ing to it (sometimes making minor changes in the spelling). The gerund from of the verb lie is _____.

11. We can turn any verb into a gerund by adding –ing to it (sometimes making minor changes in the spelling). The gerund from of the verb lie is lying.

12. We often wish to talk about actions. We can’t talk about walked, stole, or studied, but we can talk about walking, stealing, or _______.

13. We often wish to talk about actions. We can’t talk about walked, stole, or studied, but we can talk about walking, stealing, or studying.

14. To talk about actions, we must give them names. We give actions names by adding –ing to verbs, thus changing the verbs into nouns which we call by the special name of _______.

15. To talk about actions, we must give them names. We give actions names by adding –ing to verbs, thus changing the verbs into nouns which we call by the special name of gerunds.

16. A gerund is a noun that is formed from a ____. (What part of speech?)

17. A gerund is a noun that is formed from a verb. (What part of speech?)

18. Do you remember that we also formed present participles by adding –ing to verbs? Could the word swinging be either a present participle or a gerund? (yes, no)

19. Do you remember that we also formed present participles by adding –ing to verbs? Could the word swinging be either a present participle or a gerund? (yes, no)

20. To decide whether an –ing word is a present participle or a gerund, we must see how it is used in the sentence. If the –ing word is used as an adjective, it is a ______ _______.

21. To decide whether an –ing word is a present participle or a gerund, we must see how it is used in the sentence. If the –ing word is used as an adjective, it is a present participle.

22. If the –ing word is used as a noun, it is a ______.

23. If the –ing word is used as a noun, it is a gerund.

24. Swinging makes me dizzy. She went through the swinging door. In which sentence is swinging a present participle because it is used as an adjective to modify a noun? (a, b)

25. Swinging makes me dizzy. She went through the swinging door. In which sentence is swinging a present participle because it is used as an adjective to modify a noun? (a, b)

26. Swinging makes me dizzy. She went through the swinging door. In which sentence is swinging a gerund because it is used as a noun to name an action? (a, b)

27. Swinging makes me dizzy. She went through the swinging door. In which sentence is swinging a gerund because it is used as a noun to name an action? (a, b)

28. Although gerunds serve as nouns, they still bear some semblance to verbs. Like verbs, gerunds may take direct objects or subject complements, as no ordinary noun can do. Observing ants is fascinating. Because the noun ants receives the action of the gerund observing, it is its (direct object, subject compliment).

29. Although gerunds serve as nouns, they still bear some semblance to verbs. Like verbs, gerunds may take direct objects or subject complements, as no ordinary noun can do. Observing ants is fascinating. Because the noun ants receives the action of the gerund observing, it is its (direct object, subject compliment).

30. Being selfish is a good way to lose friends. (Do you recall that be, with all its forms, is a linking verb?) Because the adjective selfish completes the meaning of the gerund Being, it is its (direct object, subject compliment).

31. Being selfish is a good way to lose friends. (Do you recall that be, with all its forms, is a linking verb?) Because the adjective selfish completes the meaning of the gerund Being, it is its (direct object, subject compliment).

32. The phrases formed by gerunds with their related words are called gerund phrases. These phrases can be used in any way that nouns are used. Reading this book changed her entire life. In this sentence the gerund phrase reading this book is used as the ______ of the verb changed.

33. The phrases formed by gerunds with their related words are called gerund phrases. These phrases can be used in any way that nouns are used. Reading this book changed her entire life. In this sentence the gerund phrase reading this book is used as the subject of the verb changed.

34. Your mistake was enclosing money in a letter. The gerund phrase completes the meaning of the linking verb was and explains the subject mistake. The gerund phrase is therefore a (direct object, subject compliment).

35. Your mistake was enclosing money in a letter. The gerund phrase completes the meaning of the linking verb was and explains the subject mistake. The gerund phrase is therefore a (direct object, subject compliment).

36. We paid thirty dollars for repairs. We paid thirty dollars for repairing the motor. In which sentence is gerund phrase the object of the preposition for? (a, b)

37. We paid thirty dollars for repairs. We paid thirty dollars for repairing the motor. In which sentence is gerund phrase the object of the preposition for? (a, b)

38. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. SAMPLE The sign forbids fishing from this dock.

39. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. SAMPLE The sign forbids fishing from this dock. Answer: fishing from this dock

40. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. SAMPLE His violation was driving through a red light.

41. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. SAMPLE His violation was driving through a red light. Answer: driving through a red light

42. Write the following answers on your own sheet of paper.

43. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. 1. Saving the precious topsoil is one of the aims of conservation.

44. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. 2. The clerk made an error in adding the figures.

45. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. 3. Being a road hog increases the likelihood of automobile accidents.

46. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. 4. Railroads are still one of the cheapest means of hauling heavy loads.

47. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. 5. The next step is removing the tire from the rim.

48. In this and the following frames, write down the gerund phrase. 6. Norman dreaded going to the dentist.

49. Now set your paper aside for a minute or two. We will add on to it again shortly.

50. We can sometimes improve a weak compound sentence by changing one of its statements to a gerund phrase used as the object of a preposition. Nan watched the men work, and she learned about motors. By watching the men work, Nan learned about motors. We change the verb watch to the gerund _______.