Gerunds are funny — they look like verbs, they sound like verbs, but they’re not verbs — they’re nouns! SpSpecificallyecifically, gerunds are action-oriented verbs that function as nouns. This always has the same function as a noun (although it looks like a verb), so it can be used: As the subject of the sentence: Eating people is wrong. After prepositions: Can you sneeze without opening your mouth? She is good at painting After certain verbs, e. g. like, hate, admit, imagine In compound nouns, e. g. a driving lesson, a swimming pool, bird-watching, train-spotting.
What’s the difference between a Gerund and a Participle? A Gerund is a verb form used as a noun whilst a Participle is a verb form used as an adjective. Gerund : A verbal noun in Latin that expresses generalized or uncompleted action : Any of several linguistic forms analogous to the Latin gerund in languages other than Latin; especially : the English verbal noun in -ing that has the function of a substantive and at the same time shows the verbal features of tense, voice, and capacity to take adverbial qualifiers and to govern objects : A Gerund is a verb and noun combined. g: “I think of retiring soon from business. “
Retiring is a verb, being part of the verb retire. It is also a noun, because it is object to the preposition ‘of. Participle a word having the characteristics of both verb and adjective; especially : an English verbal form that has the function of an adjective and at the same time shows such verbal features as tense and voice and capacity to take an object : A Participle is a verb and adjective combined. eg: “A retired officer lives next door. ” or “She was killed by a falling tile.
Retired is a verb, being part of the verb to retire. It is also an adjective, because it qualifies the noun ‘officer’. Falling is a verb, since it is part of the verb to fall, but it is also an adjective in that it qualifies the noun ’tile’. Hence a participle may be called a verbal adjective. Usage of Gerund in English Language This looks exactly the same as a present participle, and for this reason it is now common to call both forms ‘the -ing form’. However it is useful to understand the difference between the two.
