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Exercises of Gerunds | Gerunds Exercises with Answers

jyoti guptaBy No Comments13 Mins Read

English Grammar  – Gerunds Exercises with Answers

 

Exercises on Gerunds- Gerunds are a crucial part of English grammar and students must get thorough knowledge of gerunds in order to use them correctly. This article on Gerunds gives a detailed lesson on Gerunds, difference between gerunds and participles and also, the exercises on gerunds will help you gain confidence on the topic of gerunds. Check out the detailed post on gerunds and practice the exercises on gerunds.

  • What are Gerunds?
  • Exercise 1- Identify the appropriate gerunds
  • Pitfalls and Common Errors
  • Exercise 2- Fill in the blanks with appropriate gerunds
  • Exercise 3 – Form a sentences
  • Conclusion

    • What are Gerunds?

    Gerunds are a special type of verb forms in English that act as nouns. They are formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of a verb, but they function differently than present participles, which also end in “-ing.”

     

    Here are some key things to know about gerunds:

     

    • Form: Gerunds are always formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of a verb. For example, the gerund of “write” is “writing,” the gerund of “sing” is “singing,” and the gerund of “run” is “running.”
    • Function: Gerunds can function as various noun phrases in a sentence, such as:
      • Subject: “Reading is my favorite hobby.”
      • Direct object: I enjoy playing the piano.
      • Indirect object: She gave him swimming lessons for his birthday.
      • Object of a preposition: I’m tired of waiting in line.
    • Distinguishing from present participles: The main difference between gerunds and present participles is their function. Gerunds act as nouns, while present participles act as adjectives or verbs. For example, in the sentence “The running horse won the race,” “running” is a present participle modifying the noun “horse.” In the sentence “Running is a good exercise,” “running” is a gerund acting as the subject of the sentence.

     

     

    Exercise 1 – From the given set of sentences, identify the sentence with appropriate gerund.

     

    1. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Helping others is a worthy goal.
    B. He loves to help others.
    C. My friend enjoys helped by others.
    D. It’s important to helping the needy.
    Ans. A. Helping others is a worthy goal.

    2. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He spent hours to paint the portrait.
    B. My favorite activity is to paint.
    C. I finished painting the living room yesterday.
    D. What about to paint a landscape next?
    Ans. C. I finished painting the living room yesterday.

    3. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Taking a break can boost your productivity.
    B. It’s always good to take a break.
    C. He doesn’t like to be taken by surprise.
    D. Take a vacation is what I need.
    Ans. A. Taking a break can boost your productivity.

    4. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Travelling the world is my dream.
    B. She dreams to travel the world.
    C. He traveled to different countries.
    D. Travel broadens your horizons.
    Ans. A. Travelling the world is my dream.

    5. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Walk can be a great way to clear your head.
    B. The doctor recommended to walk more often.
    C. They were busy to walk around the park.
    D. He prefers walking to work for exercise.
    Ans. D. He prefers walking to work for exercise.

    6. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. I try to smile more often these days.
    B. Smiling makes you look more approachable.
    C. Her constant smile was unsettling.
    D. He couldn’t resist to smile at the baby.
    Ans. B. Smiling makes you look more approachable.

    7. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He offered to help with the dishes.
    B. She prefers to clean the dishes herself.
    C. The sink was full of washed dishes.
    D. Helping out is always appreciated.
    Ans. D. Helping out is always appreciated.

    8. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. I can’t help but laughing at that joke.
    B. It’s hard not to laugh at her stories.
    C. He tried to hide his laughter.
    D. Laughing with friends is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
    Ans. D. Laughing with friends is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

    9. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Learning a new language takes dedication.
    B. He is very good to learn languages.
    C. My goal is to learn English fluently.
    D. She learned different languages.
    Ans. A. Learning a new language takes dedication.

    10. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. I hate to be woken up early.
    B. Waking up early is tough for me.
    C. He needs to wake up before the sun rises.
    D. The wake hours are when I’m most productive.
    Ans. B. Waking up early is tough for me.

    11. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Singing birds filled the morning air with melody.
    B. Her favorite pastime is to singing karaoke.
    C. She spends hours and sing in the shower.
    D. They celebrate their victory and sing and dance.
    Ans. A. Singing birds filled the morning air with melody.

    12. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. To study medicine requires dedication and passion.
    B. He fell asleep while study for his exams.
    C. He studied new languages in his free time.
    D. Studying late becomes stressful sometimes.
    Ans. D. Studying late becomes stressful sometimes.

    13. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He finished writing his novel after months of hard work.
    B. He wrote to express oneself.
    C. The teacher encouraged his students to write creatively.
    D. He spent the afternoon to write emails to his friends.
    Ans. A. He finished writing his novel after months of hard work.

    14. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He loves to play video games with his friends.
    B. Playing the piano is his greatest passion.
    C. Play outside can be fun for children of all ages.
    D. The cat enjoyed to play with the yarn ball.
    Ans. B. Playing the piano is his greatest passion.

    15. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Her biggest joy comes from helping others in need.
    B Help your colleagues to build teamwork.
    C. He offered help with the cleanup after the party.
    D. Help me with this project and your help would be greatly appreciated.
    Ans. A. Her biggest joy comes from helping others in need.

    16. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He has a talent for small talk his way out of any situation.
    B To talk is an important part of effective communication.
    C. Talking on the phone too much can be unproductive.
    D. She spent the evening to talk to her friends about her day.
    Ans. C. Talking on the phone too much can be unproductive.

    17. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. I enjoy reading a good book before bed.
    B. To read is an essential skill.
    C. He reads to relax himself.
    D. Read through all the emails and look for details.
    Ans. A. I enjoy reading a good book before bed.

    18. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He burst out laughing at the ridiculous joke.
    B. Laugh to release stress and tension.
    C. he laughed and enjoyed his life.
    D. Laughter can sometimes be misinterpreted as rudeness.
    Ans. A. He burst out laughing at the ridiculous joke.

    19. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. To wait is a test of patience.
    B. Wait for the results, they will be declared shortly.
    C. He spent the afternoon and waited for his friend to arrive.
    D. My least favorite thing is waiting in line for a long time.
    Ans. D. My least favorite thing is waiting in line for a long time.

    20. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. She prefers cooking her own meals instead of going out.
    B. Cook a delicious meal for your family.
    C. He watched her cook shows with wonder and admiration.
    D. To cook is a skill that everyone should learn.
    Ans. A. She prefers cooking her own meals instead of going out.

    21. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Work from home allows for more flexibility.
    B. He dreamed to work as a successful artist.
    C. Work hard to achieve your goals.
    D. Working through the challenge made him stronger.
    Ans. D. Working through the challenge made him stronger.

    22. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He eats out with friends on weekends.
    B. Eating healthy is essential for good health.
    C. I ate the wrong foods and now I feel sick.
    D. They spent the afternoon preparing food for their big eat contest.
    Ans. B. Eating healthy is essential for good health.

    23. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. John went hunting for deer in the mountains.
    B. Hunt skills have been used for survival for centuries.
    C. I find the practice to hunt to be unethical.
    D. To hunt foxes with hounds is a traditional sport in some areas.
    Ans. A. John went hunting for deer in the mountains.

    24. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. Smoking cigarettes is a dangerous habit that harms your health.
    B. The air was filled with the acrid smell of smoked tires.
    C. He took a deep breath, stilling his nerves despite the smoke chimney.
    D. To smoke was his grandfather’s favorite pastime.
    Ans. A. Smoking cigarettes is a dangerous habit that harms your health.

    25. Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?
    A. He swam every morning to keep him fit and healthy.
    B. He learned to swim at a young age and never lost his passion for it.
    C. Swimming in the ocean can be a good experience.
    D. The lifeguard’s job is to ensure everyone who swims has a safe time.
    Ans. C. Swimming in the ocean can be a good experience.

     

     

     

    Pitfalls and Common Errors 

    Gerunds, those “-ing” verbs acting as nouns, can be tricky! Here are some common errors to watch out for:

     

    Verb Form:

     

    Word Order:

     

    Confusing gerunds with participles: Present participles also end in “-ing” but function as adjectives. “Walking to school” is a gerund, while “the walking path” is a participle.

     

     

    Exercise 2 – Fill in the blanks with appropriate gerunds. 

     

  1. ________ to myself helped calm my pre-exam nerves. (Hum)

Ans. Humming

  1. _______ is a fun activity, a convenient mode of transport, and a good form of exercise. (Cycle)

Ans. Cycling

  1. I’m in the habit of _______ every day. (write)

Ans. Writing

  1. ________ helps Shirley to clear her mind. (meditate)

Ans. Meditating 

  1. Amit turned off his phone and shut the door so he could focus on __________ . (study)

Ans. Studying

  1. My preferred commuting method is ______ .(bike)

Ans. Biking

  1. _______ was key to Angela’s weight loss journey. (run)

Ans. Running

  1. When it comes to ______ deer, nobody is better than the King. (hunt)

Ans. Hunting

  1. Whistling off-key was his way of _________ a finished task. (celebrate)

Ans. Celebrating

  1. The rhythmic _______ of rain on the window was a lullaby for sleep. (tap)

Ans. Tapping

  1. _______ my hot chocolate, I watched the sunrise paint the sky in soft hues. (sip)

Ans. Sipping 

  1. His passion for ________ led him to explore distant galaxies in books. (stargaze)

Ans. Stargazing 

  1. The ________ of pots and pans announced dinner was almost ready. (clatter)

Ans. clattering

  1. __________ sandcastles was her favorite summertime ritual. (build)

Ans. Building 

  1. Hummingbirds ______ at the feeder added a vibrant brushstroke to the garden. (hover)

Ans. hovering

  1. The ______ fire whispered stories of forgotten winters. (crackle)

Ans. crackling

  1. _______ is hard if you suffer from anxiety. (sleep)

Ans. Sleeping 

  1. _____ the aroma of baking bread, she knew comfort was close by. (sniff)

Ans. Sniffing

  1. Holidays are perfect for ______ family. (visit)

Ans. visiting

  1. The neighbours hate _____ the lawn. (mow)

Ans. mowing

  1. ________ the paintbrush in colorful strokes, she brought a blank canvas to life. (swirl)

Ans. Swirling

  1. The _______ of crickets was a lullaby for nature’s slumber. (chirp)

Ans. Chirping

  1. Her passion for ______ took her on endless journeys, each page a portal to new worlds. (read)

Ans. Reading

  1. He tiptoed into the library, the hushed silence ______ the ticking of the grandfather clock. (amplify)

Ans. amplifying

  1. She launched the paper airplane into the wind, ______childhood dreams on its wings. (chase)

Ans. Chasing

 

 

Exercise 3 – Form a sentence as directed. 

 

  1. Read  (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Reading makes me sleepy.

  1. Wait (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. I hate waiting in line.

  1. Paint (Gerund as appositive)

Ans. My favorite hobby is painting.

  1. Play (Gerund as direct object)

Ans. He enjoys playing video games.

  1. Travel (Gerund as complement)

Ans. Her goal is traveling the world.

  1. Smile (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Smiling makes you look friendly.

  1. Exercise (Gerund as object of infinitive)

Ans. I need to start exercising more.

  1. Help (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. She offered helping with the dishes

  1. Talk (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Talking on the phone takes up too much time.

  1. Camp (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. They are planning on camping this summer.

  1. Visit (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. I always look forward to visiting my grandparents. 

  1. Learn (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Learning a new language takes dedication.

  1. Cook (Gerund as object of infinitive)

Ans. He prefers cooking his own meals.

  1. Wake (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Waking up early is hard for me.

  1. Solve (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. She’s good at solving puzzles.

  1. Listen (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. My dad loves listening to classic rock

  1. Help (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. We should focus on helping others in need.

  1. Sing (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Singing in the shower is my guilty pleasure.

  1. Win (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. They celebrated winning the competition.

  1. Dance (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Dancing is a great way to stay fit.

  1. Offer (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. I appreciate you offering your advice.

  1. Follow(Gerund as subject)

Following your dreams is never too late. 

  1. Keep (Gerund as subject)

Ans. The most important thing is keeping a positive attitude. 

  1. Work (Gerund as object of preposition)

Ans. She spends all day working hard. 

  1. Learn (Gerund as subject)

Ans. Learning from your mistakes is essential for growth. 

 

 

Conclusion

Hey learner, you are no longer limited to basic nouns, you can now utilize gerunds, those “-ing” verbs acting as nouns, to express actions, states, and processes as nouns, adding dynamism and detail to your sentences.

Remember, practice makes perfect! Experiment with different gerund functions to solidify your understanding.

 

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