Gerunds

1. Gerunds (Sounds like a verb, but acts like a noun)

2. Gerunds Gerunds always end in –ing • They are used in the sentence as nouns and in every way that any other noun can be used: • Swimming is a good exercise. (subject) • Jane does not enjoy cooking. (direct object) • After eating, relax for a while. (object of preposition)

3. Gerund Phrases • Gerunds can have a direct object. • To find out whether or not the gerund has a direct object, begin with the gerund and ask the following question: • Gerund + whom/what? = direct object

4. Gerund Phrases • Example: • Giving the money proved a mistake. • Giving + What? = money • Money is the direct object of the gerund.

5. Gerund Phrases • Gerund phrases can also have indirect objects: • To find out whether or not the gerund phrase has an indirect object, begin with the gerund, locate the direct object, then ask the question to/for whom/what?

6. Gerund Phrase • Example: • Giving Jerry the money proved a mistake. • Giving + what = money (direct object) • Giving money to/for whom? = Jerry • Jerry is the indirect object of the gerund phrase.

7. Gerund Phrases • Gerund phrases can also have prepositional phrases in them: • Giving Jerry the money on Friday night proved a major mistake. • Since on Friday night tells when? The prepositional phrase functions as an adverb. It completes the gerund phrase.

8. Gerunds • Gerunds end in –ing • Gerunds are nouns. • To find out how they function as a noun, isolate the gerund or gerund phrase, locate the main verb in the sentence and the main direct object (if there is one). Ask the following question:

9. Key Questions to Determine Noun Functions in Gerunds • What? + the main verb = subject • Example: • Giving Jerry the money on Friday night proved a major mistake. • Proved is the main verb. Mistake is the direct object. • What? + Proved a mistake=Giving Jerry the money • The gerund phrase is the subject of the main sentence.

10. Key Questions to Determine Noun Functions in Gerunds • Subject + verb + what? = direct object • We can’t afford making the same mistake. • We + can afford + What? = direct object • Answer: • Making the same mistake is the direct object of the sentence.

11. Key Questions to Determine Noun Functions in Gerunds • Preposition + gerund phrase = Object of the Preposition • Example: • After waiting patiently for an hour Bill left the office. • Waiting patiently for an hour functions as the object of the preposition.

12. Key Questions to Determine Noun Functions in Gerunds • Subject + verb + direct object + to/for what? = indirect object • The tribe gave naming their children extreme importance. • Tribe gave importance to what? = naming their children • Naming their children functions as the indirect object of the sentence.

13. Key Questions to Determine Noun Functions in Gerunds • Subject + Linking verb + what? = Predicate nominative • His hobby is collecting stamps. • His mother is driving a car. • Note: since the subject hobby cannot do the action of the verb (collect), collecting is a gerund. • Collecting stamps becomes the gerund phrase and it functions as predicate nominative.

14. Summary of Noun Functions • What? + main verb = subject • Subject + verb + what = direct object • Subject + Linking verb + what = predicate nominative • Subject + verb + Direct Object + to/for what? = indirect object • Preposition + gerund phrase = object of the preposition.

15. Summary • Gerunds always end with –ing • Gerunds are always nouns • Gerunds can be • Subjects • Direct objects • Indirect objects • Objects of the prepositions • Predicate nominatives

16. Note • Ask the key questions: • What + the verb = subject • Subject + verb + what = Direct object • Subject + linking verb + what = Predicate nominative • Subject + verb + direct object + to/for what = indirect object • Preposition + gerund = object of the preposition