ref – https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/gerund_phrase.htm
A gerund phrase is a phrase that consists of a gerund, its object, and any modifiers.
Removing the bug quickly is the way.
Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “removing”
direct object: “the bug”
modifier: “quickly”
I like singing songs in the shower.
Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “singing”
direct object: “songs”
modifier: “in the shower” // prepositions are simply called ‘modifiers’
Try to serve the soup without dropping the tray this time.
Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “dropping”
direct object: “the tray”
modifier: “this time”
Gerund with no direct objects
Here is an example without an object:
Moving quickly is the key to survival.
Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “moving”
modifier: “quickly”
Without modifier
I want to talk to you about buying those magic beans.
Here are the parts of the gerund phrase:
gerund: “buying”
direct object: “those magic beans”
[Eating blackberries quickly] will make you ill.
In the gerund phrase above:
“Eating” is the gerund.
(A gerund phrase always starts with the gerund.)
The word “blackberries” is the direct object of the gerund.
(The object of a gerund is also called the gerund complement.)
“Quickly” is a modifier (an adverb).
Same as above, but with an adverbial phrase
[Eating blackberries (without washing them)] will make you ill.
Gerund – “Eating”
direct object – blackberries
modifier is the phrase “without washing them.”
Just like “quickly” in the first example, it is an adverb.
In fact, “without washing them” is an adverbial phrase, where “without” is a preposition:
gerund phrase (“washing them”)
gerund (“washing”)
its direct object (“them”).
[Eating blackberries [without washing them]].
Gerund Phrase and Adverbial Phrase
Like all nouns, a gerund phrase can function as a subject, an object, or a complement within a sentence.
She hates waiting(ger) [for trains] modifiers.
(The gerund phrase is the direct object of the verb “hates.”)
She knew a lot about growing(gerund) tomatoes (gerund’s dir obj).
(The gerund phrase is the object of the preposition “about.”)
Her biggest mistake was caring(n) [too much] modifiers.
(The gerund phrase is a subject complement that completes the linking verb “was.”)
Purpose
Verb + ing Continuous form is used to show an action that is continuous or in general.
describe an ongoing action
描述 正在 进行 的行动
run + ing = running
Situation 1 (正在做的动作) – I am (helping verb) running(main verb). (This is used as a present participle to denote a continuous action now)
Situation 2 (形容词) – The running water is cold (present participle used as an adjective)
Situation 3 (现在进行时 作为名词 –> 动名词) – Sandy loves running. (running is used as a noun (gerund) at the object position. Its to describe the general continuous action that Sany likes to do)
Provide clarity and shorten the sentence
Ted serves the soup, and he does not drop the tray while he serves. (14)
Ted serves the soup without dropping the tray (8).
If you eat blackberries that have not been washed, they will make you sick. (14)
Eating blackberries without washing then will make you sick. (9)