What is Gerund ?

Gerund is 4th form of the verb which lasts with ‘ing’. Means ‘V + ing’  will act as gerund. Now the question arises what is gerund?– Is it a verb or a noun? Gerund is generally used as noun. Lets see some gerund examples and then it will be more clear.

1.  Dancing is good for health.
2.  Smoking is injurious to health.

In the above examples dancing and smoking act as the subject of the sentence . Hence these are gerunds here.

 

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So, now lets study more about Gerund. Verb is of two types:-

1. Finite Verb
2. Non Finite Verb

Finite Verb has two sub category:-

1. Transitive Verb
2. Intransitive Verb

There are three sub-divisions of Non-Finite Verbs :-

1. Gerund
2. Infinitive
3. Participle

There are two uses of fourth form of verb ( V 4 ) :-

Finite Verb and Non Finite Verb.

When V-4 is used as finite verb it has to be in continuous tense or perfect continuous tense. ( I am dancing. I have been dancing since morning.) When V-4 is used as Non- Finite Verb it has to be in gerund ( ex- Dancing is good for health) or present participle form ( I saw a dancing girl. ) Till now we have understood what is gerund with some gerund examples.

USES of GERUND:-

1. Gerund can be used as subject . Some examples :-

Swimming is good for health.

Running is a good exercise.

In the above examples swimming and running are gerund.

NOTE- When gerund is used as subject it is always singular.

 

2. Gerund can also be used as object of the sentence. Some examples :-

She likes dancing.

He likes running.

In the above examples dancing and running are not verb. They are gerund ( noun ).

First of all we will learn important concept about when to use it so that what is gerund will be more clear :-

1. After some verbs which end with – to – preposition. These are :-

accustomed to

owing to

averse to

disposed to

prone to

addicted to

given to

taken to

object to

Example- She is addicted to drinking. ( do not write to drink )

 

2. We will use gerund after some phrases :-

look forward to

with a view to

in addition to

give up,

it is no use

it is no good

can not help

can not stand

feel like ,etc

Example – Sachin Tendulkar has given up playing cricket.

It is no use investing so much money in these things.

 

3. We will use gerund after ‘verb+used to’ –

Example – She is used to smoking.

 

4. Gerund is also used after some verbs. List of these verbs are :-

like, dislike, love, hate, suggest , defer, prefer, propose, avoid, risk, admit, regret, admit, escape, practise, pardon, fancy, imagine, mind, resist, enjoy, miss, finish, excuse, keep, stop, start, forgive , resent, postpone, discuss, delay, consider.

Gerund examples based on above verbs:-

I stopped writing. ( do not say I stopped to write. )

Everyone should avoid spending time unnecessarily.

5. Gerund is also used after some “verb/phrase + preposition” . These are :-

prohibit from, prevent from, refrain from, abstain from, debar from, disqualify from, desist from, restrain from, dissuade from, deter from

keep on, bent on, insist on, intent on

persist in, succeed in, successful in, sense in, assist in, harm in, hesitate in, justified in, interested in, point in

aim at, confidence in , confident of

Gerund examples in sentences :-

1. He insisted on buying iPhone 8.
2. The teacher prohibited him from entering the class.

NOTE- When we use gerund then noun/pronoun before gerund has to be in possessive case.

Example:-

1. The teacher did not like his making noise. ( do not use him in place of his. )

That’s all about ‘What is Gerund’. I hope you got your all doubts clear . I have tried to explain from basic to advanced level about this topic. Thank you all of you and keep learning.

 

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