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Gerunds as Subjects of Clauses
Referring to activities
A Noun Phrase vs. A Gerund
| NOUN PHRASE |
The typical subject has the form of a noun phrase. A noun phrase consists of a noun (a person, a place, animal, thing, or concept) and any modifiers (determiner, adjectives, prepositional phrase, etc.) |
| SUBJECT: NP |
VERB + COMP |
Computers |
save a lot of time |
Online study |
is very convenient. |
The on-line practices |
help students without books. (PP) |
The computer in my room |
allows me to study from home. |
| GERUND |
A gerund clause (phrase), which can also function as the subject of a sentence, consists of a gerund and other modifiers and noun phrases. The verb form (base + ing) is not marked for tense, person, or number. |
| SUBJECT: GERUND + |
VERB + COMP |
Computing |
saves a lot of time. |
Studying on-line |
is very convenient. |
Using on-line practices |
helps students who don't have books. |
Working from home |
allows a person to work in comfort. |
gerund clause vs. phrase – in current linguistic analysis, the "gerund phrase" is analyzed as a nonfinite clause or gerund-participle clause. See Grammar Notes.
online / on-line – could be a modifier, adjective (Adj) or prepositional phrase (PP)
verb complement (complement) – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary to complete the meaning of the verb
Also see Noun vs. Gerund. The landing of the airplance vs. landing an airplane.
Categories: NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; AdvP – adverb phrase; Adv – adverb; AdjP– adjective phrase; Adj – adjective; Subord – Subordinator; Coord – Coordinator; Interj – Interjection
Functions: Subject: Subject, Predicate: Predicator (V) Complement: elements required by the verb: object, indirect object, predicative complement Adjuncts: (optional modifiers) Adj, Adv, clause
Subject Clauses
That vs. Gerund
General and Specific Wording of Subject Clauses
| SUBORDINATE THAT-CLAUSE AS SUBJECT |
A subject can also take the form of a subordinate clause. However, this wording can be "heavy" at the front of a sentence. More commonly, the clause is changed to a gerund clause ("phrase") which is a nonfinite clause. |
| SUBJ. – FULL CLAUSE |
VERB + COMP |
That people use a computer
(general) |
saves a lot of time. |
That we have been using a computer
(more specific) |
saves a lot of time. |
That Jason is using a computer
(very specific) |
saves a lot of time. |
That people can study online
(general) |
is very convenient. |
That you and I are studying online
(more specific) |
is very convenient. |
That Mary studied online
(very specific) |
was very convenient. |
| GERUND CLAUSE AS SUBJECT |
As a subject, a gerund clause is less awkward sounding than a that-clause. Because a gerund clause is reduced (i.e., not marked for tense, person, or number, and the subject omitted) information must be understood from context. |
| SUBJ – GERUND CLS |
VERB + COMP |
Using a computer
(general) |
saves a lot of time. |
Our¹ using a computer
(more specific) |
saves a lot of time. |
Jason's² using a computer (very specific) |
saves a lot of time. |
Studying online
(general) |
is very convenient. |
Our studying online
(more specific) |
is very convenient. |
*Mary's studying online
(very specific) |
was very convenient. |
¹ The subject ("agent") may be expressed by using a possessive pronoun before the gerund. (he → his, she → her, us → our, etc.)
² When specifying a name, a gerund clause is less commonly used, but it is not incorrect. (Jason's use of a computer… Mary's studies online… )
finite clause – includes a subject and a verb marked for tense and number: He uses a computer; Nonfinite – infrequently includes a subject and the verb is a "reduced" form (ing) that is not marked for tense or number; (His) using a computer…
Also see That/What Clauses, It–Subject Clauses, * It is + adjective for
Agreement
| SINGULAR |
A gerund clause is singular in agreement with the verb. |
Reading books is important for learning vocabulary. |
Texting while driving is dangerous. |
| PLURAL |
Two or more gerund clauses are plural in agreement with the verb. |
Reading and listening to the television are two ways to improve your vocabulary. |
Emailing and texting are illegal activities for drivers behind the wheel.
|
Gerunds
Spelling
Word Form
| ADDING "ING" |
REMOVING FINAL "E" |
CONSONANT DOUBLING |
For most words, a gerund is formed by taking the base verb form and adding ing. |
For words ending in e, a gerund is formed by taking the base verb form, removing the final e, and add ing. |
For words ending with a stressed [consonant + short vowel + consonant] pattern, double the final consonant and add ing. |
wash – washing (one syllable) |
choose – choosing |
win – winning |
dry – drying |
time – timing |
be-gín – beginning |
trá-vel – traveling (travelling Eng-Br) |
love – loving |
per-mít – permitting (stressed CVC pattern) |
cán-cel – canceling (cancelling Eng-Br) |
confuse – confusing |
oc-cúr – occurring |
Consonant Doubling after Short Vowels
These words contain "short" vowel sounds. Double the
final consonant before adding -ing
| SHORT – A |
SHORT – E |
SHORT – I |
SHORT – O— |
SHORT |
nap /næp/
 |
wed /wɛd/
 |
swim /swɪm/
 |
chop /tʃɒp/
 |
run /rʌn/
 |
nap – napping |
wed – wedding |
swim – swimming |
chop – chopping |
run – running |
wrap – wrapping |
step – stepping |
hit – hitting |
jog – jogging |
sun – sunning |
bag – bagging |
set – setting |
win – winning |
nod – nodding |
hug – hugging |
bat – batting |
beg – begging |
kid (joke) – kidding |
spot – spotting |
shut – shutting |
Exceptions — lie, tie, die — lying, tying, dying
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR |
SOLUTION |
Running people were in the street.
(Confusing a participle modifier with a gerund.) |
People who were running were in the street. (modifier)
There were people who were running in the street.
Running in the street is a dangerous activity in a big city. (gerund clause) |
Running marathons require strength and endurance. |
Running marathons requires strength and endurance. |
strength (n. ) – being strong
endurance (n. – having the ability to last, endure, keep going
Grammar Notes
Traditional and Linguistic Description
Advanced
| TRADITIONAL DESCRIPTION |
LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
In traditional grammar, the gerund is described as a verbal-noun. The gerund form is the base verb form and -ing [verb-ing]. The "gerund" is a verbal-noun which is distinct from the "participle" which is a verbal-adjective. |
In current linguistic analysis, the gerund is categorized as a secondary verb form (not inflected with tense or person, and rarely including a subject in its clause.) The gerund is no longer distinguished from the participle. (CaGEL 82, 1220) Linguistic analyses could not uphold the verbal noun– verbal adjective distinction. Hence, the current term is gerund-participle (which does not include past participles, -ed forms). (Swan 293-300) See Primary v. Secondary Verb Forms |
REED-KELLOGG SYSTEM – Link
 |
PARSE TREE – Link
|
Clause; Subject / Predicate; Finite / Nonfinite; NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Comp – complement; Det– determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition
Also see Reed-Kellogg diagram.
Practice 1
Buying and Selling Online
Read
Ebay — Buying, Selling and Trading
Ebay is the Internet version of the "flea market". People can list
items they would like to sell and find items they'd like to buy. The eBay site allows users to search for item descriptions. Sellers can post their items, change the item category, showcase the item and view bids on the item.
Purchasers can verify the authenticity of an item, purchase insurance, put the item in escrow and even get help with disputes when there is a disagreement.
Buying, selling and trading are very efficiently done via the Web.
authenticity (n.) – the quality of being real or true
bid (n.) – an offer to pay a particular price for something
category (n.) – a group of things that are all the same type or kind
dispute (n.) – a serious argument or disagreement
escrow (n.) a service that holds the money while the agreement is being made
flea market (n.) – an open air market to which people bring old things to sell
insurance (n.) – a policy that returns money to a person if there is accidental loss
list (v.) – post items for sale on the Internet; put something on an official list
purchaser (n.) – buyer
resolve (v.) – to find a satisfactory way of dealing with a problem or difficulty
showcase (v.) – a place (or page) that shows the good qualities of something
trade (n.) – exchange something of equal value
verify authenticity (v) – make sure it truly is what the seller says it is
version (n.) – a copy of something that has been changed so that it is slightly different
Create a bulleted list of activities that eBay enables its users to do.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "Check 1-10" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.
Practice 2
Gerund Word Forms
Read for Errors
There are two parts to – tell– a good joke. The –time– of telling a joke is an art. Not –destroy– the punchline is very important. –Joke– is a different form of humor which doesn't include a story. –Kid– is another kind of humor in which someone says something untrue for a particular effect.
–Try– to make people laugh often doesn't work. –Get– to the final punchline takes a little time. –Fly– through a joke too quickly doesn't give listeners enough time to visualize the situation. –Tie– the details of a joke together is like weaving cloth. –Relate– the joke to the audience is essential.
When a comedian isn't getting many laughs, this is called –die–. Another expression for a comedian who isn't doing well on stage is –choke–. –Win– laughs from an audience is a rewarding feeling. –Be– a good actor also helps when telling a joke. –Have– a good memory helps a lot too. –Make– people smile is priceless.
audience (n.) – people who are listening and watching
effect (n.) – reaction, result
essential (adj.) – important
fly (v.) – move quickly to the end of a job or task
humor (n.) – being funny, something unexpected that causes laughter
priceless (adj.) – extremely valuable, no one can put a price on it
punchline (n.) – the final funny line of a joke
relate (v.) – to connect; to feel you understand someone's problem
tie details (v.) – hold together the small parts, show how they go together
visualize (v.) – see something in one's mind
weave (v.) – making a textile, cloth
Select the correct spelling.
- Select a response correct or incorrect.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "Check 11-20" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.
Practice 3
New Puppy
Read for Errors
Teaching a new puppy to walk on a leash takes a little bit of practice. The puppy will be playful but not very focused.
Find the right harness is very important. For a puppy, you will want one that attaches to the dog's chest not the dog's neck. Pull the puppy will cause the body of the dog to move forward. If the dog resists or pulls against you, don't force it.
Put a treat in front of the dog is another way to get the dog to walk ahead. Let the dog smell the treat in your hand.
Then, walk forward. The dog's nose will follow. Don't let the dog have the treat right away. Let the dog take a few steps before rewarding the dog.
Use a tasty treat to encourge a specific behavior is very effective. With a little bit of practice, a lot of patience, and love, your puppy will become your walking companion.
attach (v.) – tie, connect to
chest (n.) – large body part below the dog's neck
companion (n.) – someone you spend a lot of time with, especially a friend
dog treat (n.) – a small bit of food used to train or reward good behavior
effective (adj.) – having a good result; a good for a purpose
encourage (v.) – give someone the courage and confidence to do something
focused (adj.) – able to pay attention to a specific thing (rather than everything in general)
harness (n.) the leather straps or "jacket" attached to a dog to control its movement
leash (n.) – a strip of leather or fabric which attaches to a dog collar or harness
patience – remain quiet and wait for things to happen rather than forcing them to happen
resist (v.) – not want to do something
reward (v.) – give someone something for good behavior or achievement
tasty (adj.) – good tasting (meaty)
Edit for Errors
- Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "Check 21-30" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.
