Watching television is my child’s favorite pastime.Here are some easy examples of gerund phrases in a sentence: Examples of gerund phrases acting as a subject Gerund phrase examples Which is an example of a gerund phrase? No matter where the gerund phrase – “cooking alone” appears in the above three sentences, it satisfies all of the four rules. I recommend cooking alone to pass the time.It has a singular agreement with a verb.Ī phrase that satisfies all of these four rules will be considered a gerund phrase.Ĭonsider the following examples for more clarity:.The most telling quality of a gerund phrase is that it always functions as a noun.It will always have either an object or a modifier, or sometimes it can have both.It always starts with a gerund (a verbal noun ending with -ing).This section will discuss some common tips that will make it easier for you to identify gerunds and gerund phrases in a sentence or paragraph.Ī gerund phrase always follows these rules: However, there are several easy rules and signs that one can use to identify gerund phrases. If a person has just started learning the technicalities of the English language, identifying gerund phrases can be tricky. Gerund phrase How to identify gerund phrases For example, traveling, reading, laughing, etc. So, it can be said that a gerund is a noun created by adding an – ing at the end of a verb (a verb is a doing word that refers to action). In both of these examples, the words that have an -ing at the end are actually verbs acting as nouns. It has the function of a substantive and at the same time shows the verbal features of tense, voice, and capacity to take adverbial qualifiers.” The word “gerund” originates from a Latin word, gerunds, which means “to carry on.” A gerund is a verbal noun ending in -ing. What is a gerund?īefore learning about gerund phrases, it is important to understand what is a gerund and how it is used in a sentence. Today, we will learn more about ground and gerund phrases, and how they are used in English with examples. When writing in plain English, we often use these words and phrases to enhance our writing.

Gerunds and gerund phrases are a common part of the English language.