English Grammar Test English Grammar Gerund 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a gerund as a subject complement (predicate nominative)?
- Her passion is painting. (Correct answer)
- She paints beautifully.
- Painting requires skill.
- She loves to paint.
Correct answer: Her passion is painting.
In 'Her passion is painting,' the gerund 'painting' follows the linking verb 'is' as a subject complement.
Question 2: Choose the correct completion: 'He insisted on _____ the bill himself.'
- pay
- to pay
- paid
- paying (Correct answer)
Correct answer: paying
After 'on' (a preposition), a gerund is required, so 'paying' is correct.
Question 3: A gerund differs from a present participle in that a gerund ___.
- always ends in -ing
- functions as a noun (Correct answer)
- modifies a noun
- describes ongoing action
Correct answer: functions as a noun
A gerund functions as a noun (subject, object, etc.), while a present participle functions as an adjective or part of a progressive verb.
Question 4: In 'The thought of flying scares him,' 'flying' is a ___.
- present participle modifying 'thought'
- gerund as object of the preposition 'of' (Correct answer)
- infinitive without 'to'
- verb in a reduced clause
Correct answer: gerund as object of the preposition 'of'
'Flying' follows the preposition 'of,' making it a gerund functioning as the object of that preposition.
Question 5: Which verb does NOT require a gerund after it?
- enjoy
- finish
- promise (Correct answer)
- suggest
Correct answer: promise
'Promise' takes an infinitive (e.g., 'promise to call'), while enjoy, finish, and suggest all take gerunds.
Question 6: Select the sentence where the -ing word is a gerund, NOT a participle.
- The barking dog woke us up.
- Barking dogs rarely bite.
- Barking loudly is bad manners. (Correct answer)
- She heard a dog barking.
Correct answer: Barking loudly is bad manners.
In 'Barking loudly is bad manners,' 'Barking' is a gerund acting as the subject of the sentence.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly follows the pattern 'verb + object + gerund'?
- I caught him cheating on the test. (Correct answer)
- I saw him to cheat on the test.
- I found him cheat on the test.
- I watched him cheated on the test.
Correct answer: I caught him cheating on the test.
After verbs of perception like 'catch,' the pattern is object + gerund: 'caught him cheating.'
English Grammar Test English Grammar Gerund 3
Which sentence uses a gerund as a subject complement (predicate nominative)?