Lesson 211 - Parts of the Sentence - Verbals - Gerunds

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A gerund is a verbal that always ends in ing and is used as a noun. 

 

Example:

Eating is fun.

The gerund can be a subject, a direct object, a predicate nominative, an appositive, an indirect object, or an object of a preposition. 

 

Examples: 

Eating is fun. (subject)

I like eating. (direct object)
A fun time is eating. (predicate nominative)
A fun time, eating, takes much time. (appositive)
I give eating too much time. (indirect object)
I give much time to eating. (object of preposition)

Instructions: Find the gerunds in the following sentences and tell if they are used as a subject, direct object, predicate nominative, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition.

1. My father's occupation was farming.

2. My desire, traveling, may happen soon.

3. Writing is sometimes difficult.

4. By saving, we can do our traveling.

5. Some people give gossiping too much time.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. My father's occupation was farming.

    - predicate nominative

2. My desire, traveling, may happen soon.

    - appositive

3. Writing is sometimes difficult.

    - subject

4. By saving, we can do our traveling.

    - saving - object of the preposition

    - traveling - direct object

5. Some people give gossiping too much time.

    - indirect object

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