Gerund

/ˈdʒɛr.ənd/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A form of a verb that ends in -ing and functions as a noun.

Swimming is my favorite hobby.

The use of a gerund in the English language.

The gerund is often used after prepositions.

A gerund can convey the idea of an action without explicitly referring to a subject.

I enjoy reading books on history.

In some cases, the gerund form can replace a noun phrase.

She dislikes running in the rain.

Gerunds can be preceded by articles or modifiers, just like nouns.

The dancing crowd was a sight to behold.

From Latin gerundivus, meaning 'to be done'.

getting ahead by skipping steps

Achieving success through shortcuts, often involving risk.

singing in the shower

Doing something joyfully and freely, often in solitude.

running on empty

Operating with little or no resources or energy.

participle

A verb form that can act as an adjective.

infinitive

The base form of a verb, usually preceded by 'to'.

verb

A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.

Nouning something

Stop nouning your feelings; just express them!

In the ing zone

I'm totally in the 'ing' zone with this project!