Example:
"The sound of whispering was a steady hum in my ears."
Explanation:
* Whispering is the gerund in this sentence.
* It's formed by adding "-ing" to the verb "whisper."
* It functions as the subject of the sentence, telling us what the sound is.
Here's how to identify gerunds in "Speak":
1. Look for words ending in "-ing". These are often gerunds, but not always.
2. Check if the word can function as a noun. Can it be the subject of the sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition?
3. If it meets both criteria, it's likely a gerund.
For a more specific example, please provide a passage or sentence from "Speak" and I can help you pinpoint the gerund.