Which of the following describes a gerund and how it functions in a sentence?
A. a gerund is a noun that functions as the subject of a sentence
B. a gerund is a noun that functions as the direct object receiving the action in a sentence
C. a gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun in a sentence
D. a gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a verb in a sentence
C. a gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun in a sentence
C. a gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun in a sentence.
The correct answer is C. A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun in a sentence.
To understand why, you need to know what a gerund is. A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing but functions as a noun in a sentence. It is created by adding -ing to the base form of a verb. For example, in the sentence "I enjoy swimming," the word "swimming" is a gerund because it is a verb (swim) that ends in -ing and functions as a noun (the object of the verb "enjoy").
Option A is incorrect because a gerund does not function as the subject of a sentence, but rather as a noun in other positions within a sentence.
Option B is incorrect because a gerund does not function as the direct object receiving the action. Although gerunds can be objects of prepositions, they do not directly receive the action of a verb.
Option D is incorrect because, while a gerund is a verb form, it functions as a noun and not as a verb in a sentence.