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Gerunds, those fascinating verb forms ending in “-ing” that act like nouns, can be tricky. Many struggle to understand their role in a sentence. So, What Are The 4 Uses Of Gerund? This article will demystify the gerund, providing a clear explanation of its four primary functions and how to identify them.
Gerund as a Subject
One of the most common ways a gerund functions is as the subject of a sentence. In this role, the gerund performs the action of the verb. Identifying a gerund as the subject is relatively straightforward. Look for a word ending in “-ing” that comes at the beginning of the sentence and is the thing being talked about. Mastering this use is fundamental to understanding gerunds. Consider these examples:
- Swimming is my favorite exercise.
- Reading broadens your horizons.
- Dancing makes me happy.
Gerunds acting as subjects can also take objects themselves. In the sentence, “Eating ice cream makes me happy,” “eating” is the gerund (the subject), and “ice cream” is the object of the gerund. The entire phrase, “eating ice cream,” functions as the subject of the sentence. This illustrates the noun-like qualities of gerunds.
Here’s a small summary to help visualize this function:
| Gerund Use | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Subject | Hiking is a great way to see nature. |
| Don’t confuse gerunds with present participles, which are also verb forms ending in “-ing” but function as part of a verb tense (e.g., “I am swimming”) or as adjectives (e.g., “the swimming pool”). |
Gerund as a Object
A gerund can also serve as the direct object of a verb. In this case, the gerund receives the action of the verb, just like a regular noun object. To identify a gerund as an object, look for the verb in the sentence and ask yourself, “What is being verbed?” If the answer is a word ending in “-ing”, you’ve likely found a gerund acting as an object. Recognizing the object form is crucial for using gerunds correctly.
- I enjoy reading novels.
- She hates cleaning the house.
- They avoid going to crowded places.
Notice how, in each sentence, the verb (enjoy, hates, avoid) is performed upon the gerund (reading, cleaning, going). The gerund receives the action of the verb. This is the hallmark of a gerund acting as a direct object. Also it is important to note that certain verbs are frequently followed by gerunds such as “enjoy”, “mind”, “finish”, “consider” etc.
Gerund as a Complement
A gerund can function as a subject complement, which renames or identifies the subject of the sentence. Subject complements typically follow linking verbs such as “be” (is, are, was, were), “seem,” “become,” and “appear.” Understanding subject complements unlocks more sophisticated sentence structures.
- My favorite hobby is painting.
- His biggest fear is flying.
- One way of learning is practicing.
In each of these examples, the gerund (painting, flying, practicing) renames or further describes the subject of the sentence (hobby, fear, way). The linking verb connects the subject to the gerund, establishing an equivalence between the two.
Gerund as a Object of Preposition
Gerunds frequently appear as the object of a preposition. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence (e.g., “of,” “in,” “on,” “at,” “to,” “from,” “with,” “by,” “for,” “about”). This use is perhaps the most common and versatile. Any gerund that immediately follows a preposition is acting as its object.
- She is good at singing.
- He is interested in learning new languages.
- They are responsible for organizing the event.
In these sentences, “singing” is the object of the preposition “at,” “learning” is the object of the preposition “in,” and “organizing” is the object of the preposition “for.” Recognizing this function allows you to construct a wide range of grammatically correct and nuanced sentences.
Want to practice identifying these four uses of gerunds in real-world examples? Check out the grammar exercises in the next section for more practice!