Grammar Worksheet · Grades 6–8
Gerunds and Participles Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 6-8 on telling gerunds from present participles. Both end in -ing, but a gerund acts as a noun and a participle acts as an adjective; students label eight underlined words, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.

Subject
Grammar
Grades
Grades 6–8
Skill Focus
Gerunds and Participles, verbs
Lesson Length
20 minutes
Lesson Overview
About this worksheet
A gerund and a present participle both end in -ing, but they do different jobs. A gerund acts as a noun and can be the subject or object of a sentence, while a present participle acts as an adjective that describes a noun. This worksheet helps students tell the two verbals apart by asking what job each -ing word does.
Section A on page 1 gives eight sentences, each with one -ing word marked, and students write gerund or participle. The reference box teaches both with a ‘Swimming is good exercise’ example and a ‘barking dog’ example, so the assessed words stay independent of the model.
Section B on page 2 asks what part of speech a gerund acts as, what a participle acts as, what ending both share, and to write a sentence with a gerund as the subject. Page 3 is a complete answer key with sample answers. The skill builds on gerunds and participial phrases.
How to Use This Lesson
Read the reference box aloud and contrast ‘Swimming is fun’ with ‘the barking dog.’
Complete Section A independently – have students ask ‘naming word or describing word?’
Discuss the ‘replace it with it’ test for spotting a gerund.
Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check.
Pair with the Gerunds Worksheet or the Participial Phrases Worksheet.
Printable Resource
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Full Member Resource · Printable PDF · 3 pages · Answer Key
Gerunds and Participles Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 6-8 on telling gerunds from present participles. Both end in -ing, but a gerund acts as a noun and a participle acts as an adjective; students label eight underlined words, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.
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