Steps in Analyzing of Error

objective or prepositional form. Also, they may not occur in the verbal construction at all but may be found elsewhere in the sentence or be implied from the general context. In brief, to distinguish between verbal and gerund is verbal cannot be as a subject or an object in a sentence, in contrast gerund can be as a subject or an object in a sentence. For example : - He is smoking now present participle, smoke with –ing in this sentence has a function as an original verb; it can be called as a verbal construction 2. Kinds of Gerund George E. Wishon and Julia M. Burks noted that there are two kinds of gerund, they are: 28 a. Simple Gerund is a gerund that is the –ing form of the verb used as a noun. Notice that the gerund has the same form as the present participle. However, it functions differently in the sentence. It is always a noun and can function in any position noun, e.g. Swimming is good exercise. b. Gerund Phrase. While gerund functions as a noun, it also retains some characteristics of a verb. Although it may have modifiers like a noun usually before it, it may also have adverbial modifiers like a verb usually after it. If a noun or pronoun precedes a gerund, it must be in the possessive or adjective form. e.g. Your singing is beautiful. 28 Ibid., p. 268 Everyone admires Patrice’s expert dancing. The gerund phrase is italicized; the simple gerund is underlined. 3. Functions of Gerund Both gerund and gerund phrase have the same functions in the sentence in any position noun. By the definition above Gerund has function as nouns in a sentence, according to Milada Broukal and Ingrid Wisniewska in Grammar Form and Function 3, there are three functions of gerund, they are: The subject of the verb : Swimming is a lot of fun and good exercise. The object of the verb : I really like swimming. The object of a preposition: I am looking forward to swimming in the ocean. 29 a. Gerunds As The Subject of a Sentence Any activity that can be expressed with the ing form of a verb can be the subject of a sentence. All gerunds can be the subject of a sentence. Gerund can be the subject of a sentence when an action is being considered in a general sense. Examples: 1 Breathing is necessary. 2 Driving a car requires good vision. 3 Helping other people feels good. 30 b. Gerunds As The Object of a Preposition Michael Swan states that gerund is used after all Prepositions for, with, about must be followed by an object. Including to when “to” is a 29 Milada Broukal and Ingrid Wisnieswka, Grammar Form and Function 3, Newyork: McGraw Hill, 2005, p. 46 30 A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, Practical English Grammar, Newyork: Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 228.