The gerund must not be confused with the participle I, which has the same –ing suffix, compare:

Gerund

Participle I

1

The gerund has a double nature: both verbal and nominal

Participle I has a multiple nature: verbal, adjectival, and adverbial

2

The gerund can be used as

1) the subject,

2) the predicative, e.g.

• Seeing is believing. (seeing – subject; believing – predicative)

3) an object, e.g.

• He remembered posting the letter.

4) the predicate, e.g.

• How about going to the movies?

• Leaving her no money at all!

Participle I can be used to make the progressive aspect forms of the predicate and adverbial modifiers, e.g.

• He is leaving.

• Having parked his car, Bond entered the casino.

3

The gerund can also be used as

1. an attribute

2. an adverbial modifier ONLY WITH a preposition, e.g.

• There is a chance (what kind?) of finding him.

• Turn off the gas (when?) before leaving the house. (adv. modifier of time)

Participle I can be used as

1. an attribute

2. an adverbial modifier without a preposition, e.g.

• Everyone admired the (what kind?) dancing girl. (attribute)

• (when? / where?) Flying over the Atlantic, he had his breakfast. (adv. modifier of time / place)

4

The gerund can make part of a compound noun, in which the person/thing expressed by the noun does not perform the action expressed by the gerund, e.g.

• walking shoes = shoes for walking ≠ shoes that are walking

• a dancing hall = a hall for dancing ≠ a hall that is dancing

Participle I can be used as an attribute to a noun, the person/thing expressed by the noun performs the action expressed by the participle, e.g.

• a walking man = a man who is walking

• a dancing child = a child who is dancing

5

The gerund can be preceded by a preposition, e.g.

• After leaving Washington, Speed continued his private investigation.

6

The gerund can be modified by a noun in a possessive case or a possessive pronoun, e.g.

• Excuse John’s interrupting you.

• Excuse my interrupting you.