Lesson 215 - Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Gerunds

A gerund always ends in ing and is used as a noun. Eatingis fun.

The gerund can be a subject (Eating is fun.); a direct object (I like eating.); a predicate nominative (A fun time is eating.); an appositive (A fun time, eating, takes much time.); an indirect object (I give eating too much time.); or an object of a preposition (I give much time to eating.)

Gerunds can have with them direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives or modifiers to form what is called a gerund phrase. Example: Eating solid foods is hard for babies. Eating is the gerund used as the subject of the verb is. It has its own direct object foodswith the adjective solid, which together make up the gerund phrase eating solid foods serving as the subject of the sentence.

Gerunds can be compound. (Jeff likes hiking and camping.)

Instructions: Find the gerunds and gerund phrases in the following sentences and tell how they are used (subject, direct object, predicate nominative, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition).

1. Turning off the freeway was our mistake.

2. The secretary's duties are taking minutes and typing letters.

3. You can start this machine by simply pushing this button.

4. His assignment, testing jet planes, is really exciting.

5. In some countries tourists can be arrested for taking pictures.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. turning off the freeway = subject

2. taking minutes/typing letters = predicate nominatives

3. simply pushing this button = object of the preposition

4. testing jet planes = appositive

5. taking pictures = object of the preposition

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