LESSON 31: GERUNDS - Amazon Simple Storage Service · GET SMART (INSTRUCTOR) LESSON 31 © 1! LESSON 31: GERUNDS It's time to study verbals! Verbals are words that are formed from

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LESSON 31: GERUNDS It's time to study verbals!

Verbals are words that are formed from verbs but don't act as verbs. They act as adjectives, adverbs, and nouns.

There are three kinds of verbals: gerunds, infinitives, and participles.

We'll start by studying gerunds. Here we go!

Gerunds are verbals that end in -ing and act as nouns.

Examples: Swimming is fun. She loves reading.

Can you see how swimming and reading are gerunds?

They're formed from verbs (swim and read), they end in -ing, and they're acting as nouns. Swimming is a subject, and reading is a direct object.

Gerunds Act As Nouns

Gerunds can function in any way that nouns can function.

Noun Job Gerund Example

Subject Swimming is fun.

Direct Object She loves reading.

Object of the Preposition

White Beach is the best place for surfing.

Predicate Noun My favorite sport is swimming.

Diagramming Gerunds

Gerunds sit on little steps. The -ing part of the gerund sits on the bottom part of the step, and the rest of the gerund sits on the top part of the step.

Draw the step above the space in the main diagram where it belongs. This depends on what noun job the gerund is performing.

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Connect the step to the main diagram with a forked line.

Running is fun.

Running is a gerund. It is formed from the verb run, it ends in -ing, and it is acting as a noun. It is the subject of the sentence.

Diagramming Gerunds

Subject

Direct Object

Object of the Preposition

Predicate Noun


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Lesson 31 Sentence Diagramming Exercises

1. Flying is fun!

Key

Flying is fun. sentence - statement

Flying subject (gerund)

is verb (intransitive linking)

fun predicate adjective

2. I won a trophy for running.

Key

I won a trophy for running. sentence - statement

I subject (pronoun)

won verb (transitive active)

trophy direct object (noun)

a adjective

for running prepositional phrase (adverb)

for preposition

running object of the preposition (gerund) (noun)


3. The girl who sits in the library enjoys reading.

Key

The girl who sits in the library enjoys reading.

sentence - statement

The girl enjoys reading independent clause

girl subject (noun)

The adjective

enjoys verb (transitive active)

reading direct object (gerund) (noun)

who sits in the library dependent adjective clause

who subject of adjective clause (pronoun)

sits verb of adjective clause (intransitive complete)

in the library prepositional phrase in adjective clause (adverb)

in preposition

library object of the preposition (noun)

the adjective


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4. My sister absolutely loves exploring whenever she travels.

Key

My sister absolutely loves exploring whenever she travels.

sentence - statement

My sister absolutely loves exploring independent clause

sister subject (noun)

My adjective

loves verb (transitive active)

absolutely adverb

exploring direct object (gerund) (noun)

whenever she travels dependent adverb clause

whenever subordinating conjunction

she subject of adverb clause (pronoun)

travels verb of adverb clause (intransitive complete)


5. Swimming is a great sport.

Key

Swimming is a great sport. sentence - statement

Swimming subject (gerund) (noun)

is verb (intransitive linking)

sport predicate noun

a, great adjectives

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LESSON 31: GERUNDS - Amazon Simple Storage Service · GET SMART (INSTRUCTOR) LESSON 31 © 1! LESSON 31: GERUNDS It's time to study verbals! Verbals are words that are formed from