Gerund Phrase | Examples & Definition
A gerund phrase is a group of words that begins with a gerund (the “-ing” form of a verb that acts as a noun) and includes any of its objects and modifiers (e.g., “walking to school”). Gerund phrases act as nouns in sentences.
My biggest priority is learning how to code.
Do you like cooking new recipes?
What is a gerund phrase?
A gerund is a word derived from a verb that ends in “-ing” and acts as a noun in a sentence (e.g., “baking,” “swimming,” “buying”). So, a gerund phrase is a group of words that begins with a gerund and includes any of its objects and modifiers (e.g., “eating too many sweets”).
Gerund phrases often include adjective or adverb modifiers that give further information about the gerund. Often, though not always, these modifiers are in the form of prepositional phrases.
Travelling with an infant is very stressful.
Eating too quickly can cause heartburn.
Gerund phrases also often include direct objects (which receive the action of the gerund) and indirect objects (which receive the direct object), even when the gerund itself is an object.
I miss giving my dog a hug every morning.
Painting serene landscapes is his specialty.
Using gerund phrases in sentences
Like gerunds, gerund phrases act as nouns in sentences and can be subjects, objects, or subject complements (which rename or identify the subject after a linking verb).
| Role in a sentence | Gerund phrase example |
|---|---|
| Subject | Swimming in the ocean is risky. |
| Direct object | I love making new friends. |
| Indirect object | Ewan gave running barefoot a try for three weeks. |
| Object of a preposition | She is so tired of waiting for someone to call her back. |
| Subject complement | My favorite pastime is knitting scarves for all my friends. |
When a single gerund phrase acts as the subject of a sentence, it always takes a singular verb, even if the phrase also includes plural nouns. If multiple gerund phrases form a compound subject (e.g., “cooking dinner and washing the dishes”), a plural verb is required.
- Finding eagles and condors is rare.
- Finding eagles and condors are rare.
- Writing essays and conducting research are essential academic skills.
- Writing essays and conducting research is an essential academic skill.
Gerund phrases vs participle phrases
Participle phrases (or participial phrases) look similar to gerund phrases, but they function differently in sentences. Gerund phrases act as nouns, while participle phrases act as adjectives to modify a noun or pronoun.
I like talking about music with my friends.
There are a couple of clues that can help distinguish participle phrases from gerund phrases. First, if the phrase is followed by a comma, it is most likely a participle phrase. Additionally, gerund phrases can be replaced by nouns, while participle phrases cannot.
- Traveling to Spain is one of my goals for this year.
- Travel is one of my goals for this year.
- Traveling through Spain, Milo decided to learn Spanish.
- Travel, Milo decided to learn Spanish.
Frequently asked questions about Gerund Phrase
- What is the difference between a gerund phrase and a participial phrase?
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Both gerund phrases and participial phrases begin with the “-ing” form of a verb (e.g., “running,” “eating”).
However, gerund phrases act as nouns in a sentence (e.g., “Running long distances is a great stress reliever), while participial phrases act as adjectives to describe a noun or pronoun (e.g., “Running quickly, Matt tried to catch the bus”).
- What is the difference between a gerund and a gerund phrase?
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A gerund is a noun that is derived from a verb, using the “-ing” ending (e.g., “swimming,” cooking”).
A gerund phrase is a group of words that begins with a gerund and includes any of its modifiers or objects (e.g., “swimming in the ocean,” “cooking dinner every night for my friends”).
Both gerunds and gerund phrases act as nouns in sentences and can be subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, objects of prepositions, and subject complements.
