What is a Gerund?
A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding-ing. When a verb ends in a ing, it may be a gerund or a present participle. But it should be noted that they are not the same. When we use a verb like a noun, it is usually a gerund and when it is used as an adjective or verb it is a present participle. Gerunds are sometimes called verbal nouns. They are forms of verbs that act as nouns. It is not easy to identify a gerund.
Example:
• Reading is my hobby.
• Cycling is his first love.
Functions of a Gerund
1. They are used as objects following preposition and prepositional expressions.
Example:
• Thanks for buying the books.
• He is into selling antiques.
2. They are used as subjects and complements.
Example:
• Cooking can be therapeutic.
• Skiing is enjoyable.
3. They can be used as subjects following certain verbs.
Example:
• The girls got tired of watching tennis.
• The children enjoyed playing soccer.
4. Gerunds can sometimes take objects of their own.
Example:
• Preeti is thinking of joining college.
• Ram is afraid of taking decisions.
Certain verbs are followed by gerunds.
These are: enjoy, imagine, resent, quit, avoid, deny, start, regret, understand, hesitate, admit, dislike, stop, begin etc.
Examples of Gerunds
• Eating mangoes in summer is fun.
• Treating patients is his passion.
• Painting landscapes is her favorite pastime.
• Running to class is his habit.
• Tripping a player is a foul.
List of Gerunds
Playing, singing, driving, cooking, baking, watching, reading, enjoying, living, preparing, eating, diving etc.
Go boating, go sailing, go shopping, go skating, go sailing, go hiking, go camping, go shopping, go fishing. etc.
Infinitives are ‘to’ form of the verb. The infinitive of learn is ‘to learn’.An infinitive can be used as a subject, object or complement of a sentence.
Example:
• To learn music he travels far.
• He wants to play the guitar.
Infinitives can be made by adding not.
• She decided not to sing.
Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as subject or the complement of a sentence. Gerunds however sound better in spoken English as subject or complement. Infinitives sound unreal or abstract. Gerunds are used only when actions are real, concrete or complete. Infinitives sound philosophical and stress on the potential for something. Gerunds are natural.
As objects of a sentence it is difficult to decide between a gerund and an infinitive. They are not normally interchangeable. The main verb in the sentence determines whether a gerund or infinitive should be used. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects while some are followed by infinitives
Example:
• She advised reading for the Literature classes.
• She wanted to read for the Literature classes.
Only gerunds can be the object of prepositions.
Example:
• We are thinking of speaking in Tamil.
When a verb follows a verb, it takes either a gerund or an infinitive.
Some verbs can take the gerund or infinitive without the loss of meaning.
Example:
• I started to play.
• I started playing.
What is the difference between gerunds and infinitives?
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