Gerund is the nominal form of the verb that indicates continuity. Thus, it shows the development of an ongoing or lasting action.
Examples:
- I am leading the cake you ordered me.
- it is studying to improve professionally.
- it is ending the work in the apartment.
- We are making overtime to complete the project.
- They are coming to the agreed location.
The gerund does not flex and can act as an adverb. This happens when he expresses mode.
Examples:
- the nun thanked crying the offering of the faithful.
- The florist received smiling the tip of the customer.
Although less common, it is also possible that the gerund plays the role of an adjective. This happens when the gerund highlights a feature to a noun.
Examples:
- on the corner there were women protesting continuously.
- In the hospital there were patients yelling absurdly.
The gerund can have a past tense value when used in compound form. In this case, it signals something in development that, however, is already finished when we talk about it.
Examples:
- having performed, by conference, several meetings that proved to be unhelpful, I applied the protocol of dismissals.
- being finished this meeting, I'm going home.
Infinitive it's the participle are the other nominal forms.
Gerundism
O gerundism it is a language addiction, that is, a grammatical deviation and, therefore, should be avoided.
Note in the examples below that gerundism makes use of three verb forms.
Examples:
- I will be calling for you over the weekend.
- we will be transferring the call.
- He will be applying the safety manual.
- we will be entering in touch.
Now, see the correct way:
- I'll call for you on the weekend or I will call for you over the weekend.
- let's transfer the call or I will transfer the call.
- He will apply the safety manual or He apply to the safety manual.
- Lets go in in contact or we will enter in touch.
Gerund Verbs
- Verb to love: loving
- Verb to walk: walking
- Verb to talk: talking
- Verb to call: calling
- Verb to invite: inviting
- Verb sell: selling
- Verb to do: making
- Verb thank: thanking
- Verb welcome: welcoming
- Verb answer: answering
- Verb to leave: leaving
- Verb to divide: dividing
- Correct verb: correcting
- Verb fulfill: fulfilling
- Pretend verb: Pretending
Read too Nominal Forms and Language vices.