Gerunds/Verbal Nouns
Gerunds are also known as verbal nouns. Gerunds
are formed from verbs. A few examples of very common
gerunds are:
dancing - formed from the verb dance
jogging - formed from the verb jog
singing - formed from the verb sing
reading - formed from the verb read
swimming - formed from the verb swim
How do you use gerunds/verbal nouns in your English
sentences?
Gerunds/verbal nouns can be used as:
the subject of the sentence
the object of verbs
the object of prepositions
If someone asks you this question: What is your hobby?
Most probably you'll answer:
Reading is my hobby. ("Reading" is used as the subject of
the sentence)
I like reading. ("reading" is used as the object of the verb
"like")
I am not very good at reading. (''reading" is used at the
object of the preposition "at")
Some gerunds/verbal nouns are formed from
transitive verbs. An example of a gerund formed from a
transitive verb is "collecting". Though "collecting" is a
gerund, it cannot stand alone. A group of words or a
noun must follow after it to make the sentence
complete.
Collecting stamps is my hobby. (as subject of the
sentence)
I like collecting stamps. (as object of the verb "like")
("stamps" is the noun after "collecting")
I am very interested in collecting stamps. (as object of
the preposition "in")
Now read this sentence. I like collecting.
Does this sentence sound incomplete? Your listeners will
say"collecting what"?! Therefore, when a gerund/verbal
noun is formed from a transitive verb such as "collect", a
noun or a group of words must follow after it as shown in
the above example sentences.
"making" is another gerund formed from the transitive verb
"make".
Does "I like making" sound like a complete sentence? No, it
is incomplete. A noun or some words must follow after it
like this:
I like making cookies and cakes.
Gerunds/verbal nouns can also be used in phrases that
look like this:
the + gerund + of + the (noun)
the ticking of the clock
The ticking of the clock sounds rather loud, especially at
night when everything is very quiet.
the yapping of the puppies
The yapping of my neighbor's puppies kept me awake
throughout the night.
the howling of the wolves
The howling of the wolves made the hunters' hair stand on
end.
It is important to note that gerunds/verbal nouns look
exactly the same as present participles (verb+ing).
Therefore, as English users, you must not get confused
with gerunds and present participles. Read these two
sentences and say in which sentence "reading"is a gerund
and in which sentence "reading" is not a gerund.
1. Florence likes reading romantic novels.
2. Florence was reading her favorite novel when her
friend called on her.
"reading" in sentence 1 is a gerund as it shows Florence likes
something, and that something is "reading romantic novels".
"reading" in sentence 2 is a present participle (verb+ing) as
"reading" follows immediately after the past tense linking verb
"was", thus forming the past continuous tense"was reading".
Therefore, in this case, "reading" is not a gerund.
How do you differentiate between gerunds and present participles?
Read these two sentences and try to replace "reading" with "it".
Reading is one of my hobbies.
It is an effective way to improve my English.
("It" can be used to replace the subject of the sentence )
Peter is reading the newspaper.
Can you replace "reading" with "it"?
Can you say Peter is it the newspaper?!
No, you can never do that as replacing "reading" with "it" makes the
sentence sound awkward and meaningless! Therefore, in this case,
"reading" is not a gerund.
Gerunds/verbal nouns are also used after certain common phrases
like "look forward to" / "used to" like this:
We look forward to hearing from our friends and relatives.
Nancy is used to waking up very early in the morning.
