ADVweek7gerunds.

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May12,2015
Gerunds

What is a gerund?

A noun made from a verb.

Form: verb+ing
Present Progressive

Gerund

I am watching TV.

I like watching TV.

I am swimming.

The best exercise is swimming.

1. Gerunds as subjects

Gerunds often as the subject of a sentence.

Ex: Swimming is fun!

2. Gerunds as objects

Gerunds can also act as objects.

Ex: I enjoy swimming.

3. Gerunds as complements

Gerunds also function as subject and object complements.

Ex: My favorite sport is swimming.

Some people have difficulty learning grammar.

4. go + gerund

We use go + gerund to talk about recreational activities.

Ex: I go swimming once a week.

5. Gerunds after prepositions

We use gerunds after prepositions.
(Do not confuse the preposition to with the infinitive.)

Ex: I look forward to meeting you soon.

I cant wait to meet you.

5. Gerunds with possession

We use gerunds after possessive nouns and pronouns.

Ex: Yazeeds forgetting to bring a pencil to class drives me crazy.

I am surprised by her remembering to do her homework.

6. Past gerunds

We use past gerunds (having + past participle) to emphasize the difference in time
between two actions, or to show that an action occurred before the action of the main verb
in the sentence.

Ex: I don't regret having moved to DC.

I don't regret moving to DC. (In many cases, it is also correct to use a simple gerund.)

7. Passive gerunds

Gerunds can also occur in passive form.

present = being + gerund
past = having been + past participle

Ex: I like inviting people over for dinner. active

I like being invited over for dinner. passive

I didn't like his ignoring me. active

I'm upset about having been ignored. passive

function

use

example

subject

used as the subject of the

sentence

object

used as the object of the sentence I like swimming.

complement

used as a subject and object

complement

go + gerund

used with go for recreational

activities

I go swimming once a week.

prepositions

used after prepositions

I look forward to meeting you.

possession

used after possessive nouns and

pronouns.

past

used to emphasize difference in

time between two actions

passive

I like being invited over for dinner.

used in the present or past passive
I'm upset about having been
voice.
ignored.

Swimming is fun.

The best sport is swimming.

Some people have trouble
learning grammar.

Yazeed's forgetting to bring a

pencil to class drives me crazy.
I'm surprised by his remembering
to do his homework.
I don't regret having moved to
DC.