A gerund is a verb form that ends in "-ing" and functions as a noun in a sentence. In a sentence, the gerund can act as a noun, a subject, an object, or a complement.

Why Do We Use Gerunds?

Gerunds are used as a noun to express actions. They allow us to refer to activities or processes as concepts or things, like a noun. This can make our statements more concise and flexible, allowing us to discuss actions as if they were objects or ideas.

When Do We Use Gerunds?

We use gerunds when we want to talk about activities or states as if they were things, enabling us to discuss actions in an abstract way or in general terms. They are useful for making statements about activities, preferences, or topics of discussion without focusing on the specifics of the action itself.

We use gerunds in several situations:

1. As the Subject of a Sentence:

   • "Swimming is good exercise."
     Here, "swimming" acts as the subject of the sentence, referring to the activity as a general concept.

2. As the Object of a Verb:

   • "She enjoys painting."
     In this sentence, "painting" is the object of the verb "enjoys," indicating what she enjoys doing.

3. As the Object of a Preposition:

   • "They talked about moving to a new city."
     The gerund "moving" is used as the object of the preposition "about," explaining what they discussed.

4. As a Subject Complement:

   • "His favorite hobby is reading."
     Here, "reading" completes the idea of the subject "His favorite hobby," acting as a complement.

5. In Gerund Phrases:

   • "He is worried about losing his job."
     The phrase "losing his job" acts as the object of the preposition "about," with "losing" being the gerund.

Resources

1. GERUNDS Verbs with “ING“ Attached

2. GERUNDS Followed by “ING“