Which term describes a verb form used as a noun?

• A. Noun
• B. Infinitive
• C. Gerund
• D. Participle

Answer: (C)

A gerund is the verb form used as a noun. It ends in -ing and can act like a noun in different parts of a sentence—for example, as the subject, as the object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition. In “Running is fun,” Running functions as the subject. In “I enjoy running,” running is the object of the verb. And in “She is good at painting,” the -ing form appears in a prepositional phrase and acts like a noun within that phrase. The present participle also ends in -ing, but its job is to describe a noun or to form verb tenses (as in “the running water” or “she is running”), not to serve as a noun by itself. The infinitive (to + verb) can function as a noun in some sentences, but it is a different form from the -ing gerund. So the correct term for a verb form used as a noun is gerund.