What Is The Direct Object In The Following Sentence? Mrs. Chang Drove Us To School Yesterday.

Gerund Examples, Meaning and Apply in Sentences

Gerunds are verbs that end in -ing but function equally nouns. Many sentences can include a gerund, meaning that gerunds can function as subjects, directly objects, indirect objects, objects of prepositions, and predicate nouns. Take a look at some gerund examples in sentences, and see how easily you tin place these helpful parts of oral communication.

gerunds chart subject direct object indirect object

Identifying Gerunds in a Judgement

Gerunds and gerund phrases, which are defined as phrases that begin with a gerund, can function as many different parts of a sentence. Permit's take a await at some gerund sentences which will clarify these unique members of the English linguistic communication. Remember, in every instance below, the gerund is working as a noun.

Gerunds every bit Subjects

When the gerund is performing the activity in the sentence, information technology's functioning every bit the subject. For example, in the sentence "Exercising keeps yous healthy," the word "exercising" is performing the action "keeps."

More examples of gerunds as subjects include:

Reading is relaxing.
Swimming helps me unwind.
Writing is an exchange of ideas.
Smoking is not permitted in the eating house.
Apologizing isn't plenty this time.

Gerund phrases can likewise office every bit subjects, such every bit in the sentence "Exercising every twenty-four hour period keeps you good for you." All the words before the verb "keeps" are office of the gerund phrase. More than examples include:

Reading romance novels is relaxing.
Pond with friends helps me unwind.
Writing emails is an commutation of ideas.
Smoking cigarettes is not permitted in the eating house.
Apologizing to me isn't enough this fourth dimension.

Gerunds equally Direct Objects

When the gerund is receiving the action in the sentence, it is working equally the directly object. For example, in the judgement "John enjoys grilling," the gerund "grilling" answers the question "What does John enjoy?"

Additional examples of gerunds as directly objects include:

My sister avoids cooking.
The team practiced kicking.
Nosotros don't heed paying.
She considered quitting.

An example of a gerund phrase as a direct object would be "John enjoys grilling hamburgers." More examples include:

I enjoy shopping with friends.
My sister avoids cooking large dinners.
The team practiced kicking into the goal.
We don't mind paying for the car.
She considered quitting her job.

Gerunds equally Indirect Objects

An indirect object indicates who, whom or what the action is directed toward. For instance, in the sentence "I fabricated studying my priority," the gerund "studying" is the indirect object (it's what "making a priority" is directed toward). More gerunds as indirect objects include:

I never gave reading enough of a take a chance.
The ballerina taught us dancing.
My female parent spent her life education.
She made running her routine.
Mrs. Taylor gave painting a try.

Gerund phrases tin can too function as indirect objects, such as in the sentence "I made studying for the test my priority." More examples include:

I never gave reading for fun plenty of a chance.
The ballerina taught u.s.a. dancing to music.
My mother has devoted her life to teaching children.
She made running in the morn her routine.
Mrs. Taylor gave painting landscapes a try.

Gerunds every bit Objects of Prepositions

When a gerund follows a preposition, it's an object of the preposition. For example, in the sentence "I express myself by singing," the gerund "singing" is the object of the preposition "by." Explore additional examples with gerunds bolded and prepositions underlined.

My honey for reading was immediate.
Later studying, nosotros took a intermission.
Kira always talks about running.
Nosotros got in trouble for chatting.
Ian has received 10 job offers since graduating.

Gerund phrases as objects of prepositions:

My love for reading novels was immediate.
After studying for six hours, we took a suspension.
Kira ever talks about running a marathon.
We got in problem for chatting during the test.
Ian has received ten job offers since graduating college.

Gerunds every bit Predicate Nouns

Predicate nouns, likewise known as predicate nominatives, follow a grade of the verb "to be" and rename or explain the subject of the sentence. An example of a gerund human action every bit a predicate noun would be "Lola is sleeping." Boosted examples include:

Dawn'south favorite activity is drawing.
Her occupation is writing.
The dog'southward worst addiction is barking.
My least favorite sport is jogging.
His passion was biking.

A gerund phrase as a predicate noun would be "Lola is sleeping in the tent." Other examples are:

Dawn'due south favorite activeness is drawing sketches of her family.
Her occupation is writing paper articles.
The dog'south worst habit is barking at the door.
My least favorite sport is jogging on the track.
His passion was biking in the mountains.

Gerunds vs. Present Participles

It may be tempting to assume that every -ing verb is a gerund, only that's not the case. Present participles are another type of exact also end in -ing simply function as adjectives, not nouns. Examples of the differences include:

Gerund - The girls were playing with cars.
Participle - The playing girls shared their cars.

Gerund - Hiking is great exercise.
Participle - The hiking family unit enjoyed the do.

Gerund - Boiling h2o is the first step to making tea.
Participle - The boiling water whistled in the teapot.

Gerunds Are Everywhere

Can y'all believe how often we utilise gerunds in our everyday language? Have some fun with gerunds and keep tabs on just how often they appear in your everyday language. Spotting gerunds can be your new favorite activity! For more than grammar practice, have a await at different parts of speech examples and see how they build the sentences you read every day. Or, use a list of adjectives, adverbs and gerunds to make your writing more than descriptive.