What Is a Gerund? | Definition & Examples
Gerunds are words ending in “-ing” that function as nouns (e.g., “dancing” in the sentence “She loves dancing”). A gerund looks identical to the present participle form of a verb but has a different grammatical function.
In the example “She loves dancing,” “dancing” refers to a general activity, not a specific occurrence of the activity. Gerunds typically function in this way, denoting a category of action rather than a particular instance.
Unlike most other nouns, gerunds can take direct objects (e.g., “Jack loves playing football”) and can be modified by adverbials (e.g., “Running competitively is exciting”).
I’m not in the habit of watching the news.
Organizing is fun using Mari Kondo’s method.
How to use gerunds
Gerunds serve the same grammatical purposes as other nouns. They can function as subjects, subject complements (which identify or rename the subject), direct objects (which receive the action), and indirect objects (which receive the direct object).
| Gerund example | Gerund phrase example | |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Swimming is a great way to stay in shape. | Swimming laps at the pool keeps him healthy. |
| Direct object | She enjoys swimming. | She avoids swimming in cold water. |
| Indirect object | Linda made swimming a habit. | Jerry gave swimming in the race his best effort. |
| Object of a preposition | Tom has a love of swimming. | They dedicated their free time to swimming competitively. |
| Subject complement | His passion is swimming. | Her favorite activity is swimming with friends. |
Gerund phrases
A gerund phrase is a kind of noun phrase that consists of a gerund and its modifiers or complements. Gerund phrases can include adverbs, adverbial phrases, direct objects, and indirect objects.
Present participles vs gerunds
Gerunds share the same form as present participles but differ in function.
- Gerunds are nouns. They can serve as subjects, subject complements, or objects in sentences.
- Present participles can function as adjectives and as elements of continuous verb tenses.
We found a shivering kitten under the car. It had been seeking shelter from the rain.
Gerund form
Gerunds are typically formed by adding “-ing” to the infinitive form of the verb (e.g., “cough” becomes “coughing”). Some verbs require other minor changes before adding the “-ing” suffix.
For verbs with “-ie” endings, change “-ie” to “y” before adding “-ing” (e.g., “die” becomes “dying”). For verbs with “-e” endings, remove “-e” before adding “-ing” (e.g., “move” becomes “moving”). Finally, for verbs with consonant-vowel-consonant endings (e.g., “sit,” “beg,” “jog”), which are sometimes called “CVC” verbs, double the final consonant before adding “-ing” (e.g., “plan” becomes “planning”).
Gerunds and infinitives
The infinitive form of a verb (e.g., “to have”) can often be used in the same way as a gerund. For example, “I like to have dinner early” has the same meaning as “I like having dinner early.”
However, infinitives and gerunds can’t always be used in the same ways and don’t always convey the same meaning and tone.
Gerunds are typically preferable as the subject of a sentence. Using an infinitive as the subject of a sentence is not grammatically incorrect, but it is less common and sounds stilted in many contexts.
- To compete in the Olympics is my dream.
- Competing in the Olympics is my dream.
Infinitives that include “to” can be used as adjectives, whereas gerunds cannot.
- I have a lot of laundry to wash.
- I have a lot of laundry washing.
Some transitive verbs can be followed by an infinitive that begins with “to” but can’t be followed by a gerund (e.g., “They want to go”). These verbs usually describe something hypothetical, which may or may not occur in the future.
- We need renting an apartment.
- We need to rent an apartment.
Typically, a preposition can be placed before a gerund but not before a “to” infinitive.
- He has a talent for to play the trombone.
- He has a talent for playing the trombone.
Possessives before a gerund
In formal writing, avoid using personal pronouns (e.g., “she,” “he,” “me”) directly before gerunds. For example, the sentence “I’m sorry that me forgetting your birthday upset you” is considered grammatically incorrect. The problem can be corrected by replacing “me” with a possessive noun (e.g., “the kids’,” “Kate’s”) or with a possessive adjective such as “our” or “my” (e.g., “I’m sorry that my forgetting your birthday upset you”).
Replacing the gerund “forgetting” with a different type of noun makes it obvious that the object pronoun is incorrect. For example, “I’m sorry that me forgetfulness upset you” sounds unnatural.
In casual speech, using nouns and personal pronouns before gerunds is quite common. However, in academic writing and other formal contexts, using a possessive noun or possessive adjective before a gerund is important.
Their bickering made the trip unpleasant.
Gerunds and verbal nouns
Some “-ing” words that function as nouns are distinct from gerunds. Known as “verbal nouns,” they differ from gerunds in three main ways: they can be pluralized, they cannot be modified by adverbs, and they cannot take objects.
Examples of verbal nouns include words such as “drawing,” “cooking,” and “writing” when they describe a tangible object or a specific event rather than a category of activity.
We could smell Mom’s delicious home cooking as we pulled into the driveway.
She kept a collection of drawings and writing from our school days.
Frequently asked questions about gerunds
- What is the difference between a participle and a gerund?
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Gerunds and present participles look the same but serve different grammatical purposes.
- Gerunds are nouns (e.g., “She loves teaching”).
- Present participles can be used as adjectives (e.g., “the crashing waves”) and as part of continuous verb tenses (e.g., “We are studying,” “He has been traveling”).
- What is the “-ing” form of a verb?
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The verb form that ends in “-ing” is known as the present participle. Present participles are used in progressive verb tenses (e.g., “I am studying,” “she had been eating”) and as adjectives (e.g., “a tiring hike”).
The “-ing” form of a verb is also used in gerunds, but gerunds operate as nouns (e.g., “Skiing is dangerous”).
