What is a gerund verbal?

A gerund verbal is indeed a form of a verb that ends in "-ing" and functions as a noun within a sentence. This form allows actions to be expressed in a way that can serve various grammatical purposes while remaining distinct from traditional verbs that indicate tense. For instance, in the sentence "Swimming is fun," the word "swimming" serves as the subject and illustrates how a gerund can encapsulate the action of swimming in a way that emphasizes the activity rather than who is performing it.

In contrast, other forms mentioned do not properly describe a gerund. The option that indicates a completed action refers to a different grammatical structure, such as perfect participles, while commands or requests pertain to the imperative mood in verbs. Similarly, hypothetical situations are often expressed using conditional verbs rather than gerunds. Thus, the correct identification and definition of a gerund verbal underscore its unique role in language as a noun form derived from a verb.