Gerund phrases...HELP! I can't understand them!!!?

Question

Firstly...what the heck are they?! Secondly...how do you purposefully create a sentence with one in it? And thirdly...how can I understand how to diagram them? O_O I need urgent help!!!

Answer 1

If the OBJECT of the sentence does not function as a NOUN it is a Gerund.

or a verb's action noun, which is one of the uses of the -ing form.

can behave as a verb within a clause (so that it may be modified by an adverb or have an object), but the clause as a whole (sometimes consisting only of one word, the gerund) acts as a noun within the larger sentence. For example:

Editing this article is very easy.

Within the clause "Editing this article",
the word "Editing" behaves as a verb;
the phrase "this article" is the object of that verb.
the whole clause "Editing this article" acts as a noun within the sentence as a whole;
it is the subject of the verb "is".

Other examples of the gerund:

I like swimming. (direct object)
Swimming is fun. (subject)

A simple sentence is shown as
subject | predicate

for example:
I | am

Gerunds are placed on a "staircase,"
which is then on a tower
that has an upside down triangle base
and a straight line going up to the staircase.
The staircase is two steps, and
the gerund should be placed onto it diagonally, as if it were resting full length on the stairs.
The remaining parts of the gerund phrase follow it on a horizontal line connected to the edge of the "stairs."

Answer 2

A gerund is a "verbal" identical in form to the present participle but functioning as a noun.

Studying is such a bore. (gerund subject)
I don't enjoy studying. (gerund direct object)
He gave studying his best shot. (gerund indirect object)
The hours of studying were wasted. (gerund object of preposition)
We were busy studying. (not a gerund)
Studying his shoe, Tom waited for her to say something. (not a gerund)

A gerund phrase serves as a noun, acting as a subject, a complement, or an object. It is built around a gerund, the –ing form of a verb acting as a noun.

Exercising regularly and sensibly is a key to good health. (gerund phrase subject)
I dislike exercising regularly and sensibly. (gerund phrase direct object)
He devoted each afternoon to exercising regularly and sensibly. (gerund phrase indirect object)
I’ve had it up to here with exercising regularly and sensibly. (gerund phrase as the object of a preposition)