Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
A gerund is a word that might ordinarily function as a verb.
A gerund is a verb form that ends in –ing and functions as a noun in a sentence.
This does NOT mean that every –ing word in a sentence is a gerund; it may be a verb or a participle.
A gerund phrase usually begins with a gerund and includes other words that modify or complete its meaning.
To check if a word or phrase is a gerund, try to replace it with the word “something” as you read the sentence. If that makes sense, you’re probably dealing with a gerund.
Gerunds and gerund phrases allow you to turn verbs into nouns so that you can talk about actions and activities as things.
Using gerunds can improve the understandability of your writing and reduce wordiness.
Because a gerund functions as a noun, it can be found in any of the noun locations – as a subject, as a direct object, as an indirect object, as a predicate nominative, and as the object of a preposition.
Examples of gerunds as different noun functions:
Cooking is sometimes fun. (“Cooking” functions as the subject of the sentence. What is fun? Cooking)
I first tried cooking in my high school adult living class. (“Cooking” functions as the direct object; it answers the question what after the verb of the sentence tried. I tried what? Cooking)
I’ve never given frying a turkey a try before though. (“Frying a turkey” functions as the indirect object; it answers the question to what I’d given a try. I gave what? A try/To what? Frying a turkey)
My normal method of cooking a turkey is baking it in the oven. (In this case, “cooking a turkey” functions as the object of the preposition. “Baking it in the oven” is a predicate nominative. It renames the word “method” after a linking verb. It renames or identifies the noun of the sentence, method.)
More examples of gerunds in various functions can be found in your grammar book.
Examples to try:
- Birds sing as a means of communicating with others. (o.p.)
- Honking during migration, for example, helps geese guide other flock members. (subject)
- Screeching by one bird may alert others to a predator.(subject)
- The response to this alarm call is often dashing for cover.(p.n.)
- Males announce territory claims through robust singing.(o.p.)
- With elaborate songs, they often try attracting females.(d.o.)
- The male winter wren’s specialty is crooning its courtship song. (p.n.)
- The female winter wren, in turn, communicates with her young by warbling a quiet song.(o.p.)
- Vocalizing isn’t the only way birds can communicate.(subject)
- The rat-a-tat drumming of bills on trees announces the presence of woodpeckers.(subject) *doesn’t fit the rule