Gerunds &
Gerund
Phrases
“The pen is the
tongue of the mind.”
Showcase your
WORD CHOICE
and increase
your evidence
of
SENTENCE
FLUENCY
PowerEd Plans
2014
Gerunds &
Gerund
Phrases
What is a
Gerund?
A form of verb (action word)
Ends in –ing
Acts like a noun
Examples:
Sleeping late on the weekends is one
of my favorite activities.
2. Cleaning my room is my least favorite
weekend chore.
3. Driving with my parents is frustrating
because they listen to terrible music.
1.
PowerEd Plans
2014
Change the verb in the sentence to a
Gerund and rewrite the sentence,
starting it with a Gerund.
1. My mother drives too fast!
Driving way too fast down the turnpike caused my
mother to finally receive a speeding ticket.
2. She lost her driver’s license because she would
always speed.
Losing her driver’s license was a consequence my
mother endured due to her speeding choices.
PowerEd Plans
2014
Gerunds &
Gerund
Phrases
Let’s Practice
Change the verb in the sentence to a
Gerund and rewrite the sentence,
starting it with a Gerund.
4. Eric manages all the garbage trucks in Miami.
Managing all the garbage trucks in Miami is a huge
job for Eric.
5. Scott spends all his free time on the golf course.
Spending his free time on the golf course allows
Scott to relieve stress.
6. Brianna fulfilled her life’s ambition by winning the
dance contest.
Fulfilling her life’s ambition, Brianna won the
dance contest.
PowerEd Plans
2014
Gerunds &
Gerund
Phrases
Gerund
Phrase
A Gerund Phrase will begin with a gerund
(an “ing” word) and will include other
modifiers and/or objects. Gerund Phrases
always function as nouns, so they will be
subjects, subject complements, or objects
in the sentence.
Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine will
result in disaster.
Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine =
gerund phrase, the subject of the verb “will result”.
Bernard hates buttering toast with a fork.
Buttering toast with a fork = gerund phrase, the direct
object of the verb “hates”.
PowerEd Plans
2014
Gerunds &
Gerund
Phrases
Examples of
Gerund Phrase
A Gerund Phrase will begin with a gerund (an “ing”
word) and will include other modifiers and/or objects.
Gerund Phrases always function as nouns, so they will be
subjects, subject complements, or objects in the
sentence.
Eating ice cream on a windy day can be a messy
experience if you have long, untamed hair.
PowerEd Plans
2014
Eating ice cream on a windy day = subject of the
verb can be.
A more disastrous activity for long-haired people is
blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car
windows down.
Blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car
windows down = subject complement of the verb is.