GerundsLooks like a VERB, acts

like a NOUN ALWAYS ends in -ing

Gerunds• Can be used in any of the six noun

“slots.”– Subject– Predicate Nominative– Direct Object– Indirect Object– Object of the Preposition– Appositive

Gerunds as Subjects• The subject is usually at the

beginning of the sentence.

– Swimming is the best sport ever!

– Looking for work can be a difficult task.

Gerunds as predicate nominatives

• Remember that PNs follow linking verbs. They can EASILY be confused with action verbs… read the sentence carefully.

• Which one is a PN?– My favorite hobby is knitting. (Hint:

The hobby isn’t doing the knitting!)– She is athletic, and her best sport is

diving.• NOT A PN:

– I am running a marathon this weekend.

Gerunds as direct objects

• Direct Objects follow action verbs and tell who or what.

– Janie loves playing video games.

– All of the students like taking notes on gerunds.

Gerunds asIndirect objects

• Remember you must first have a DO.

• IO’s tell for/to whom/what.

– Sharon gives studying her best effort.

– However, she gives watching TV all her time.

Gerunds as objects of prepositions

• Objects of prepositions follow preps and are in phrases.

– I will study for exams by taking good notes.

– You will need a new pen set for drawing pictures.

Gerunds as Appositives• Appositives can rename any noun.

A gerund as an appositive might look like this:

• My hobby, swimming, keeps me in shape.

Gerunds vs. other –ing words• Gerunds vs. Participles

– Participles modify nouns. – Gerunds are nouns.

• Which one’s which?– The crying baby was hungry.– She got her way by crying.

Gerunds vs. other –ing words• Many verbs can end in –ing. Be

aware of them!• Which one’s which?

– The children were running in the park.

– Her hobby was running in the park.