GERUND
Definition Of Gerund:
Gerunds are present participles that are used as nouns and end with an -ing. Gerunds can function as the subject of a verb, the object of a verb, a predicate nominative or complement, or the object of a preposition.
The -ing form is a general term for words called either 'gerund' or 'present participle' in traditional approaches to grammar.
List Of Gerunds
e.g.
answering | arriving | asking | reading |
carrying | cleaning | closing | enjoying |
finishing | disscussing | helping | consulting |
inviting | listening | watching | looking |
fitting | joining | working | raining |
receiving | remaining | walking | washing |
visiting | smoking | starting | staying |
studying | waiting | talking | taking |
running | selling | sending | singing |
sleeping | spending | eating | fishing |
fixing | doing | coming | asking for |
writing | wearing | trying to | travelling |
Gerund With Examples
e.g.
Getting up |
Having a bath |
Having breakfast/lunch/dinner |
Getting dressed |
Going home/to work/to the office |
Driving home/to work/to the office |
Reading letters/the newspaper |
Working in the office |
Talking with friends |
Buying the paper/cigarettes |
Watching TV |
Writing to a friend |
Calling up a friend |
Playing cards/soccer |
Walking to the park |
Running across the park |
Visiting a museum |
Washing the car |
Cooking a meal |
As the subject of the sentence
e.g.
Singing is her favourite pastime |
Singing is formed from the verb sing by adding -ing. We also see that it is here used as the subject of a verb, and hence does the work of a Noun. It is therefore a Verb-Noun and is called a Gerund.
As the object of the sentence
e.g.
I like playing cricket |
We have improved our speaking |
As the complement of the sentence
e.g.
My only physical work is walking |
His hobby is reading and painting |
As the object of a preposition
e.g.
She is fond of reading books |
He was prevented from meeting his friend |