Gerunds (as nouns)

Question

Hi teachers,

I'm trying to learn how to use gerunds (also known as"-ing" forms) as nouns. I mean 'a noun is a word that we use to refer to a person, place, or thing', right teachers? But how can use an "-ing form of a verb" as nouns? Could you please help me by giving me some examples showing the use of gerunds as nouns?

I'm finding it very difficult to grasp this usage of gerunds (using gerunds as nouns).

Thank you.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

LaboriousBut how can use an "-ing form of a verb" as nouns?

This means that a gerund can be used in a sentence where you normally see a noun.
Where? The subject of the sentence, the direct object, an appositive, and object of preposition.

Swimming is good exercise. (Subject)
The police stopped him for running a red light. (Object of preposition)
We looked forward to going to the opera. (Direct object of phrasal verb)
My kids love seeing the elephants at the zoo. (direct object)
He expects to succeed in his next challenge, finishing a marathon, next year. (appositive)

MIG · Answer

I'm trying to learn how to use gerunds (also known as"-ing" forms) as nouns?

This is a wrong question, because gerunds are always nouns so you can't use them for another purpose.

I paint this. in here paint is a verb
Painting is hard. in here painting is a noun playing subject role.

Please don't overuse Italic style.

Laborious · Answer

Thank you so much, Alphecca Stars, for explaining the concept to me.

So, that means, in all the examples you have written, the gerunds (-ing forms) are being used as nouns. In other words, they (swimming, running, going, seeing and finishing) are doing the job of nouns. Right ma'am? Does this mean that we can rewrite all of your example sentences by putting 'nouns' in place of the 'gerunds'?

Thank you again for your guidance.

Grammarfreak · Answer

MIGI'm trying to learn how to use gerunds (also known as"-ing" forms) as nouns?

You are correct. This is not a question. It should be a statement. No question mark.

MIGI paint this. in here paint is a verb

Paint - is a verb and you ae correct. But unless you paint something every day, the present form doesn't make sense. But it would be correct to say " I painted" this ( room) yesterday ".

MIGPainting is hard. in here painting is a noun playing subject role.

Painting this room was difficult becuase it had so much junk in the way. Painting - with no doubt, is a gerund here. Was- is the verb and "difficult" is the predicate adjective. We can also express it in verb form " it was difficult to paint this room because it had no much junk ..."

As long as Italic is used consistently to demonstrate something in particular for a show-and-tell purpose, I think it is fine.

RandomGuy · Answer

LaboriousSo, that means, in all the examples you have written, the gerunds (-ing forms) are being used as nouns. In other words, they (swimming, running, going, seeing and finishing) are doing the job of nouns. Right ma'am? Does this mean that we can rewrite all of your example sentences by putting 'nouns' in place of the 'gerunds'?

No, only the first one. Gerunds can be verbs or nouns:

Swimming is good exercise.
The police stopped him for [running a red light].
We looked forward to [going to the opera].
My kids love [seeing the elephants at the zoo].
He expects to succeed in his next challenge, [finishing a marathon], next year.

The first sentence is ambiguous in that the subject swimming can be seen as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it can be modified by a verb (Regular swimming is good exercise), and as a verb it can be modified by an adverb (Swimming regularly is good exercise). The rest are all verbs functioning as head of their bracketed clauses, which function respectively as object of the preposition for, object of the preposition to, catenative complement to the catenative verb love, and supplementary appositive. Notice that going can be modified by an adverb (…to finally going to the opera) and seeing and finishing have direct objects.

MIG · Answer

Thank you dear Grammarfreak for your kind and detailed answer.

Paint - is a verb and you are correct. But unless you paint something every day, the present form doesn't make sense. But it would be correct to say " I painted" this ( room) yesterday ".

Sorry, but I don't understand.why it doesn't make sense?

Grammarfreak · Answer

MIGThank you dear Grammarfreak for your kind and detailed answer.Paint - is a verb and you are correct. But unless you paint something every day, the present form doesn't make sense. But it would be correct to say " I painted" this ( room) yesterday ".Sorry, but I don't understand.why it doesn't make sense?

The reason is, we use the simple present form of a verb to express something habitual, or something we do everyday, e.g. I take a walk everyday after dinner, or I drink a glass of orange every morning. It would be odd without the underlined phrases which modify the present verb "walk" and "drink". So in " I paint this ", people will picture you pointing at something which you have painted. In other words, whatever it was, is already came into existence. You need the past form of the verb : painted.

MIG · Answer

Please forgive me for bothering you again.

Could we use simple present form, like "I paint this" to answer a question?

For example:
What are you doing? I paint this picture.

or

It's hard to paint a car.

Fivejedjon · Answer

MIGCould we use simple present form, like "I paint this" to answer a question?For example:What are you doing? I paint this picture.

No. 'I am painting a/this picture'.

MIGIt's hard to paint a car.

That's OK. You are talking about something that is always hard. By the way, the tensed verb is 's (is) not to paint.

MIG · Answer

Thank you fivejedjon and grammarfreak.

Gerunds (as nouns)

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