Gerund Phrases Challenge Quiz

1. A gerund is a verb ending in ______ that is used as a noun.

Gerunds always end in -ing and function as nouns, not as main verbs.

Explanation

Gerunds always end in -ing and function as nouns, not as main verbs.

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2. Which of the following sentences contain gerund phrases?

Swimming in the deep end scares him a little.

Swimming in the deep end, he felt nervous.

Her favorite hobby is drawing realistic animals.

They were drawing realistic animals in art class.

He apologized for speaking so harshly.

In A, C, and E the -ing phrases act as a subject, predicate noun, or object of a preposition.

Explanation

In A, C, and E the -ing phrases act as a subject, predicate noun, or object of a preposition.

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3. If an -ing phrase is describing a noun, it is a gerund phrase.

True

False

An -ing phrase that describes a noun is a participial phrase, not a gerund phrase.

Explanation

An -ing phrase that describes a noun is a participial phrase, not a gerund phrase.

4. In 'Laughing loudly, the students filled the hallway,' what is 'Laughing loudly'?

A gerund phrase acting as the subject

A present participle phrase describing the students

A main verb phrase

A prepositional phrase

The phrase describes the students, so it functions as a participial phrase, not a gerund phrase.

Explanation

The phrase describes the students, so it functions as a participial phrase, not a gerund phrase.

5. In 'Laughing loudly helps me relax,' what is 'Laughing loudly'?

A gerund phrase acting as the subject

A present participle phrase describing me

A main verb phrase

A prepositional phrase

Here the phrase names an activity that helps, so it is a gerund phrase used as the subject.

Explanation

Here the phrase names an activity that helps, so it is a gerund phrase used as the subject.

6. In 'Reading fantasy novels lets me escape into another world,' the gerund phrase 'Reading fantasy novels' functions as the __________.

The phrase is what does the action of lets, so it is the subject of the sentence.

Explanation

The phrase is what does the action of lets, so it is the subject of the sentence.

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7. In 'Her dream is traveling around the world,' the gerund phrase 'travelling around the world' functions as a __________ noun.

The phrase comes after the linking verb is and renames dream, so it is a predicate noun.

Explanation

The phrase comes after the linking verb is and renames dream, so it is a predicate noun.

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8. Choose the best revision that correctly uses a gerund phrase: 'The teacher suggested to start the project today.'

The teacher suggested starting the project today.

The teacher suggested to starting the project today.

The teacher suggested start the project today.

The teacher suggested we starting the project today.

After suggested we normally use a gerund, so 'suggested starting the project' is correct.

Explanation

After suggested we normally use a gerund, so 'suggested starting the project' is correct.

9. Which revisions correctly fix 'He admitted to cheat on the test.' by using a gerund phrase?

He admitted cheating on the test.

He admitted to cheating on the test.

He admitted cheat on the test.

He admitted to cheat test.

He admitted cheating test.

A and B correctly use the gerund cheating after admitted, with or without the preposition to.

Explanation

A and B correctly use the gerund cheating after admitted, with or without the preposition to.

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10. If you can replace an -ing phrase with a regular noun like 'something' and the sentence still makes sense, it is probably a gerund phrase.

True

False

Gerund phrases act like nouns, so a regular noun can often take their place in the sentence.

Explanation

Gerund phrases act like nouns, so a regular noun can often take their place in the sentence.

11. In 'We practiced writing persuasive essays in class,' what is the function of 'writing persuasive essays'?

Subject

Direct object

Predicate noun

Object of a preposition

The phrase tells what we practiced, so it is the direct object of practiced.

Explanation

The phrase tells what we practiced, so it is the direct object of practiced.

12. For each sentence, decide which ones use a gerund phrase as the object of a preposition.

She is excited about joining the robotics club.

Joining the robotics club is her goal.

He apologized for shouting during the game.

Shouting during the game embarrassed him.

They are tired of waiting in long lines.

In A, C, and E the gerund phrases follow prepositions about, for, and of.

Explanation

In A, C, and E the gerund phrases follow prepositions about, for, and of.

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13. In 'They were running in the rain,' 'running in the rain' is a gerund phrase.

True

False

Here were running is the main verb of the sentence, so running is not being used as a noun.

Explanation

Here were running is the main verb of the sentence, so running is not being used as a noun.

14. Edit the sentence to use a gerund phrase as the subject: 'To exercise every day is important.' → __________ every day is important.

The gerund Exercising makes the phrase 'Exercising every day' a clear subject.

Explanation

The gerund Exercising makes the phrase 'Exercising every day' a clear subject.

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15. Which sentence uses a gerund phrase correctly and clearly?

Me studying late at night helps my grades.

Studying late at night helps my grades.

Studying late at night, my grades improved.

To studying late at night helps my grades.

In B, 'Studying late at night' is a clear gerund phrase acting as the subject of helps.

Explanation

In B, 'Studying late at night' is a clear gerund phrase acting as the subject of helps.

16. What is a gerund phrase?

A verb ending in -ing with its modifiers or objects used as a noun

A verb ending in -ed that describes a noun

Any group of words with a verb

A phrase that always shows past tense

A gerund phrase starts with a gerund and the whole phrase acts like a noun in the sentence.

Explanation

A gerund phrase starts with a gerund and the whole phrase acts like a noun in the sentence.

17. Which sentence contains a gerund phrase used as the subject?

She runs every morning before school.

Running every morning before school helps her stay healthy.

She is running every morning before school.

Before school, she will run every morning.

In B, 'Running every morning before school' is the subject of the verb helps.

Explanation

In B, 'Running every morning before school' is the subject of the verb helps.

18. In the sentence 'My brother enjoys playing video games after dinner,' what is the function of the gerund phrase 'playing video games after dinner'?

Subject

Direct object

Predicate noun

Object of a preposition

The phrase tells what he enjoys, so it is the direct object of enjoys.

Explanation

The phrase tells what he enjoys, so it is the direct object of enjoys.

19. In 'They talked about going to the new museum,' what is the function of 'going to the new museum'?

Subject

Direct object

Predicate noun

Object of a preposition

The phrase follows the preposition about, so it is the object of the preposition.

Explanation

The phrase follows the preposition about, so it is the object of the preposition.

20. A gerund phrase can act as a subject, direct object, predicate noun, or object of a preposition.

True

False

Gerund phrases behave like nouns, so they can fill several noun roles in a sentence.

Explanation

Gerund phrases behave like nouns, so they can fill several noun roles in a sentence.

Comprehensive Grammar: Gerund Phrases Challenge Quiz