Gerunds are the chameleons of grammar, seamlessly blending the qualities of a verb and a noun. Think you’ve mastered spotting these multitasking words in action? This Gerunds quiz is designed to challenge your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and maybe even surprise you.
Start it, and let’s see how well you understand this fascinating aspect of English grammar.
Gerunds Quiz with Answers
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Exercise and examples test of the Gerund test
We started ________ Breakfast without you.
a) eating
b) to eat
c) eating/to eat
Explanation: Both gerund (eating) and infinitive (to eat) are correct after the verb started because start can take either form without a change in meaning
2. I used ________ that television show all the time.
a) watching
b) to watch
c) watching/to watch
Explanation: The verb used followed by to indicates a past habit. The correct form is “used to + base verb.
3. When do you practice ________ the Drum?
a) playing
b) to play
c) playing/to play
Explanation: After the verb practice, a gerund (-ing form) is used. “Practice playing” is correct grammar.
4. My teacher said my paragraph needs ________ by tomorrow.
a) correcting
b) to correct
c) corrected
Explanation: The verb needs is often followed by a gerund to indicate something requiring action. “Needs correcting” means it requires correction.
5. Our neighbor used _____ a pipe.
a) smoking
b) to smoking
c) to smoke
Explanation: Used to indicates a past habit, so “used to smoke” is correct.
6. Which sentence uses swimming as a gerund
a) I went swimming last week
b) Swimming is my favorite sport
c) Let’s go swimming at the beach
Explanation: In this sentence, swimming acts as the subject of the sentence, functioning as a noun, which is the role of a gerund.
7. Identify the gerund in the following sentence: Sonia quickly grew tired of the constant complaining of the rude customers.
a) Quickly
b) grew
c) complaining
Explanation: Complaining is the gerund here, functioning as the object of the preposition of.
8. Which of the following sentences contains a gerund?
a) She enjoys swimming in the ocean.
b) He is swimming across the lake.
c) They will swim tomorrow.
Explanation: Swimming is a gerund, functioning as the object of the verb enjoys.
9. In which sentence is the gerund used as the subject?
a) Running is my favorite hobby.
b) I enjoy running in the park.
c) He is running to catch the bus.
Explanation: Running is the subject of the sentence, fulfilling the role of a noun, which is characteristic of gerunds.
10. Identify the gerund in this sentence: Cooking is an essential life skill.
a) Cooking
b) Skill
c) Essential
Explanation: Cooking is the subject of the sentence and acts as a noun, making it a gerund.
11. How is the gerund functioning in this sentence? She loves painting landscapes.
a) Subject
b) Direct object
c) Predicate adjective
Explanation: Painting is a gerund, functioning as the object of the verb loves
12. Which sentence uses a gerund as the object of a preposition?
a) They are thinking about moving to another city.
b) He is moving furniture.
c) She moved quickly to help him.
Explanation: Moving is the gerund functioning as the object of the preposition about.
13. What is the gerund in the following sentence? His constant complaining annoyed everyone.
a) Complaining
b) Annoyed
c) Constant
Explanation: Complaining is a gerund, acting as the subject of the clause complaining annoyed everyone.
14. Select the sentence where a gerund phrase is used:
a) Watching movies late at night is her guilty pleasure.
b) She is watching a movie right now.
c) He watched the movie yesterday.
Explanation: The gerund phrase Watching movies late at night acts as the subject of the sentence.
15. In which sentence is the gerund used as a complement?
a) Her passion is writing poetry.
b) She is writing poetry.
c) He wrote a poem for her.
Explanation: Writing poetry is a gerund phrase used as a complement to the subject her passion. It explains what her passion is.
Answers all questions
- c) eating/to eat
- b) to watch
- a) playing
- a) correcting
- c) to smoke
- b) Swimming is my favorite sport
- c) complaining
- a) She enjoys swimming in the ocean.
- a) Running is my favorite hobby.
- a) Cooking
- b) Direct object
- a) They are thinking about moving to another city.
- a) Complaining
- a) Watching movies late at night is her guilty pleasure.
- a) Her passion is writing poetry
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FAQs on gerund with phrase quiz
What is a gerund?
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun. For example, in the sentence Swimming is fun, the word swimming is a gerund acting as the subject of the sentence.
How are gerunds different from present participles?
While both gerunds and present participles use the -ing form of a verb, their functions differ:
- A gerund functions as a noun (e.g., Running is healthy).
- A present participle functions as an adjective or is part of a verb tense (e.g., She is running).
Can a gerund be used as the subject of a sentence?
Yes! For example: Reading improves your vocabulary. Here, reading is the subject of the sentence.
Can gerunds take objects or modifiers?
Yes, gerunds can form gerund phrases by taking objects and/or modifiers. For example: Writing essays quickly is a challenge. (Writing essays quickly is a gerund phrase.)
What are some common verbs followed by gerunds?
Some common verbs that are followed by gerunds include:
- Enjoy (She enjoys painting).
- Avoid (He avoids smoking).
- Consider (They are considering moving).
Can gerunds be used after prepositions?
Yes, gerunds are commonly used as the object of prepositions. For example: He is good at dancing.
Are gerunds always singular?
Yes, gerunds are treated as singular nouns. For example: Swimming is fun (not Swimming are fun).
Can a sentence contain both a gerund and a present participle?
Yes, a sentence can include both. For example: She enjoys running while listening to music. (Running is a gerund, and listening is a present participle.)
What’s the difference between using a gerund and an infinitive?
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning may change. For example:
- I stopped smoking (means you quit the habit).
- I stopped to smoke (means you paused an activity to smoke)