1G * AS A SUBJECT

The Gerund as subject

A gerund clause can be the subject of a sentence.The use of gerund as subject is more common than that of the to-infinitive.

Hiking can be a relaxing and rewarding activity

Thinking is the hardest work there is.

Finding some quiet time in your life, I think, is hugely important.

Making mistakes simply means you are learning faster.

Learning a foreign language is easier at a young age.

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole  perspective on why you wake up everyday. 

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.
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Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times.

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GERUND + OBJECT

But, like verbs, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression (gerund + object) can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence.

• Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.
• I don't like writing letters.
• My favourite occupation is reading detective stories.

GERUND WITH ADJECTIVES

Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners):

• pointless questioning
• a settling of debts
• the making of this film
• his drinking of alcohol

When we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:

• a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
• Making this film was expensive.
• The making of this film was expensive.

GERUND AS SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE 

Does me smoking bother you? / Does my smoking bother you? Here the first sentence is incorrect since smoking is the subject of the sentence and so the object personal pronoun me is not appropriate. 

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To make a gerund negative, put "not" before it.

Not arriving on time makes me uncomfortable.

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me.

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The TO-infinitive as subject

A to-infinitive can be the subject of a sentence.

To tell the truth is always right.

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Eating people is wrong.

Hunting tigers is dangerous.

Flying makes me nervous.

Brushing your teeth is important.

Smoking causes lung cancer.

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/taylorhans442172.html

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When is a gerund supposed to be preceded by a possessive adjective/determiner?

There is one respect in which ‘gerund’ and ‘present participle’ 

clauses differ in their internal form: with ‘gerunds’ the subject 

may take genitive case, with plain or accusative case a less formal 

alternant, but with ‘present participles’ the genitive is impossible 

and pronouns with a nominative–accusative contrast appear in 

nominative case, with accusative an alternant restricted to 

informal style. Compare then:

       i. She resented his/him/*he being invited to open the 

debate.

       ii. We appointed Max, he/him/*his being much the best 

qualified of the candidates.

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.
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When the possessive alternative is used, it focuses attention on 

the action described in the ‘-ing’ clause. In contrast the regular 

Noun Phrase form puts more emphasis on the person doing the 

action.

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/taylorhans442172.html

 repetido ...

When is a gerund supposed to be preceded by a possessive adjective/determiner?

There is one respect in which ‘gerund’ and ‘present participle’ clauses differ in their internal form: with ‘gerunds’ the subject may take genitive case, with plain or accusative case a less formal alternant, but with ‘present participles’ the genitive is impossible and pronouns with a nominative–accusative contrast appear in nominative case, with accusative an alternant restricted to informal style. Compare then:
[39] i. She resented his/him/*he being invited to open the debate.
       ii. We appointed Max, he/him/*his being much the best qualified of the candidates.

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/taylorhans442172.html

When the possessive alternative is used, it focuses attention on the action described in the ‘-ing’ clause. In contrast the regular Noun Phrase form puts more emphasis on the person doing the action.

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/taylorhans442172.html

Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/taylorhans442172.html