Learn English – How to use adjective or adverb to modify the gerund

grammar

I want to figure out the situation of the gerund that should I use adjective or adverb to modify it?

I know about the gerund that can function as both noun and action. It acts like a noun.

My first question is when the gerund is single and not talking about thing just use as noun(subject ..etc..) that we use adjective or adverb?!

Example :
(Regular)(exercising) enhance one's self-confidence.(A noun)
OR
(Regularly exercising)enhance one's self-confidence.(A thing)

My teacher told me the answer is the firs form. But why ?
Could somebody tell me a bit more specifically about gerund? I couldn't sleep a few days by this confusing problem, If some one can help me and give me some example with some explaining, that I'll be very grateful!!

Best Answer

You need to fix your sentences.

Consider, for your first alternative:

  1. Regular exercising enhances one's self-confidence.

The "exercising" ing-form here is closer to a noun in meaning, thus you should use the adjective "regular." BTW, I refuse to use anymore the old classification in gerunds and participles (as does that grammar bible of Quirk et al, 1985), as I find it counterproductive.

Syntactically, "Regular exercising" is a noun phrase acting as a subject.

Now, for your other alternative:

  1. Enhance your self-confidence by exercising regularly.

  2. By exercising regularly, you can enhance your self-confidence.

The "exercising" ing-form in 2 and 3 is closer to a verb/action in meaning, thus you should use the adverb "regularly."

BTW, in 2 "enhance" is an imperative.

Also, syntactically "by exercising regularly" is an adverbial clause.

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