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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Take the Ultimate Gerund Quiz: Subject vs Object Challenge

Jump into gerund exercises: master subject vs object roles!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for gerund quiz with text Test Your Gerund Knowledge on sky blue background and layered paper shapes

This gerund quiz helps you practice using gerunds as subjects and objects. Answer short questions, see instant feedback, and fix common mix-ups so you write smoother sentences. When you're done, check a related set on infinitives vs. gerunds to round out your practice.

What is the gerund in the following sentence: 'Swimming is a great way to stay fit.'?
to stay
Swimming
a
is
In this sentence, 'Swimming' is a gerund because it is a verb form ending in -ing acting as a noun and serving as the subject of the sentence. A gerund is formed by adding -ing to a verb, and when it functions as a noun, it can act as a subject. 'Is' is a verb, 'a' is an article, and 'to stay' is an infinitive phrase. For more information on gerunds, see .
In the sentence 'I enjoy reading books.', which word is the gerund?
books
I
enjoy
reading
'Reading' is the gerund in this sentence because it is a verb ending in -ing functioning as the direct object of the verb 'enjoy'. Gerunds act as nouns and can serve as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence. 'Enjoy' is the main verb, 'I' is the subject, and 'books' is the object of the gerund. To learn more, visit .
In the phrase 'She insisted on leaving early.', what is the gerund?
leaving
early
insisted
on
'Leaving' is the gerund because it is a verb form ending in -ing functioning as the object of the preposition 'on'. Gerunds can follow prepositions to form gerund phrases. 'Insisted' is the main verb, 'on' is the preposition, and 'early' is an adverb modifying the gerund. See more at .
Which sentence uses a gerund correctly as the subject?
She wants to jog in the morning.
Jogging in the morning helps me focus.
He jogging every morning was surprising.
They will jog every day.
In 'Jogging in the morning helps me focus,' the phrase 'Jogging in the morning' is a gerund phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. It begins with the gerund 'Jogging' and functions as a noun. The other options use infinitives or misplace the gerund. For a deeper explanation, see .
Which sentence contains a gerund as the object of a preposition?
He's interested in learning Spanish.
She decided to learn Spanish.
They will learn Spanish.
Learning Spanish is fun.
In 'He's interested in learning Spanish,' 'learning' is a gerund acting as the object of the preposition 'in'. Gerunds often follow prepositions to form gerund phrases. The other sentences use infinitives or the gerund as a subject. For more detail, visit .
Fill in the blank with the correct gerund: 'They are looking forward to ____ you again.'
meet
to meeting
meeting
to meet
After the phrasal verb 'looking forward to,' a gerund must follow, so 'meeting' is correct. The word 'to' here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. 'Meet' and 'to meet' are incorrect because they are not gerunds. Read more at .
Identify the gerund phrase acting as the subject: 'Playing the piano requires practice.'
Playing the piano
the piano
requires practice
Playing
The entire phrase 'Playing the piano' is a gerund phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. It starts with the gerund 'Playing' and includes its object 'the piano'. 'Playing' alone is just the gerund, not the full phrase. For additional examples, see .
In the sentence 'Her painting the landscape was admired by all.', what role does the gerund phrase play?
Direct object
Predicate adjective
Subject
Object of a preposition
Here, 'Her painting the landscape' is a gerund phrase functioning as the subject of the sentence. Although it includes a possessive pronoun, the core is the gerund 'painting'. It is not a direct object or prepositional object. For more, consult .
Which sentence incorrectly uses an infinitive instead of a gerund as an object?
I enjoy studying languages.
She suggested to postpone the meeting.
They recommended postponing the trip.
He suggested postponing the meeting.
After 'suggested,' the correct form is a gerund, so it should be 'suggested postponing the meeting.' Using an infinitive here is incorrect. The other sentences use gerunds properly. Learn more at .
What is the function of 'crying' in the sentence 'The crying baby kept us awake.'?
Gerund
Adverb
Noun
Participle
In this sentence, 'crying' is a present participle modifying the noun 'baby' - it describes the baby's action. A gerund would function as a noun, but here 'crying' functions as an adjective. For further reading, visit .
Which of the following sentences correctly transforms the infinitive into a gerund to serve as the subject while keeping the original meaning of 'It is important to practice regularly.'?
Practicing regular is important.
Practicing regularly is important.
To practicing regularly is important.
Regularly practicing is importance.
The correct gerund clause is 'Practicing regularly is important.' It uses the gerund 'Practicing' as the subject and retains the meaning of the original infinitive. The other options contain grammatical errors in form or word choice. For a detailed guide, see .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Gerunds as Subjects -

    Pinpoint and label gerunds functioning as subjects within sentences, enhancing your grasp of sentence structure.

  2. Recognize Gerunds as Objects -

    Spot gerunds acting as direct or indirect objects in various contexts to improve comprehension of object placement.

  3. Differentiate Gerunds from Participles -

    Analyze sentences to distinguish between gerunds and present participles, ensuring accurate grammatical identification.

  4. Apply Gerund Usage Through Exercises -

    Complete targeted gerund exercises to reinforce correct use of gerunds as subjects and objects in meaningful contexts.

  5. Evaluate Gerund Choices in the Quiz -

    Assess sentence correctness by selecting appropriate gerunds in our interactive gerund quiz and receive instant feedback.

  6. Strengthen Grammar Skills with Feedback -

    Use immediate results from the grammar quiz gerunds to refine your understanding and boost writing accuracy.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Gerund Basics and Identification -

    Gerunds are verbs ending in "-ing" that function as nouns (Cambridge Grammar of the English Language). Remember: if you can replace the "-ing" form with a noun or the phrase "the act of," you likely have a gerund.

  2. Gerunds as Subjects -

    When a gerund acts as the subject, it starts the sentence and names the action (e.g., "Swimming is fun," Purdue OWL). Tip: Think "-ing" + "is" = subject gerund to check your understanding.

  3. Gerunds as Objects of Verbs -

    Certain verbs (enjoy, avoid, appreciate) require gerunds as objects - "She enjoys painting" (Merriam-Webster). Use a simple list of common verbs to practice: avoid, consider, finish, imagine, and recommend.

  4. Gerunds versus Present Participles -

    Gerunds act as nouns, while present participles describe or form continuous tenses (e.g., "The barking dog" vs. "I'm barking orders"). Mnemonic: "If it names it, it's a gerund; if it describes, it's a participle" (Oxford English Grammar).

  5. Building and Using Gerund Phrases -

    A gerund phrase includes the gerund plus any modifiers or objects (e.g., "Reading historical novels in bed" relaxes me). Test by removing modifiers - if the core "reading novels" still works as a noun, you've nailed the gerund phrase (University of North Carolina).

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