Identify the sentence which contains a gerund :

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

A gerund is a non-finite verb form that ends in ‘-ing’ and functions as a noun within a sentence. In English grammar, the core purpose of a gerund is to name an activity or state, thereby performing the role of a subject, object, or complement. A critical way to identify a gerund is to observe its function, particularly when it follows a preposition, as it completes the prepositional phrase by acting as the object of that preposition.

In Option 1: "He is fond of **riding**," the word **riding** ends in ‘-ing’ and immediately follows the preposition "of." Since prepositions must be followed by a noun or a pronoun, "riding" is functioning as the object of the preposition, thereby acting as a noun. Therefore, "riding" in this sentence is a gerund. This construction, where "fond of" is followed by a gerund, is common in idiomatic English to express a liking for an activity.

The incorrect option is 2:
**Riding** along the road, he fell down. The word "Riding" here is a present participle, not a gerund. It acts as part of a participial phrase ("Riding along the road") that modifies the subject "he," describing the action or manner in which he fell down. A present participle modifies a noun or forms part of a continuous verb tense, but it does not function as a noun itself.

The incorrect option is 3:
He **rode** a horse. This sentence does not contain a gerund. The word "rode" is the simple past tense of the main verb "to ride," indicating a completed action. It functions as the main finite verb of the sentence, not a non-finite verb form acting as a noun.

The incorrect option is 4:
She wanted to **ride** a horse. This sentence contains an infinitive phrase, not a gerund. The structure "to ride" is the infinitive form of the verb, often used as a noun (direct object of 'wanted'), an adjective, or an adverb. While gerunds and infinitives can both function as nouns, they are structurally distinct; the gerund uses the ‘-ing’ form, while the infinitive uses 'to' + base form. The word 'ride' here is part of the infinitive phrase 'to ride a horse'.