In traditional grammar, a gerund is an -ing verb form that can fill a role often filled by a noun phrase. In Reading trail maps takes practice, reading is the gerund, and the whole group reading trail maps is the subject.
Where gerunds appear
- Subject. In Reading trail maps takes practice, the group is the subject.
- After a verb. In Mina enjoys reading trail maps, the group tells what Mina enjoys.
- After a preposition. In Mina learned the route by reading trail maps, the group completes the preposition by.
- Subject complement. In Mina’s favorite activity is reading trail maps, the group identifies the activity.
Gerunds and other -ing forms
In Mina is reading trail maps, reading belongs to the continuous verb group is reading. In Reading the map carefully, Mina found the trailhead, the opening participial phrase describes Mina. The spelling is the same in all three uses. The job of the group tells you how to classify it.
