Verbal: Gerund

The English language has a word or group of words that is derived from a verb but functions as a different part of speech. This word or group of words is called verbal. There are three kinds of verbals: gerund, infinitive, and participle.

A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing. It functions as a noun and could be used in sentences as subject, direct object, predicate nominative, appositive, and object of the preposition.

1. Gerund as subject

   Sentence	Gerund as a Subject	Predicate
   Shooting the breeze is a favorite pastime of young Indonesian boys.	Shooting the breeze	is a favorite pastime of young Indonesian boys
   Talking about politics occupies Hurip’s time.	Talking about politics	occupies Hurip’s time

2. Gerund as direct object

   Sentence	Subject	Verb	Gerund as a Direct Object
   Indonesian boys enjoy shooting the breeze.	boys	enjoy	shooting the breeze
   Hurip loves talking about politics.	Hurip	loves	talking about politics