Transcription of T he G er und Phr as e
1 T h e G e r u n d P h r a s e Recognize a gerund phrase when you see one. A gerund phrase will begin with a gerund , an ing word, and will include other modifiers and/or objects. gerund phrases always function as nouns, so they will be subjects, subject complements, or objects in the sentence. Read these examples: Eati ng i ce cr eam on a wi ndy day c a n be a me ss y ex peri enc e if you ha ve l on g, un t a med ha ir. Eating ice cream on a windy day = subject of the verb can be. A mor e di sa s trou s ac tiv i ty f or l ong-ha ire d pe opl e i s blowing giant bu bble gum bubbles wit h the car windows down.
2 Blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down = subject complement of the verb is. Wil d fo od adv en tur e s req uire g etting your hair cut to a short, safe length. Getting your hair cut to a short, safe length = direct object of the verb require. Don't mistake a gerund phrase for a present participle phrase. gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an ing word. The difference is that a gerund phrase will always function as a noun while a present participle phrase describes another word in the sentence.
3 Check out these examples: Jamming t oo mu ch clothi ng i nto a washi ng machi ne w i ll resu lt in d is as ter. Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine = gerund phrase, the subject of the verb will result. Jamming t oo mu ch clothi ng i nto the washi ng machi ne, Aam ir s ave d $1. 25 b ut h ad t o t oler a te t he c uri ou s s tar es o f ot her lau ndr y pa tr on s as h is m ac hi ne buc k ed a nd ru mbl ed wi th th e heav y l oa d. Jamming too much clothing into the washing machine = present participle phrase describing Aamir.
4 Bernar d h at es butt ering toast wi th a fork. Buttering toast with a fork = gerund phrase, the direct object of the verb hates. Butteri ng toast wi th a fork, B ern ard vow ed th at he wou ld fin all y w as h t he wee k's w or th of d irt y d is hes pil ed in the si nk . Buttering toast with a fork = present participle phrase describing Bernard. My d og' s mo s t an no y ing ha bi t i s hoggi ng the mi ddle of t he bed. Hogging the middle of the bed = gerund phrase, the subject complement of the linking verb is.
5 L ast ni gh t I ha d t o s l eep on the c ouc h be c ause I f ou nd my d o g Flo yd hogging the middle of t he bed. Hogging the middle of the bed = present participle phrase describing Floyd. 1997 - 2014 by Robin L. Simmons All Rights Reserved.
