Gerunds
Possessives Precede Gerunds by Tina Blue September 26, 2003 What is a gerund, and how does it differ from a? present participle?* ?The present participle is the ing form of a verb used as an adjective: running shoes; breaking story; losing game; reading assignment. ? ? ? ?? A gerund is the ing form of a verb used as a noun. The gerund form of a verb looks exactly like the present participle, but they function differently in a sentence. The gerund will fill a noun slot (subject, direct object, object of preposition, etc.), but the participle will be either an adjective or part of a verb phrase: ? ? ~Running is good exercise. (gerund) ? ? ~Are those new running shoes? (participle) ? ? ~He is running his last race today. (participle)