Paraphrasing in English
Paraphrasing with gerund phrases
Now a gerund clause functions as a noun phrase even though it is a verb form. It can be the subject or the object (complement) of a verb. It looks exactly like an active present particple. However, it is a tenseless (infinite) verb form and it can take subjects in the possessive form (my, you her, etc.) objects. However, it can not take articles or adjectives.
1 It is used as the subject of sentences.
Cribbing at exams is wrong.
Your lying to me is unacceptable.
2 It is used as a complement of certain verbs and to be.
I like swimming.
I gave up smoking the other day.
The most important activity of my learning is doing.
We ended up writing it all again.
3 It can be used after prepositions (characteristic of a noun).
How about going out for dinner?
I could not sleep after studying all day.
We voted against going by plane.
She is excellent at paraphrasing.
I read the whole paper before going to bed.
It's all about learning by doing
Thank you very much for giving me your literature review.
There is no point in plagiarizing.
He handed in his paper in spite of exceeding the deadline.
Instead of writing her dissertaton, she began a career in industry.
On coming to power, the junta arrested all membes of parlament.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
I prefer watching instruction videos to reading books.
I am fed up with studying numbers.
She passed the exam without looking into the book once.
4 The gerund is used to form compound nouns (characteristic of a noun)
driving instructor
swimming pool
sailing shoes
So now we can apply these rules to our paraphrase.
Our eating together increases the complexity of our choices of food (Foer 2009, 149). Instead of widening our free choice, eating together restricts our choice of food.
Change the sentences using a gerund or gerund phrase
Change the sentences using a gerund or gerund phrase