Gerunds and participles are verb forms that help us express actions in different ways. Gerunds always end in -ing and act as nouns, while participles can be present participles (ending in -ing) or past participles (usually ending in -ed, -en, or irregular forms) and function as adjectives or parts of verb tenses.
Gerunds (-ing that act as nouns)
Gerunds are verbs ending in -ing that always act as nouns. They can be subjects, objects, or objects of prepositions.
How Gerunds Are Used
Gerunds can appear in these roles:
- Subject: Swimming is fun.
- Object: I enjoy reading.
- Object of a Preposition: She is good at drawing.
Gerund Examples
Gerunds are always -ing forms used as nouns.
Sentence | Gerund Role | Explanation |
---|---|---|
Running* helps me relax. | Subject | Running is the subject of the sentence. |
He loves cooking. | Object | Cooking is the object of “loves.” |
They talked about traveling. | Object of Preposition | Traveling follows the preposition “about.” |
Rules for Gerunds
- Always add -ing to the verb.
- Do not change the verb stem (e.g., go → going).
- Treat the gerund as a noun grammatically.
- Verbs are followed by gerunds if the verb normally takes an -ing object (e.g., enjoy, avoid, consider).
Present Participles (-ing that act as adjectives or form continuous tenses)
Present participles also end in -ing, but they act as adjectives or help form continuous verb tenses.
How Present Participles Are Used
- Form continuous tenses: She is running.
- Act as adjectives: The running water is cold.
- Start participial phrases: Walking down the street, I saw a dog.
Present Participle Examples
Present participles describe ongoing actions or modify nouns.
Sentence | Function | Explanation |
---|---|---|
She is singing. | Continuous tense | Part of the verb “is singing.” |
The crying baby needs attention. | Adjective | “Crying” describes the baby. |
Reading* quietly, he fell asleep. | Participial phrase | Phrase modifies “he.” |
Rules for Present Participles
- Add -ing to the base verb.
- Use to form -ing verb forms in progressive tenses.
- Use to create participial phrases for adding detail.
- Modify nouns when used directly before the noun (acting like an adjective).
Past Participles (usually -ed/-en ...)
Past participles describe completed actions or states. They are used with have/has/had in perfect tenses or with be in passive voice, and sometimes act as adjectives.
How Past Participles Are Used
- Form perfect tenses: I have finished my work.
- Form passive voice: The cake was eaten.
- Act as adjectives: The broken window was fixed.
Past Participle Examples
Sentence | Usage | Explanation |
---|---|---|
They have gone home. | Perfect tense | “Gone” completes the verb phrase. |
The letter was written yesterday. | Passive voice | The subject receives the action. |
The painted door looks new. | Adjective usage | “Painted” describes the door. |
Rules for Past Participles
- Regular verbs add -ed (e.g., walked, played).
- Irregular verbs change form (e.g., gone, written, eaten).
- Used with have/has/had (perfect) or be (passive).
- Can function as adjectives when placed before a noun.
Common Usage Patterns
Here’s how to distinguish and use gerunds and participles:
Gerunds (always nouns)
- After certain verbs (enjoy, avoid, consider): I enjoy dancing.
- After prepositions: She is good at painting.
- As subjects or objects: Skiing is fun.
Present Participles (verbs/ adjectives)
- Continuous tenses: They are talking.
- Adjective use before nouns: The running water.
- Participial phrases: Smiling, he waved goodbye.
Past Participles (completed actions/ adjectives)
- Perfect tenses: I have seen that movie.
- Passive voice: The door was locked.
- Adjective use: The damaged car.
Which pattern correctly shows have + past participle for perfect tense?
I have seen that movie.
Perfect tense requires ‘have/has’ + past participle (seen).
In which sentence is the past participle used in passive voice?
The door was locked.
Passive voice is formed using ‘be’ + past participle; ‘was locked’ is correct.
Why It Matters
Understanding gerunds and participles lets you:
- Use English verb forms correctly.
- Add variety with descriptive phrases.
- Build complex sentences.
- Avoid common errors (like mixing gerunds and infinitives).
- Improve your writing and speaking clarity.
Why are gerunds important in English grammar?
They allow verbs to function as nouns.
Gerunds are -ing forms that act as nouns, enabling verbs to function as subjects, objects, or objects of prepositions.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025