GERUND
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Definition:
When any verb is used as noun by adding ‘ing’ with the verb is called Gerund. Means to say that if any verb with ‘ing’ acting as noun is called Gerund.
2.1 Many process to use verb as noun by making gerund:
(a) Subject to verb:
It is well known that subject of a verb is always a noun or pronoun then in this case when verb is required to be used, it should be used in the form of gerund.
Example: (i) Drinking is bad. (ii) Playing is good for health (iii) Smoking tobacco is bad. Here, Drinking, Playing & Smoking is used as noun by using ‘ing’ with verb drink, play and smoke to make them gerund.
(b) Object to a Transitive verb: It is well known that after transitive verbs only noun is used. Hence, if any verb is required to be used after any transitive verb then verb is used in the form of gerund.
Example: He likes smoking. (ii) He knows swimming. Here, smoking & swimming are gerund. He likes smoke, He knows swim are wrong sentences.
(c) Object to a Preposition: Noun always comes after preposition. If any verb is required to be placed after preposition, then it’s gerund is used.
Example: I am tired of waiting. (ii) I insisted on going to Patna. Here, waiting & going are used after preposition ‘of’ & ‘on’ respectively. Here using wait & go in place of waiting & going respectively is wrong.
(d) Article to Noun (Gerund): Noun always follows any article. Hence, if any verb is required to be placed after an article it’s gerund is used.
Example: (i) The writings of Shakespeare rank high in English. (ii) I like the playing of Sachin Tendulkar. Here, ‘writing’ & ‘playing’ are used after article ‘the’ respectively in either sentences. Use of ‘write’ or ‘play’ in place of ‘writing’ or playing respectively is wrong.
(e) Noun (Gerund) in Possessive case: It is known that noun always comes in Possessive case. Hence, if any verb is required to be used in possessive case then its gerund is used.
Example: I like Manu’s singing (ii) I dislike your talking too much.
(f) Noun for purpose expression: ‘For’ is used to show the purpose of a noun. If any verb is required to be used in place of noun in this case then it’s gerund is used.
Example: (i) This spoon is for serving meals. (ii) This book is for teaching grammar. Here, serving & teaching is gerund used after ‘for’ to show the purpose.
(g) To express cause: To express cause, ‘for + Gerund’ is sued.
Example: (i) The messenger was dismissed for committing theft. (ii) He was honored for getting the first prize.
Warning: To express the purpose of ‘verb’, for + Gerund is never used.
Example: He went to market to buying a book – Wrong.
He went to market to buy a book – Correct.
(h) Some words always take Gerunds. Means to say that, if any verb is used after such specific words, it is used in the form of gerund.
Example:
(1) Prevent: Prevent him from going to the station.
(2) Go on : She went on weeping.
(3) Give up: I have given up reading.
(4) Keep on: Ranjeet kept on singing for hours.
(5) Avoid: Avoid making private calls in this telephone.
(6) Enjoy: I enjoy reading novels.
(7) Excuse: Please excuse my saying so.
(8) Mind: Would you mind my going late today?
(9) Leave off: It left off raining.
(10) Insist on: He insisted on playing cricket.
(11) It is not use: It is no use calling him now.
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