Gerund

A. A gerund must always end in -ing. It is formed by adding -ing to the first principal part of the verb.

EXAMPLE:

write - writing

exercise - exercising

plan - planning

B. The gerund is always used as a noun. (Subject, Direct Object, Predicate Nominative, Object of the Preposition, Appositive, Indirect Object, Object Complement)

C. Since gerund is formed from a verb, it maybe modified by an adverb. (Adverb distinctly in sentence 8 modifies the gerund speaking which is a subject.)

D. Gerund may havean object. Other verb complements may also follow the gerund. (Noun button is object of the gerund pushing, which is the object of the preposition by.)