Here's why:
* Gerund: A gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun. For example, "swimming" in "Swimming is my favorite hobby."
* Verbal phrase: A verbal phrase is a group of words that contains a verb form (such as a gerund, participle, or infinitive) and acts as a single part of speech.
Since a gerund itself is a noun, it can be considered a one-word verbal phrase.
Examples of gerund verbal phrases:
* Walking the dog is a good way to get exercise. (gerund phrase acting as the subject)
* I enjoy reading books. (gerund phrase acting as the object of the verb)
* She is good at playing the piano. (gerund phrase acting as a prepositional object)
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!