ELACC8L1: Demonstrate command of

the conventions of standard English

grammar and usage when writing or

speaking.

› a. Explain the function of verbals (gerunds,

participles, infinitives) in general and their

function in particular sentences.

Typically used as verbs, but act as nouns

› Running

› Swimming

› Sneaking

› Jogging

› Reading

› Writing

Words that end in –ing

ALWAYS functions as a noun

Can function as three things:

› 1. subject

› 2. direct object

› 3. object of the preposition

A gerund may function as the subject of

the sentence

› Will always begin the sentence if it functions

as the subject

› Tells what the sentence is mainly about

› Always end in -ing

Look at the following sentence:

Swimming is fun.

Reading magazines as a hobby of mine.

› Notice that the words in red are our gerunds that are functioning as subject.

› The begin the sentence and they end in –ing

Create 2 sentences

in your notes that

use Gerunds as a

subject.

Before we explain gerunds as direct

objects, lets review what direct objects

are.

Direct object: the noun that receives the

action

Answers the questions: who or what

Example:

› The boy gave the cookie to the little girl.

What’s the verb?

Who or what did the boy give?

› I slapped the girl in the face.

What’s the verb?

Who or what did I slap?

In your notes, write down the direct

object of each sentence:

› 1. I flushed the toilet after I was finished.

› 2. I cut my hand with the knife.

› 3. The boy finished his dinner in 10 minutes.

› 4. I gave a ring to my girlfriend.

› 5. The woman cooked dinner on

Wednesday.

Remember, all gerunds end in –ing.

Directs objects will answer the questions

who are what.

Has to have both conditions:

› End in –ing

› Answers: who or what?

My hobby is collecting stamps.

My neighbors admire my gardening.

I love reading the newspaper after work.

› Notice each answers the question “what”?

› They all end in -ing

› Also they come shortly after the verb in each

sentence.

Create two sentences that uses gerunds

as direct objects. Remember it must

meet the criteria:

1. end in –ing

2. come shortly after the verb

3. answer “who” or “what”

End in –ing

Come directly after a preposition. › Remember prepositions are words that shows

location: Above

Around

Under

Over

Up

Through

Of

For

to

Some people consider my interest in gardening an obsession.

We talked about going to Canada for vacation.

Lawanda is in charge of organizing the meeting.

› Note: red indicates the preposition; gree indicates

gerund phrase.

› Notice the gerund comes directly after the preposition and ends in -ing

Create two sentence that uses gerunds

as object of the preposition.

Remember:

› Ends in –ing

› Comes directly after a preposition

Gerunds: words that end in –ing

Functions as nouns

› 1. can be a subject

Begins the sentence

› 2. can be a direct object

Answers who or what

3. can be an object of the preposition

Comes directly after a preposition