Grammar Practice: Identifying 'Swimming' as a Gerund
The question asks to identify the word class of the underlined word "Swimming" in the sentence: "Swimming is a healthy exercise."
Analyzing the Word 'Swimming'
In this sentence, "Swimming" is the subject. It is derived from the verb "swim" and ends with the suffix "-ing". Crucially, it functions as a noun, naming the activity that is considered healthy exercise.
- Words derived from verbs, ending in "-ing", that function as nouns are called Gerunds.
- Here, "Swimming" is the entity being described as a healthy exercise, fulfilling a noun's role.
Evaluating the Options
- Verb: While "swim" is a verb, "Swimming" here is not the main action performed by a subject. It *is* the subject.
- Gerund: This fits the definition perfectly, as "Swimming" acts as a noun (the subject).
- Adjective: "Swimming" is not describing another noun (e.g., "swimming pool").
- Adverb: "Swimming" is not modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Therefore, the word class of "Swimming" in this context is a Gerund.
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