DEFINITION
A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun.
As such, it can function as any other noun would, as a subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, or object of the preposition:
As such, it can function as any other noun would, as a subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, or object of the preposition:
GERUND phrase
A writer can expand a gerund into a gerund phrase by adding modifiers, a prepositional phrase, and/or complements. The entire phrase functions as a noun.
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If you have a noun or pronoun in front of the gerund, it will generally require the possessive case.
INCORRECT: David cracking his knuckles grates on my nerves. [The point is not that David grates on my nerves but that the cracking does.]
BETTER: David’s cracking his knuckles grates on my nerves. [The ‘s indicates whose cracking grates on my nerves and makes the subject cracking--rightly so!]
BETTER: David’s cracking his knuckles grates on my nerves. [The ‘s indicates whose cracking grates on my nerves and makes the subject cracking--rightly so!]
![Picture](/uploads/8/6/2/9/86293172/editor/img-9640_9.jpg)
Sometimes you can use a gerund phrase to sentence combine. Placing a gerund as the subject can emphasize that action.
ORIGINAL: I can't stand gum. I especially cannot stand gum on my shoe.
REVISED: I cannot stand getting gum on my shoe.
REVISED AS THE SUBJECT: Getting gum on my shoe wreaks havoc on my soul.
REVISED: I cannot stand getting gum on my shoe.
REVISED AS THE SUBJECT: Getting gum on my shoe wreaks havoc on my soul.