Gerund

Gerund

Gerund does the function of a verb and a noun. It is the present participle form of verb.        

Read the passage carefully:

Learning is a continuous process. Learning a language depends on a process based on language skills which are interesting. We follow different ways to learn. We learn listening, speaking, reading and writing. But we have to learn not by rote but by understanding. To learn English we have to practice four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. You should continue to practice these skills because you have no other way to achieve command of English without practicing the skills. Remember that a child starts to learn its mother tongue by listening and lipsing and  then speaking. If they do not go to school, they do not need to read and write. But still they can learn whereas the foreign learners have to practice the skills. So you have to practice four skills for learning. Besides practicing the skills, developing vocabulary is a must for you.

v  Identify the infinitives, participles and gerund from the passage above.

Functions of Gerund:

a)      As the subject of a verb: Walking is good for health. Reading books is a good habit.

b)     As the object of a verb: Stop writing. He learns drawing.

c)      As the object of prepositions: He is fond of riding. I am thinking of going there.

d)     As a complement to verb: Seeing is believing. My hobby is reading.

Examples of Infinitives, Gerund and Participles:

a.       Infinitive:  I like to play cricket.

Gerund:Playing cricket is very exciting.

He is fond of playing cricket.

Participle: Playing cricket he left the place.

I saw him playing cricket.

b.       Infinitive:He wants to eat fruits.

                       To eat fruits is his regular habit.

Gerund:    : He likes eating fruits.

                       He is fond of eating fruits.

                       Eating fruits is his regular habit.

Participle:  Father saw me eating fruits.    

                              Eating rice we washed his hands.

c.       Infinitive:To smoke is a bad habit.

Gerund:    :  Smoking is a bad habit.

Participle:  I found him smoking.

                                                                                                     Exercise:

1.       Replace infinitives of the following sentences by using gerund.

a.       To tell a lie is a great sin.

b.       I like to eat vegetables.

c.       This is a room to live in.

d.       His hobby is to travel.

e.       To walk is good for health.

f.        He started to learn English.

g.       To steal is a sin.

h.       It is bad to find fault with others.

i.         It is essential to speak English to have fluency.

j.         To plant a sapling is everybody’s responsibility.

2.      Complete the following sentences by using appropriate gerund.

You cannot learn English without (a)______.the four language skills. (b)______ is the first skill you should practise. The second one is (c)______ . The third one is (d)______ while the fourth skill is (e)______ . Unless you practise the skills, you cannot succeed in (f)______ any foreign language. Teachers engaged in (g)______ . English should create an environment in the class favorable for (h)______ this language.