Do I need a comma before a gerund?

In most cases, a comma before a gerund is not required. However, because gerunds and gerund phrases act as nouns in sentences, if a comma would come before a noun used in the same way, then a comma should precede the gerund or gerund phrase.

How do you start a sentence with a gerund?

Gerunds are often used at the beginning of a sentence, like “Fishing is my favorite sport” or “Seeing is believing.” Rewording sentences like that to avoid starting with an -ing word would result in pretty awkward flow. And writers do want to vary sentence structure.

Can you begin a sentence with ing?

An “-ing” word at the start of a sentence is not wrong, if it is used in the correct way. Often authors use an “-ing” word, also called a gerund, to avoid using the word “I” too much.

Do you need a comma before ing verbs?

If the verb-ing modifier appears after a clause and is preceded by a comma, then it modifies the entire preceding clause. The verb-ing modifier can be placed after a clause and separated from the preceding clause by a comma.

How do you punctuate a gerund?

Points to remember:

1. A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun.
2. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).
3. Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.

What is gerund with example?

A gerund is a form of a verb that ends in -ing that is used as a noun. It looks like a verb, but it acts like a noun. For example, the word swimming is an example of a gerund. We can use the word swimming in a sentence as a noun to refer to the act of moving around in water as in Swimming is fun.

Which sentence uses a gerund as the subject of a sentence?

When it is used as the subject, the verb form is singular, conjugated as the third person singular, and it does not accept degree verbs. For example: — “Driving fast is dangerous.” = Gerund driving is used as the subject of the sentence.

What is a gerund clause?

Gerund clauses are clauses in which the first verb in the VP is a gerund, an -ing form. The subject of a gerund may be omitted or may appear in either objective case or possessive, but it can never be in the subject case.

How do you punctuate a gerund phrase?

Should there be a comma before as?

In many sentences, if there is no comma before as, then as means “in the way that” or “while.” When you insert a comma before as, its meaning changes to “because.” Writers tend to make this mistake when forming sentences in which as separates two independent clauses. Below is an example of such a sentence.

Do you put a comma before or after a gerund?

In most cases, a comma before a gerund is not required. However, because gerunds and gerund phrases act as nouns in sentences, if a comma would come before a noun used in the same way, then a comma should precede the gerund or gerund phrase.

Is it wrong to use a gerund at the start of sentences?

It is not all out “WRONG” to use a gerund at the start of the sentence. Many writers young and not so young, however, can mix up the meaning they are trying to convey if the sentence has more than one subject possibly tied to the gerund. For example: Jillian saw her friend Tom running to the bus.

What is an example of a gerund subject?

The Gerund as Subject. However, it can follow a comma if the sentence begins with a conjunctive adverb such as “otherwise” or “consequently.” Here’s an example: “Consequently, complaining a lot made him very unpopular.” The gerund “complaining a lot” is the subject of the verb “made” and follows a comma.

Does “made” have a comma after it?

However, it can follow a comma if the sentence begins with a conjunctive adverb such as “otherwise” or “consequently.” Here’s an example: “Consequently, complaining a lot made him very unpopular.” The gerund “complaining a lot” is the subject of the verb “made” and follows a comma.