What is a gerund?

[milo]

I don't even know how this old thread got resuscitated.

I do love a good grammar discussion though.

I'm guilty of the bump, but blame billy for bringing up my -ings.

Everyone on site should know what a gerund is by now!

just for fun, let's take this new found knowledge and show our distaste for "-ing" words:

APRIL is the cruellest month, it breeds
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixes
Memory and desire, stirs
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covered
Earth in forgetful snow, fed
A little life with dried tubers.


taken from Eliot's masterpiece:

APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.