Gerund Phrases
What Is It?
A gerund phrase starts with a verb + -ing and functions as a noun: V‑ing + (obj/modifiers) → “Monitoring latency helps SREs.”
Why Use Gerund Phrases?
- Nominalisation — turns action into concept.
- Cohesion — links sequential tasks.
- Brevity — avoids awkward “the act of X”.
When to Choose Gerund Phrases
OKR titles, backlog epics (“Improving search”), commit messages.
Forming Gerund-Phrase Sentences
| Role | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | GP + V | “Caching queries reduces load.” |
| Object | V + GP | “Teams began profiling code.” |
| Complement | Be + GP | “Our focus is scaling clusters.” |
| After preposition | Prep + GP | “We ship after fixing tests.” |
Tips for Writing with Gerund Phrases
- Balance noun/verb forms—too many gerunds bog prose.
- Pair with singular verbs (“Optimising logs is key”).
- Trim long modifiers; use bullets if needed.
- Avoid confusion with present participles; test by swapping with noun.
Exceptions & Nuances
Possessive before gerund (team’s updating code) is formal; many developers drop it.