What Is a Gerund?

When a verb ends in -ing and acts as a noun in a sentence, it is called a gerund. Remember,
a noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns can have a variety of roles in a
sentence. A gerund will take one of these positions in a sentence:

 subject: who or what the sentence is about

Cooking is fun.

 subject complement: follows the linking verb and renames the subject (subject =
complement)

Mouhamed's favorite game is basketball.

 direct object: receives the action of the verb (after the verb ask ''what or whom?'')

Harmon likes rowing.

 indirect object: receives the direct object (after the direct object ask ''to or for whom or
what?'')

Marge gave quilting a try.

 object of preposition: follows the preposition to complete its meaning

Timmy won a medal for wrestling.

Gerund Phrases
If an action verb is transitive, it has a direct object. When you find the verb, you can ask ''what'' or
''whom.'' A gerund phrase consists of a gerund with a direct object.

 Cooking pasta is a simple task.

The gerund is ''cooking'' and the object is ''pasta.'' Together, the phrase ''cooking pasta'' acts as the
subject of the sentence.
Sometimes a gerund phrase also includes a modifier.

 Lucas enjoys playing board games.

The gerund is ''playing'' and the object is ''games.'' The word ''board'' is modifying ''games,'' so the
entire gerund phrase is ''playing board games.'' In this sentence, the gerund phrase is the direct
object.

Gerund or Present Participle?

A gerund always ends in -ing, but not all verbs ending in -ing are gerunds. Present participles also
end in -ing.
Here are some present participles:

 The lizard was hiding under Lucinda's pillow.

 Lucinda is crying because the lizard frightened her.
 I am laughing at Lucinda.
 Jem and Kit are running away from Lucinda.
 They were trying to scare her.

Notice that in each example, the -ing word shows a continuing action. That makes it a present
participle, doing the job of a verb, not a noun.

How are gerunds used as appositives?

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8 Answers

Warren Sentes, Five years instructing in English grammar at NorQuest College

Answered Jun 25, 2016 · Author has 279 answers and 357k answer views
Your looking for a gerund or gerund phrase as an appositive.

Examples:

“The best form of exercise, walking, is also the least expensive.”

Walking is the gerund in this sentence and acts as an appositive explaining the best
form of exercise.

“Low-impact sports, like riding a bike, cause less stress on your knees.”

Riding a bike is the gerund phrase in this sentence and gives an example of a low-
impact sport.