T he G er und

1 T h e G e r u n d Recognize a gerund when you see one. Every gerund , without exception, ends in ing. Gerunds are not, however, all that easy to identify. The problem is that all present participles also end in ing. What is the difference? Gerunds function as nouns. Thus, gerunds will be subjects, subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. Present participles, on the other hand, complete progressive verbs or act as modifiers. Read these examples of gerunds: Sinc e Fra nc isc o w as five ye ars o ld, swimming h as b ee n hi s pas si on. Swimming = subject of the verb has been. Franc isc o' s fir st lov e is swimming. Swimming = subject complement of the verb is. Franc isc o enjo ys swimming m ore th an s pen din g t im e w it h h i s girlfr ie nd D ia na. Swimming = direct object of the verb enjoys. Franc isc o giv es swimming all of h is en ergy and t ime.

2 Swimming = indirect object of the verb gives. Whe n Fra nc i sc o w or e div e fi ns to c l as s, every on e k ne w t ha t he was dev o ted t o swimming. Swimming = object of the preposition to. These ing words are examples of present participles: One d ay la st sum mer , Franc i sc o and hi s c oac h were swimming at Da yt on a Be ac h. Swimming = present participle completing the past progressive verb were swimming. A Grea t Whi te sh ark at e Fra nc isc o's swimming c o ac h. Swimming = present participle modifying coach. Now Fr anc i sc o pr ac t ic es h is sp ort in s af e swimming p oo ls. Swimming = present participle modifying pools. 1997 - 2014 by Robin L. Simmons All Rights Reserved.