what is a gerund

what is a gerund in english grammar

what is a gerund

Gerund does the function of a verb and a noun. It is the present participle form of verb. 

Read the passage carefully:

Learning is a continuous process. Learning a language depends on a process based on language skills which are interesting. We follow different ways to learn. We learn by listening, speaking, reading and writing. But we have to learn not by rote but by understanding. To learn English we have to practice four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. You should continue to practice these skills because you have no other way to achieve command of English without practicing the skills. Remember that a child starts to learn its mother tongue by listening and lipsing and then speaking Native speakers learn easily their language by listening and speaking. If they do not go to school, they do not need to read and write. But still they can learn whereas the foreign learners have to practice the skills. So you have to practice four skills for learning. Besides practicing the skills, developing vocabulary is a must for you.

Ask and answer :

# How many verbs with +ing are there in the passage? Find out them. 

# Do all the verbs having 'ing' work as gerunds or participles? If not, identify and show them separately.

# Are there infinitives in the passage? Find out them. 

Note: Gerund mainly woks as a noun & Participle works as a verb. 

Functions of Gerund : 

a) As the subject of a verb: 

Walking is good for health.

Reading books is a good habit.

b) As the object of a verb: 

Stop writing

He learns drawing. 

c) As the object of preposition: 

He is fond of riding.

I am thinking of going there. 

d) As a complement to verb: 

Seeing is believing.

My hobby is reading. 

e) As a part of compound noun: 

The old man carries a walking stick.

We need safe drinking water. 

The police used laughing gas.

Exercise : 

Replace infinitives of the following sentences by gerund.

i. To tell a lie is a great sin. 

ii. I like to eat vegetables. 

iii. This is a room to live in. 

iv. His hobby is to travel. 

V. To walk is good for health. 

vi. He started to learn English. 

vii. To steal is a sin. 

viii. It is bad to find fault with others. 

ix. It is essential to speak English to have fluency. 

X. To plant a sapling is everybody's responsibility.

Complete the following sentences by using appropriate gerundial form of verbs: 

You cannot learn English without............. the four language skills. .............is the first skill you should practise. The second one is ............ The third one is............. while the fourth skill is .............Unless you practise the skills, you cannot succeed in ............any foreign language. Teachers engaged in............ English should create an environment in the class favorable for............. this language.

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