Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement
Try to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form.
Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a
sentence:
- Smoking costs a lot of money.
- I don't like writing.
- My favourite occupation is reading.
But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this
case, the whole expression [gerund + object] can be the subject, object or
complement of the sentence.
- Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.
- I don't like writing letters.
- My favourite occupation is reading detective
stories.
Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles
and other determiners):
- pointless questioning
- a settling of debts
- the making of "Titanic"
- his drinking of alcohol
But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take
a direct object:
- a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
- Making "Titanic" was expensive.
- The making of "Titanic" was expensive.
| EnglishClub.com Tip |
| Do you see the difference in these two
sentences? In one, "reading" is a gerund (noun). In the other "reading" is a
present participle (verb). |
- My favourite occupation is
reading.
- My favourite niece is
reading.
Answer |
|
Gerunds after Prepositions
>> |
