Questions about Gerund

Question

I have a little vague idea of using Gernd, so it would be good if someone tell me if following sentence is grammatical or not, or if it's present participle.
And maybe what component the Gerund is replacing.

-Speaking requires skills.
-This is called skating.
-This is him using the tool.
-I want to see you working at office.
-This is climbing
-Show me the place melting.
-Killing it.
-State of dying.
-Something growing.
-The guy working. / The guy working there. (is there difference between them other than difference in meaning?)

Also, there's a case not using Gerund when it seems the Gerund is needed. Is it case by case or something?
-Watch me plan.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

I have a little vague idea of using (Yes, "using" is a gerund, so you have a good idea about this!) the Gerund, so it would be good if someone told me if the following sentences are grammatical or not, or if it's a present participle.

I will tell you which of these are sentences. Then you can reply with your own analysis of gerund or participle.
-Speaking requires skills. Yes, this is a sentence.
-This is called skating. Yes, this is a sentence.
-This is him using the tool. Yes, this is a sentence.
-I want to see you working at office. Yes, this is a sentence.
-This is climbing. Yes, this is a sentence.
-Show me the place melting. Yes, this is a sentence.
-Killing it. This is not a sentence.
-State of dying. This is not a sentence.
-Something growing. This is not a sentence.
-The guy working. / The guy working there. This is not a sentence.

Noname 8048Also, there's a case not using Gerund when it seems the Gerund is needed. Is it case by case or something?-Watch me plan.

After verbs of perception (watch, see, hear, feel) the bare infinitive (or non-finite clause with the gerund can be used.

Watch me run.
Watch me running up the stairs.

I could hear him play the piano.
I could hear him playing the piano.

I can feel the bug crawl up my leg.
I can feel the bug crawling up my leg.

Listen to her sing the anthem.
Listen to her singing the anthem.

Noname 8048 · Answer

I think first, second, and fifth one have the Gerund, and rest of the examples that are actual sentence is using participle. But they don't have composition like this one:
He is running.
So I'm not sure if the usage in those sentences is still a participle.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

1. Speaking requires skills. "Speaking" is the subject of the verb "requires." The subject of a verb is a noun, or a word acting like a noun. A gerund is a verbal noun..
2. This is called skating. ""Skating" is the complement of the verb "is called" .
3. This is him using the tool. Yes, There are two ways to parse sentences like this one. First, "This is him, using the tool." where "using the tool" describes "him". Second, "This is [him using the tool]." where "him using the tool" is a non-finite clause, with a "gerund" as the verb. So it can be interpreted either way.
4. I want to see you working at office. See sentence #3. It is the same pattern..
5. This is climbing. See sentence #2. It is the same pattern. .
6. Show me the place melting. See sentence #3. It is the same pattern.
7. Killing it. This is not a sentence, it is ambiguous. But "killing" is most likely a gerund..
8. State of dying. This is not a sentence, but "of dying" is a prepositional phrase. "Dying" is the object (complement) of the preposition. Objects of prepositions are nouns or words acting like a noun.
9. Something growing. This is not a sentence, but "growing" is most likely a participle..
10. The guy working. / The guy working there. This is not a sentence; it is ambiguous.

Questions about Gerund

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions