Learn on PengiElements of Language, 3rd CourseChapter 3: The Phrase: Prepositional, Verbal, and Appositive Phrases

Lesson 3: Gerund Phrases

In this Grade 6 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 3rd Course, students learn to identify gerunds as verb forms ending in –ing that function as nouns, distinguishing them from present participles and verbs. The lesson then extends to gerund phrases, showing how a gerund combines with its modifiers and complements to act as a single noun unit in roles such as subject, direct object, or object of a preposition. Practice exercises guide students through recognizing and underlining gerunds and gerund phrases within sentences.

Section 1

The Gerund

Definition

A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun.

Explanation

Think of a gerund as a verb in disguise! It looks like an action word ending in -ing, but it's actually playing the role of a noun in the sentence. It can be a subject, an object, or anything a noun can be. Remember, its job in the sentence is key: if the -ing word is a noun, it's a gerund; if it describes a noun, it's a participle; and if it's with a helping verb, it's part of a verb phrase.

Examples

  • Screaming echoed through the halls of the haunted house. [Screaming is a gerund used as the subject.]
  • Maria’s favorite exercise is swimming. [Swimming is a gerund used as the predicate nominative.]
  • My sister, give studying a bit more of your effort. [Studying is a gerund used as an indirect object.]

Section 2

The Gerund Phrase

Definition

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or complements the gerund has. The entire phrase is used as a noun.

Explanation

A gerund phrase is the gerund plus its whole crew! It includes the gerund itself along with any words that describe it (modifiers) or complete its meaning (complements). This entire group works together as one big noun, taking on a single role like the subject or object of a sentence.

Examples

  • The loud clanking from the engine was the car's timing belt. [The entire gerund phrase is used as the subject of the sentence.]
  • The student enjoys quickly solving math problems for fun. [The entire gerund phrase is used as the direct object of the verb enjoys.]
  • The chef’s greatest skill was expertly decorating elaborate cakes. [The entire gerund phrase is used as a predicate nominative.]
  • We practiced swiftly passing the puck to our teammates. [The entire gerund phrase is used as the object of the preposition 'practiced'.]

Section 3

The Gerund Phrase

Definition

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or complements the gerund has. The entire phrase is used as a noun.

Explanation

Think of a gerund phrase as a gerund plus its team! This includes words that describe the gerund (modifiers) or complete its meaning (complements). The entire group of words works together as a single noun, acting as the subject or object in a sentence.

Examples

  • The loud clattering in the garage was the toolbox falling over. [The entire phrase is used as the subject of the sentence.]
  • My brother enjoys building elaborate models for us. [The entire phrase is used as the direct object of the verb enjoys.]
  • Would you help me with hanging these pictures? [The gerund phrase functions as the object of the preposition with.]
  • Clara’s favorite hobby is cheaply collecting stamps from the fifties. [The entire phrase is used as a predicate nominative.]

Book overview

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Chapter 3: The Phrase: Prepositional, Verbal, and Appositive Phrases

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Prepositional Phrases

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Participial Phrases

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  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Gerund Phrases

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Infinitive Phrases

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Appositive Phrases

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

The Gerund

Definition

A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing that is used as a noun.

Explanation

Think of a gerund as a verb in disguise! It looks like an action word ending in -ing, but it's actually playing the role of a noun in the sentence. It can be a subject, an object, or anything a noun can be. Remember, its job in the sentence is key: if the -ing word is a noun, it's a gerund; if it describes a noun, it's a participle; and if it's with a helping verb, it's part of a verb phrase.

Examples

  • Screaming echoed through the halls of the haunted house. [Screaming is a gerund used as the subject.]
  • Maria’s favorite exercise is swimming. [Swimming is a gerund used as the predicate nominative.]
  • My sister, give studying a bit more of your effort. [Studying is a gerund used as an indirect object.]

Section 2

The Gerund Phrase

Definition

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or complements the gerund has. The entire phrase is used as a noun.

Explanation

A gerund phrase is the gerund plus its whole crew! It includes the gerund itself along with any words that describe it (modifiers) or complete its meaning (complements). This entire group works together as one big noun, taking on a single role like the subject or object of a sentence.

Examples

  • The loud clanking from the engine was the car's timing belt. [The entire gerund phrase is used as the subject of the sentence.]
  • The student enjoys quickly solving math problems for fun. [The entire gerund phrase is used as the direct object of the verb enjoys.]
  • The chef’s greatest skill was expertly decorating elaborate cakes. [The entire gerund phrase is used as a predicate nominative.]
  • We practiced swiftly passing the puck to our teammates. [The entire gerund phrase is used as the object of the preposition 'practiced'.]

Section 3

The Gerund Phrase

Definition

A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers or complements the gerund has. The entire phrase is used as a noun.

Explanation

Think of a gerund phrase as a gerund plus its team! This includes words that describe the gerund (modifiers) or complete its meaning (complements). The entire group of words works together as a single noun, acting as the subject or object in a sentence.

Examples

  • The loud clattering in the garage was the toolbox falling over. [The entire phrase is used as the subject of the sentence.]
  • My brother enjoys building elaborate models for us. [The entire phrase is used as the direct object of the verb enjoys.]
  • Would you help me with hanging these pictures? [The gerund phrase functions as the object of the preposition with.]
  • Clara’s favorite hobby is cheaply collecting stamps from the fifties. [The entire phrase is used as a predicate nominative.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 3: The Phrase: Prepositional, Verbal, and Appositive Phrases

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Prepositional Phrases

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Participial Phrases

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Gerund Phrases

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Infinitive Phrases

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Appositive Phrases

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