CHAPTER II GERUNDS 2.1 Definition of Gerund Kaplan (1989: 141) defines gerunds are verbal nouns, meaning that they are nouns derived from verb roots by suffixing ing. Furthermore, Burch (2003: 94) states gerunds are verb forms that end in ing form and function as nouns. Then, Warner (1990: 104) describes gerunds are verb forms that may be used in a place of a noun or pronoun. Besides that, (Dokme: 115) defines a gerund is a noun formed from a verb by add ing at the end of a verb. Next, Allen (1973: 177) explains gerund is the part of verb that end in ing form and it can have the force of a noun as well as that of a verb. And Azar (1989: 150) says a gerund is the ing form of a verb. Traditionally, gerunds are verbal nouns, meaning that they are noun derived from a verb that retains verb characteristics. They have the same form as Present Participle. They always end in the verb suffix ing. But gerunds are different from present participles. Present participles are used to form in progress or incomplete action. But gerunds are used as nouns. Look at these examples: Present Participle Gerund 1. She was baking cookies Baking takes a lot of time 2. I am living alone I don t like living alone 3. We have been relaxing at home Relaxing will help relieve the tension 4. She was spelling the new words Spelling is my best subject
2. 2. Form of Gerund Gerund can be formed by attaching suffix ing to the verb stem and function as noun of the sentence. 1. Her hobby is dancing. The word dancing is gerund. It is formed by verb stem dance + -ing suffix. 2. Swimming is good for our health The word swimming is gerund. It is formed by verb stem swim + -ing suffix. 3. Walking all the way home made us tired. The word walking is gerund. It is formed by verb stem walk + -ing suffix. 2. 3 Function of Gerund Gerund always functions or works as nouns. Therefore, it will be found in places where nouns are typically found: as subject, compliment, object of the sentence, and apposition. 2. 3. 1 Gerund as a Subject of Sentence A gerund can be used as the subject of a sentence, just a noun can be a subject. If a gerund is placed in the beginning of a sentence it functions as the subject of sentence. 1. Fishing needs patience. 2. 3. 4. 5. Smoking is a bad habit. Jogging makes us fresh. Public speaking makes her nervous. Reading English is easier than speaking it.
The verb fishing, smoking, jogging, public speaking, and reading are gerund used as the subject of the sentences above. 2. 3. 2 Gerunds as a Compliment of Sentence Gerund can be used as the compliment. As the compliment it places on the verb at the end of sentence that explains the statement. 1. One of her hobbies is collecting foreign stamps. 2. My mother profession is teaching English. 3. Jane hobby is cycling. 4. Bill is good at playing tennis. The verb collecting, teaching, cycling, and playing in the sentences above are gerund used as compliment. 2. 3. 3 Gerunds as an Object of Sentence Gerund can be used as the object. As the object it places on the verb after transitive verb. 1. Susan likes reading foreign magazine 2. My uncle loves hunting in the forest 3. I dislike keeping animals 4. My father likes playing golf 5. I enjoy living in this city The verb reading, hunting, keeping, playing, and living are gerund used as the object in sentences above.
2. 3. 4 Apposition Gerund also use as apposition. 1. My sister hobby, painting, is enjoyable for her. 2. Her dream, buying a big house, was never realized. 3. His favorite exercise, swimming in the pool, make his body strong. 4. My father really enjoys his favorite past time, shouting in the forest. 2. 4 Uses of Gerund 2. 4. 1 Gerund after the Preposition There are some common verbs, adjectives, and nouns phrases with prepositions that are often followed by gerund, namely: a) Verb + Preposition There are some verbs followed by prepositions. The verb forms used after the prepositions are always gerunds. 1. approve of : I don t approve of their staying out so late. 2. give up : He gave up working here because he had got a better job. 3. keep on : They keep on talking during the trip. 4. insist on : Kate insist on coming with us. 5. success in :James succeed in getting a job because he has work experience. 6. keen on : She is not keen on going out tonight. 7. think of : I often think of going to France. 8. worry about : Diane was worried about her presentation.
9. object to : Do you object to being treated like that? b) Adjective + Preposition There are some adjectives followed by a preposition. The verb forms used after the prepositions are always gerunds. 1. accustom to : John is accustom to coming late. 2. ashamed of : Aren t you ashamed of being so cruel? 3. tired of : I m tired of eating foreign food every day. 4. capable of : He is not capable of typing business letter. 5. interested in : I m interested in seeing this film. 6. fond of : Bill is always fond of hunting in the forest. 7. afraid of : Anne is afraid of meeting her boss in the office. 8. intend on : She was so intend on dancing in the club. c) Noun + Preposition There are some nouns followed by a preposition. The verb forms used after the prepositions are always gerunds. 1. excuse for : Evan has no excuse for dropping out of school. 2. idea of : I don t like the idea of spending much money. 3. method for : He has developed a method for evaluating a problem. 4. opportunity of: I m glad to have this opportunity of coming to visit your house. 5. possibility of : There is a possibility if meeting clients tomorrow.
6. reason for : I have no reason for leaving his village. 7. intention of : He went to the city with intention of becoming rich. 2. 4. 2 Gerund after Possessive Adjective Gerund can be used after possessive adjective and it shows a person s action. Possessive Adjective: my your his her our their 1. I could hear her crying. 2. His staring frightens me. 3. Your singing is beautiful. 4. Her leaving will make me sad. 5. My refusing to help made him disappointed. The verb crying, staring, singing, leaving, and refusing in the sentences above are gerund used after possessive adjective. 2. 4. 4 Idiomatic Expressions Followed by the ing Form of a Verb There are some special expressions followed by the ing form of a verb. 1. have fun + -ing : We had fun playing basketball. 2. have a good time + -ing : They had a good time drinking a cup of tea in the evening. 3. have trouble + -ing : Bill had trouble fixing his car.
4. have difficulty + -ing : Jack had difficulty doing his assignment. 5. have a difficult time + -ing : He had a difficult time reporting that sad news to his wife. 6. have a hard time + -ing : He has a hard time making up his mind about anything. 7. spend + expression of time or money + -ing: : I spent almost all day surfing the internet. 8. waste + expression of time or money + -ing : Sam waste a lot of time watching TV. 9. sit + expression of place + -ing : Jane sat at her desk typing a report. 10. stand + expression of place + -ing : I stood there wondering what to do next. 11. lie + expression of place + -ing : She is lying in bed reading a novel. 12. find + (pro)noun + -ing : When I walked into my office, I found Jim using my telephone. 13. catch + (pro)noun + -ing : When I walked into my office, I caught a thief looking through my desk drawers.
2. 4. 5 Gerund after go Word in Showing Sport Activities or Physically Recreation. Go is followed by a gerund in certain idiomatic expressions to recreational activities, namely: go boating go fishing go running go skiing go bowling go hiking go sailing go sledding go camping go hunting go shopping go swimming go canoeing go jogging go sightseeing go window shopping go dancing go mountain climbing go skating 1. father usually goes hunting on Sunday morning. 2. The children do not go swimming today. 3. How often does he go fishing with his friend. 4. Does your mother always go shopping with you? 5. My brother often goes bowling with his friend. 6. Will you go boating next week? 2. 4. 6 Gerunds to Show the Prohibition Gerund is also used to show prohibitions. It used no in short sentence and marked with exclamation point (!). 1. No parking! 2. No smoking! 3. No fishing!
4. No trespassing! 5. No camping! 6. No spitting! 2. 5 Common Verbs Followed by Gerund Some verbs are commonly used with the Gerund that states as the objects of certain verbs. 1. admit : He admitted stealing the money. 2. advise : She advised waiting until tomorrow. 3. anticipate : I anticipate having a good time on vacation. 4. appreciate : We appreciate having a dinner with them. 5. avoid : We can t avoid making mistakes. 6. complete : I finally completed writing my term paper. 7. consider : I will consider going with you. 8. delay : The Smiths delayed leaving on vacation this summer. 9. deny : John denied breaking the glass. 10. discuss : They discussed getting a new car. 11. dislike : Tom dislikes driving long distances. 12. enjoy : Bill enjoys reading newspaper every morning. 13. finish : He finished studying at midnight. 14. can t help : I can t help seeing their sufferings. 15. keep : I keep hoping he will come. 16. mention : She mentioned going to the library. 17. mind : I don t mind calling him back after lunch. 18. miss : He narrowly missed getting killed.
19. postpone : You can t postpone making that decision much longer. 20. practice : The athlete practiced throwing the ball. 21. quit : I quit collecting comic books when I was fourteen years old. 22. recall : Jane doesn t recall meeting him before. 23. recommend : Sue recommend seeing the show. 24. regret : I regret telling her my secret. 25. resent : I resent her interfering in my business. 26. resist : I couldn t resist eating the dessert. 27. risk : He risks losing all of his money. 28. suggest : Sally suggested going on picnic this afternoon.