What is a gerund phrase?

A gerund phrase is a series of words including a gerund (e.g., “skiing”) and any adverbials or objects that modify it. It’s a type of noun phrase.

The highlighted phrase in the following sentence is a gerund phrase: “Skiing down a steep hill for the first time can be a scary experience.” The whole gerund phrase functions collectively as the subject of the sentence.

The gerund itself is a noun formed from a verb. It always ends in “-ing,” taking the same form as the present participle of the verb.