Gerund phrases at the beginning of the sentence call attention to the narrator, and are unnatural in spoken American English. You can vary rhythm and flavor of sentence without telling. You can use repetition of rhythm to good effect, like Dennis Lehane does in the intro to "A Drink Before the War," written before he'd fully developed the voice he used in Mystic River. I also agree there are no rules, except grab your audience and don't let them go Wow, lots of opinions.
Since I write in third person, I don't see them as distant or unnatural. I can't picture opening a sentence with one in first person though. I look at them carefully and believe I'm using them correctly, but if I'm writing fast, I probably miss some.
Then they really jump at you. Just have to hope I catch them on edits--along with many other words I overuse, such as "just," which I've managed to use twice in one sentence. Quickly isn't one of mine, but I have a list to search for. Sandy, I think you've said it. The problem is using them correctly.
Usage is difficult to explain to others. Sometimes I have to stop and think about one to decide. I can tell you one thing, my editor doesn't like gerunds. I do, but I agree in moderation. They change the rhythm and add interest to the narrative. If I would, then I leave it in. If it sounds stilted, then out it comes. What page on the Internet? Thank you for that clarification. I had also read that ing words weaken your writingbut now I understand why theydo! Oh and less exclamation marks too!!
Really useful information. Could you please tell me if I can mail you the other queries that I have? My writing is often criticized by my writing group as having too many passive sentences. All the sentences have -ing words.
Does that make sentence passive? Active is when the subject performs the action. Passive is when the action is done to the subject by someone or something else.
Hi, good argument about the be -ing form, but unfortunately it is too late, the language has already changed, grammar books in the future will have to change their explanations about tenses, modals, etc. The problem however is that the infinitive in english requires a preposition, instead of being an inflection of the verb like the gerund is.
You make a good point though the infinitive is not always interchangeable with a gerund. For example:. The infinitive is always a verb form whereas the gerund functions as a noun. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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Simple Writing. Have you wondered about it? Three types of words that require -ing endings Words that end with -ing have a variety of functions. Present, future, and past progressive verb combinations When combined with auxiliary helping verbs such as to be am, are, is, was, were, been , etc.
Gerunds—present participles of verbs—that act as nouns Verbs that end in -ing can be used as nouns and even subjects of sentences. Present participles used as adjectives In this case, a verbal such as running expresses the concept of action as any verb does.
Why avoid them? Why avoid -ing words in fiction or any writing? Should you avoid them? Use simple present, past, or future tenses for more concise writing. Compare: She is running daily now.
She runs daily now. She ran every morning. Choose -ing words carefully and replace with more powerful or descriptive verbs. An image dances across your mind: Man, she was really running down the street like a maniac! Use a more powerful verb in the simple past tense Instead of Man, she was really running down the street like a maniac! Improve that sentence by using simple past tense or a stronger verb: Mascara ran down her face as she blew her nose. Examine each -ing word you find.
Ask whether the -ing word is essential to meaning. Determine whether a simple past or other tense might work better. Decide if a stronger word choice might be the way to go. Debbie Erickson Link March 5, , am.
Leah McClellan Link March 5, , pm. Stacey Zink Link March 5, , am. Cathy Taughinbaugh Link March 8, , am. Good information, Leah! Always helpful to know — thanks! After all, writers use them all the time. Here are two common uses of gerunds that everyone who writes should know. Gerunds in Present Participle Phrases Gerunds can also be used as present participle phrases.
Rushing for work, Bill ran down the stairs. Shielding his eyes, Bill looked at the horizon. Here, Bill can shield his eyes and look at the horizon at the same time.
Bill looked at the horizon, shielding his eyes. He can both shield his eyes and look simultaneously. Use them at will! Photo by Pixabay on Pexels. Rate this:. Like this: Like Loading Cool — I had never heard of a Gerund! Writing without gerund phrases is just too hard. I have encountered several students now who were taught in the Los Angeles school system that it is an error if they do not erase from their writing every word that is grammatically optional that is, that every word not required is forbidden.
So grammar, the vast complex of subtle and delicate constraints on what makes sentences properly formed in a language, is reduced to a set of don't s. Not do s, mark you; just don't s. Don't split infinitives, don't use the passive, and don't use adjectives or adverbs. And now, because some boss saw a couple of sentences that may have begun with gerund-participial clauses he did not like, we have the newest prohibition: ban the gerund-participle, or ban it at the beginning of clauses.
And if the boss himself doesn't sometimes begin clauses with gerund-participial clauses himself, I'll eat a live adverb. Using gerund-participial clauses as subjects is something that people do every day, even in conversation. You just saw it done, in the previous sentence. Language Log. April 01, Ban the harmless gerund? Robinson on the Writing Program Administration listserve on February I have been content witht the classic and quite basic definition of a gerund as a noun form of a verb.
They are common at the beginnings of sentences, too.
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