What is a Gerund?

When a verb acts as a noun by adding the letters ‘ing’, it is known as a Gerund.

Gerund Explanation

Read the following two sentences carefully and examine the underlined words:

1) We are playing in the garden.
2) Playing in the garden is not allowed after 7 pm.

In the first sentence above, the word ‘playing’ is acting as a verb. It is the action we are performing.

However, in the second sentence, the word ‘playing’ is acting as a noun. In this case, playing is not the action you are performing. Playing has become the subject itself.

Therefore, when a verb is changed into a noun by adding the letters ‘ing’, it becomes a Gerund.



Gerund Examples

1) I feel like dancing in the rain.
2) Swimming is good for health.
3) Jogging can sometimes hurt your knee.
4) Crying causes tears in the eye.
5) Do you feel like going out tonight?
6) I love eating ice cream.
7) Talking during class is prohibited.
8) Watching television can ruin your eyes.

Important Notes

1) All gerunds end with the letters ‘ing’. However, not all words ending in ‘ing’ are gerunds.

2) Gerunds are always used as nouns in a sentence.

3) Some people confuse gerunds with present participles. However, the two are different. Gerunds act as nouns where as present participles act as adjectives or adverbs.