The Gerund
Recognize a gerund when you find one.
Every gerund, without exception, ends in ing. Gerunds are not, however, easy to identify. The problem is that all present participles also end in ing.
So what is the difference?
Gerunds function as nouns. Thus, gerunds will be subjects, subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
Present participles, on the other hand, complete progressive verbs or act as modifiers.
Read these examples of gerunds:
Since Francisco was five years old, swimming has been his passion.
Swimming = subject of the linking verb has been.
Francisco's first love is swimming.
Swimming = subject complement of the linking verb is.
Francisco enjoys swimming more than spending time with his girlfriend Diana.
Swimming = direct object of the action verb enjoys.
Francisco gives swimming all his energy and time.
Swimming = indirect object of the action verb gives.
When Francisco wore dive fins to class, everyone knew that he was devoted to swimming.
Swimming = object of the preposition to.
These ing words, on the other hand, are examples of present participles:
One day last summer, Francisco and his coach were swimming at Daytona Beach.
Swimming = present participle completing the past progressive verb were swimming.
A great white shark ate Francisco's swimming coach.
Swimming = present participle describing coach.
Now Francisco practices his sport in safe swimming pools.
Swimming = present participle describing pools.
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L. Simmons
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