THE GERUND - Questions & Answers

A Say what the -ing word in each sentence functions as: a gerund, a participle or a plain noun.

1. I find rafting very enjoyable.
gerund

2. The park has a good jogging track.
gerund

3. She was playing the guitar when I reached her house.
participle

4. There is a swimming pool close to my house.
gerund

5. I like to look out of a flying plane.
participle

6. This building needs renovation.
plain noun

7. For some people, shopping can be a stress buster while for others a source of stress.
gerund

8. Charulata was tired of travelling forty kilometres every day for work, so she moved close to her office.
gerund

B Identify the gerunds in these sentences and write what characteristics give them a noun function.

1. For me, writing is a way to know who I truly am.
writing; It functions as the subject of the sentence.

2. No one liked Atul's scolding his son at the party.
scolding; It is modified by the possessive noun "Atul's" and acts as the object of the verb.

3. The kids enjoyed skiing in the valley.
skiing; It functions as the object of the main verb "enjoyed".

4. Her sole focus has been studying.
studying; It functions as a subject complement.

5. Who doesn't love drinking hot coffee on winter mornings?
drinking; It functions as the object of the main verb "love".

6. Shilpi took admission in an acting school.
acting; It functions as an adjective qualifying the noun "school".

7. I congratulated him on graduating with distinction.
graduating; It functions as the object of the preposition "on".

8. After a lot of dilly-dallying, he finally made up his mind.
dilly-dallying; It functions as the object of the preposition "after" and follows the determiner "a lot of".

Identify the gerunds in these sentences and write what characteristics give them a verb function.

1. Winning the series won't be easy.
winning; It takes "the series" as its object.

2. Studying smartly is the key to success.
studying; It is modified by the adverb "smartly".

3. Striving tirelessly has been the hallmark of our team.
striving; It is modified by the adverb "tirelessly".

4. Living courageously has always been our motto.
living; It is modified by the adverb "courageously".

5. Writing letters is out of fashion now.
writing; It takes "letters" as its object.

6. All they think of is making money.
making; It takes "money" as its object.

D Underline the gerund phrase in each of these sentences and write its grammatical function.

1. Making a good film is an art.
Making a good film; subject of the sentence.

2. I am proud of your taking a stand.
your taking a stand; object of the preposition "of".

3. Are you good at solving puzzles?
solving puzzles; object of the preposition "at".

4. His fear was facing an audience.
facing an audience; subject complement.

5. I like taking a nap after lunch.
taking a nap after lunch; object of the main verb "like".

6. Do you recall seeing her before?
seeing her before; object of the main verb "recall".

7. Her goal is becoming a choreographer.
becoming a choreographer; subject complement.

8. She has just begun her training in the new company.
her training in the new company; object of the main verb "begun".