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PCwizCube Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Grammar concept question relating gerunds
Hi everybody! This is my first time here posting here with just making an account. I have a grammar concept question relating gerunds which confuse me a lot.
This particular sentence I'm using comes from the SAT Official Study Guide - New Edition, Page 409 #12
Those sentences are when a noun procedes the gerund as in "dog's peeing" and "son's running." In the SAT sentence above the noun is after the gerund as in "studying insects." So once again, I believe "studying" and "effects" are the objects of the preposition "in." I know that "their" is in the possessive case and acts as a modifer of "effects" so they can be juxtaposed together. What does "insects" serve as in the sentence? I know it's a noun, but it doesn't seem like it's modiying for the object "studying." So how do you put two nouns together as in "studying insects?" Would it be consdered a compound noun or something? Or is the gerund "studying" acting as a modifer as you could replace it with "his insects" (but then it would be a participle.)
Sorry this post was kind of confusing, and these types of sentences come up all the time when we speak English, but I just want to get the gerund concepts straight so I will be able to understand them fully. If anyone can explain even a little a bit that will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
*These two example sentences come from silverturtle's SAT Grammar Guide (verbals, post 15)
This particular sentence I'm using comes from the SAT Official Study Guide - New Edition, Page 409 #12
The official SAT online answers and explanations say that "studying" is a gerund, and that "studying" is the object of the preposition "in." I think, also, that "effects" would also be an object of the preposition "in." I learned that when you have two pronouns/nouns together one has to be in the possessive case, as in "their" and "effects" are together but it works because "their" is in the possessive case. Also a sentence where gerunds appear like "I don't like my dog's peeing on the rug." and "My son's running into me caused my injury." work because "dog's" and "son's" are in the possessive form so the gerunds "peeing" and "running can be put next to it.*
"Interested in studying insects and their effects on agriculture...."
Those sentences are when a noun procedes the gerund as in "dog's peeing" and "son's running." In the SAT sentence above the noun is after the gerund as in "studying insects." So once again, I believe "studying" and "effects" are the objects of the preposition "in." I know that "their" is in the possessive case and acts as a modifer of "effects" so they can be juxtaposed together. What does "insects" serve as in the sentence? I know it's a noun, but it doesn't seem like it's modiying for the object "studying." So how do you put two nouns together as in "studying insects?" Would it be consdered a compound noun or something? Or is the gerund "studying" acting as a modifer as you could replace it with "his insects" (but then it would be a participle.)
Sorry this post was kind of confusing, and these types of sentences come up all the time when we speak English, but I just want to get the gerund concepts straight so I will be able to understand them fully. If anyone can explain even a little a bit that will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
*These two example sentences come from silverturtle's SAT Grammar Guide (verbals, post 15)
Top answer
Hello, PCwiz - and welcome to English Forums. " -- No, 'effects' is an object of 'studying'. I fail to see any connection between this sentence and the possessive pronoun.
- Hello, PCwiz - and welcome to English Forums.
- " -- No, 'effects' is an object of 'studying'.
- I fail to see any connection between this sentence and the possessive pronoun.
- ''Insects' is the other object of 'studying'.
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4 Answers
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Hello, PCwiz - and welcome to English Forums.
I think, also, that "effects" would also be an object of the preposition "in." -- No, 'effects' is an object of 'studying'. I fail to see any connection between this sentence and the possessive pronoun. ''Insects' is the other object of 'studying'.
I think, also, that "effects" would also be an object of the preposition "in." -- No, 'effects' is an object of 'studying'. I fail to see any connection between this sentence and the possessive pronoun. ''Insects' is the other object of 'studying'.
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Oh, I guess I had the the totally wrong thinking then. So "studying" is the object of the preposition "in," and you're saying that "insects" and "effects" are the objects of "studying?" Does that mean the gerund "studying" acts as a preposition (preposition have objects) or does it mean that gerunds (or nouns) can have objects?
Thanks a lot for imformative and very quick response! It i
Thanks a lot for imformative and very quick response! It i
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'Studying insects' and 'studying their effects on agriculture' are non-finite clauses. so that the participles are verb forms and can take objects. However, as you must know, a gerund is a participle acting as a noun, which it does by becoming an object of the preposition 'in'.
Looked at another way, the group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or nou
Looked at another way, the group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or nou
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I understand now - those two explanations make perfect sense. Thank you very much for helping me and clearing this issue for me!
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