What is a Gerund Phrase

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Sometimes a word or phrase appears to be a verb when, in fact, it’s something else. It’s important to look at the function that a word or phrase plays in a sentence before determining its part of speech.

What is a Gerund Phrase?

A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing. A gerund phrase includes the gerund, plus any modifiers and complements. Gerunds and gerund phrases always function as nouns. They can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, or objects of a preposition in a sentence.

To determine whether a word or phrase is functioning as a gerund versus a present participle, try replacing it with the word something. If something works in the sentence, then the word or phrase is a gerund.

Subject Example: Climbing is not as easy as it looks.

(Climbing is the gerund. It acts as a subject in the sentence.)

Riding a roller coaster scares my little brother.

(Riding is the gerund. Riding a roller coaster is the gerund phrase. It acts as a subject in the sentence.)

In the summer, Kara prefers swimming.

(Swimming is the gerund. It acts as a direct object in the setence.)

Sophia likes jumping on the trampoline.

(Jumping is the gerund, and jumping on the trampoline is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as a direct object in the sentence.)

In Costa Rica, we gave zip lining a try.

(Zip lining is the gerund. It acts as an indirect object in the sentence.)

As part of his exercise regimen, Jack made walking every day a priority.

(Walking is the gerund, and walking every day is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as an indirect object in the sentence.)

Micah’s favorite sport is running.

(Running is the gerund. It acts as a predicate nominative in the sentence, identifying sport.)

Kylie’s main interest is working with computers.

(Working is the gerund, and working with computers is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as a predicate nominative in the sentence, identifying interest.)

Her interest in gardening developed over time.

(Gardening is the gerund. It acts as an object of the preposition in in the sentence.)

Scott’s attitude about studying for tests improved.

(Studying is the gerund, and studying for tests is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as an object of the preposition about in the sentence.)