gerunds
Nouns from verbs
Gerunds are verb forms ending in -ing that function as nouns: Swimming is good exercise, I enjoy reading.
They look identical to present participles but serve different grammatical roles—a gerund names an activity, while a participle modifies or forms continuous tenses.
Gerunds can take objects and modifiers just as verbs do: Quickly finishing the report took effort.
Verb form as adjective
- nonfiniteVerb lacking tense
- nominalizationConverting words to nouns
- subjectMatter under discussion
- objectTangible entity or aim
complement · preposition · clause · predicate · infinitive · morphology · subordination · modification
Without pause or gap
developing · evolving · unfolding · emerging · present participle · auxiliary · duration
participle
Verb form as adjective
- nonfiniteVerb lacking tense
- nominalizationConverting words to nouns
- subjectMatter under discussion
object · complement · preposition · clause · predicate · infinitive · morphology · subordination · modification · phrase
continuous
Without pause or gap
action · developing · evolving · unfolding · emerging · present participle · auxiliary · duration
swimming
Locomotion through water
thinking · learning · teaching · dancing · singing · painting · cooking · fishing · gardening · shopping
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gerundsinfinitives
Unconjugated verb forms
to-infinitives · past participles · present participles · participles