Gerunds

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Gerunds
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What are gerunds?

• An verb that ends in ing and is acting like a
  noun
• It can do everything that a noun does
• Be the simple subject
• Be a subject complement (a direct object or a
  predicate nominative)
• Be the object of a preposition

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When do we use gerunds?

• To describe activities
• Running is exhausting and frustrating.
• (Running simple subject)
• I love swimming in the summer time.
• (swimming direct object)
• My job is reading.
• (reading predicate nominative)
• I thanked my English teacher for teaching me
  about gerunds.
• (teaching object of prepositional phrase)
• They arent typically used to describe people or
  objects.

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Why do we use gerund phrases?

• Gerund phrases can tidy up a cluttered, messy a
  sentence. Sentences with gerund phrases are
  generally descriptive and interesting.
• Lets look at some examples.

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Making Gerund Phrases

• On Sunday afternoons I habitually do laundry.
• Doing laundry on Sunday afternoon has become my
  habit.
• On the weekend I clean my kitchen, which I enjoy.
  
• On the weekend I enjoy cleaning my kitchen.
• My greatest challenge in school is to focus while
  I read.
• My greatest challenge in school is focusing on my
  reading.
• Focusing on my reading is my greatest challenge
  in school.