1.1 Gerunds - Introduction

A gerund is the –ing form of a verb used as a noun.* A gerund is used in the same ways as a noun, i.e., as a subject or as an object.

Examples:

a. Playing tennis is fun.

b. We enjoy playing tennis.

c. He’s excited about playing tennis.

In (a): playing is a gerund. It is used as the subject of the sentence. Playing tennis is a gerund phrase.

In (b): playing is a gerund used as the object of the verb enjoy.

In (c): playing is a gerund used as the object of the preposition about.

*COMPARE the uses of the –ing form of verbs:

(1) Walking is good exercise.

→ walking = a gerund used as the subject of the sentence.

(2) Bob and Ann are playing tennis.

→ playing= a present participle used as part of the present progressive tense.

(3) I heard some surprising news.

→ surprising= a present participle used as an adjective.


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