Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that function as nouns in sentences. Gerunds can serve as subjects, subject complements, direct objects, objects of prepositions, and appositives. The document provides examples of gerunds fulfilling each of these roles and discusses their use in literature, noting that gerunds give variation and nuance to writing.

1. Gerund is a verbal ending with –ing,
but, it works as a noun and can act as
a subject, subjective complement,
object of the preposition, direct
object and appositive in a sentence.

2. Title Card

3. Gerund is one of the verbal in English
grammar ending with –ing but, it works as a noun
and can act as a subject, subjective
complement, object of the preposition, direct
object and appositive in a sentence.
Examples:
1. She likes writing love stories. Direct Object
Guide Card

4. Explanation: The use of the underlined word in
the sentence is a direct object because it receives
the action of a transitive verb and at the same
time answers to the question what does she like?
2. Writing a love story is her favorite hobby.
Subject
Explanation: The use of the underlined word in the
sentence is subject because at the very onset of
the statement is being emphasized and to be
center of thought.
3. She is writing love stories for everyone.
Subjective Complement

5. 4. Her favorite hobby, writing love stories, is
remarkable. Appositive
5. Everyone likes her genre in writing love
stories. Object of the preposition

6. 1.Riding a roller coaster scares my little brother.
1. Sophia likes jumping on the trampoline.
2. Kylie’s main interest is working with computers.
3. Janice got a ticket for running a red light.
4. A philanthropist, giving financial assistance to the
poor, is a noble deed.
5. Helping a friend is an automatic yes in your
book.
6. He dislikes doing homework.
Activity Card 1

7. 7. My least favorite chore is cleaning the
bathroom.
8. Are you tired of studying?
9. She hates going out at night.

8. Gerund
A gerund is a type of verb that ends in “-ing,” but in a sentence, it functions as a noun. In fact, a gerund is a type of verbal
noun in -ing form. As a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies the same position a noun occupies in a sentence, which
is the position of a subject. For instance, in the sentence, “Humor is laughing at what you haven’t got when you ought to
have it” (A Note on Humor, by Langston Hughes), “Humor is laughing” takes the place of a noun, and is being explained
in the rest of the sentence.
Everyday Use of Gerund
 Dreaming is my hobby during long winter holidays.
In this sentence, “dreaming” is a gerund, functioning as a noun.
 Watching games does not burn calories.
In this sentence, “watching games” is a gerund phrase.
 Generosity is giving more, and greed is wanting more and more.
In this line, there are two underlined gerunds, both of which are serving as subject complements.
 Smiling is an art of keeping people from worrying.
In this sentence, “smiling” is a gerund and working as a subject. The two other gerunds, “keeping” and “worrying,”
are the objects of prepositions.
 She loves acting because it is like a real life for her.
In this sentence, “acting” is a gerund, functioning as a direct object of “loves.”
Examples of Gerund in Literature
Example #1: For Whom the Bells Tolls (by Earnest Hemingway)
“He crossed the stream, picked a double handful, washed the muddy roots clean in the current and then sat down again
beside his pack and ate the clean, cool green leaves and the crisp, peppery-tasting stalks… The two of them
came scrambling down the rock like goats. Coming out he leaned over the bowl and dipped the cup full and they all
touched cup edges.”
Here “scrambling down” is working as a noun of the verb “came.”
Example #2: Man and Superman (by George Bernard Shaw)

9. “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly
worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of
ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
In this example, there are three gerunds “being,” “complaining,” and “making.” “Being” is performing the role of a subject.
Example #3: Percy and the Prophet (by Wilkie Collins)
“I never believe nor disbelieve. If you will excuse my speaking frankly, I mean to observe you closely, and to decide for
myself.”
In the following lines, “speaking” is a gerund form with “-ing” at the end of the word and working as a noun.
Example #4: To the Lighthouse (by Virginia Wolf)
“So with the lamps all put out, the moon sunk, and a thin rain drumming on the roof a downpouring of immense darkness
began…Only through the rusty hinges and swollen sea-moistened woodwork certain airs, detached from the body of the
wind (the house was ramshackle after all) crept round corners and ventured indoors. Almost one might imagine them, as
they entered the drawing-room questioning and wondering, toying with the flap of hanging wall-paper, asking, would it
hang much longer, when would it fall?”
In this passage, “drumming,” “downpouring,” “questioning,” “wondering,” “toying,” and “hanging” are gerunds.
Example #5: Mourning Becomes Electra (by Eugene O’Neill)
“Then her mother evidently disappears in the greenhouse, for Lavinia turns her head, still oblivious to Seth and his
friends, and looks off left, her attention caught by the band, the music of which, borne on a freshening breeze, has
suddenly become louder… You’ll excuse me if I come out with it bluntly. I’ve lived most of my life at sea and in camps
and I’m used to straight speaking.”
The author has employed two gerund forms in this passage: “freshening breeze” and “straight speaking.” Both gerunds
are functioning as nouns.
Function
Unlike a noun, a gerund does not take inflections, or it does not have proper plural forms. A gerund plays multiple
functions in a sentence; it works as a subject, as a direct object, as a subject complement, and as an object of

10. preposition. The most important use of a gerund is to serve as a pure verbal noun. Though it behaves like a verb, it
functions like a noun. The major point in using gerunds is to give variation to different sentences in a text. This variation
beautifies a piece of writing and conveys different nuances of the same words or same sentences.
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