Here's a breakdown:
* Verb form: It's derived from a verb, meaning it describes an action or state of being.
* -ing ending: This is the key identifier of a gerund.
* Functions as a noun: It acts like a noun in a sentence, meaning it can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb.
Examples:
* Subject: Swimming is my favorite activity. ("Swimming" is the subject of the sentence.)
* Object: I enjoy hiking in the mountains. ("Hiking" is the object of the verb "enjoy".)
* Complement: My favorite hobby is reading. ("Reading" is the complement of the noun "hobby".)
Key things to remember:
* Gerunds often function as subjects or objects.
* They can be distinguished from present participles (which modify nouns) by their noun-like role in the sentence.
* Gerunds can be used with possessive pronouns or nouns before them, like "my running" or "John's singing."
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!