Cooking is his hobby. The underlined word is used as a :

Question

Accepted Answer

The underlined word "Cooking" in the sentence "Cooking is his hobby" is used as a gerund. Here is a detailed explanation supporting why Option 2 is correct and why the other options are incorrect:

1. **Why Option 2 (Gerund) is Correct:**
   - A gerund is a verb form that ends in "-ing" and functions as a noun in a sentence. In the given sentence, "Cooking" is the subject of the sentence, which is a role typically played by a noun. The sentence is essentially stating that the activity of cooking is his hobby. Therefore, "Cooking" is functioning as a noun, making it a gerund.

2. **Why Option 1 (Verb) is Incorrect:**
   - A verb is a word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. While "cooking" can be a verb in other contexts (e.g., "He is cooking dinner"), in this sentence, it is not describing an action being performed. Instead, it is naming an activity, which is characteristic of a noun, not a verb.

3. **Why Option 3 (Participle) is Incorrect:**
   - A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective. For example, in the phrase "cooking pot," "cooking" describes the type of pot, functioning as an adjective. In the sentence "Cooking is his hobby," "Cooking" is not describing a noun; it is acting as the subject of the sentence. Therefore, it is not functioning as a participle.

4. **Why Option 4 (Infinitive) is Incorrect:**
   - An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by "to" (e.g., "to cook"). Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, but they do not end in "-ing." In this sentence, "Cooking" is not in the infinitive form; it is in the gerund form, which is why Option 4 is incorrect.

In conclusion, the word "Cooking" is correctly identified as a gerund in this context because it functions as a noun, specifically the subject of the sentence, which aligns with the definition of a gerund.