How about learning a little more about the gerund use? Studying the verb and all its nominal forms can be much easier than you might think! Thinking about helping you understand the grammar of the Portuguese language, Escola Kids will show you the differences between the correct use of gerund and gerundism, the latter considered a language addiction.
The gerund, like the infinitive and the participle, is one of the nominal forms of the verb. When one verb assumes this form, ends up losing some of its characteristics and starts to present characteristics of a name, no matter if it is a noun, adjective or adverb. The verbs in the gerund must be used in specific situations: in adverbial sentences to indicate circumstances such as time, cause, mood, among others.
The main characteristic of an inflected verb in the gerund is that it indicates a continuous action, that is, an action that is in progress, not finished at the time of speech. they are ended in -going, so when you see a verb with these characteristics, you'll soon know that it's in the gerund. Take a look at some examples:
Gerundism is considered a linguistic fad, so it should be avoided, especially in the written form
the children are playing in the school yard.
The students are studying for the Mathematics test.
Coming school holidays we will travel to the beach.
When used in this way, the use of the gerund is correct, however, there is a phenomenon called gerundism, which is characterized by the use of the gerund to indicate future actions, thus altering its real grammatical function, which is to indicate an action that is in progress. Take a look at some examples:
The school will be performing an ice cream festival.
The teacher will be applying the English test on Wednesday.
We we will be following children during recess.
In the sentences you read above, the use of the gerund is unnecessary, so we say that these are examples of gerundism. Now observe the same sentences, but without the interference of linguistic deviation:
The school will perform an ice cream festival.
The teacher will apply the English test on Wednesday.
We let's follow children during recess.
Or:
The school will perform an ice cream festival.
The teacher apply to the English test on Wednesday.
We we will follow children during recess.
You may have noticed that gerundism, in addition to being unnecessary, complicates speaking and writing. If we can use only one verb inflected in the future tense or a verb phrase, why prefer a form that takes up to three verbs to say the same thing? Be careful not to fall into the fashion of gerundism and always prefer objective constructions free from linguistic tics. Good studies!
By Luana Castro
Graduated in Letters
