Hello,
Gerund is a V-ing that functions as a noun. In this sentence:
"Her job, analyzing data brought in by satellites, is exciting."
The gerund phrase 'analyzing data brought in by satellites' is an appositive modifying 'her job.' Does it mean then, that a gerund may also function as an adjective or is there another way to explain this?
Thanks,
Specter
Gerund is a V-ing that functions as a noun. In this sentence:
"Her job, analyzing data brought in by satellites, is exciting."
The gerund phrase 'analyzing data brought in by satellites' is an appositive modifying 'her job.' Does it mean then, that a gerund may also function as an adjective or is there another way to explain this?
Thanks,
Specter

Comments
Her job is exciting.
Analyzing data... is exciting.
Yes 'exciting' is a present participle and it functions as an adjective. I agree. And yes, 'analyzing data brought in by satellites' could also be a present participle functioning as an adjective such as in this sentence:
'Analyzing data brought in by satellites, she has found a lot of interesting information.'
In this example, 'analyzing...' modifies the subject 'she' and points out the action of the subject.
However, in the previous example it doesnt imply that the action is done by the subject 'her job' unlike this sentence:
"Jane, sitting at her desk, read the letter carefully.'
I believe 'sitting at her desk' is a participle phrase because it describes the action of the subject 'Jane'. 'Her job' on the other hand cannot do an action.
Compare:
'My hobby, reading, improves my vocabulary.' (gerund)
Jane, reading in her room, got bored and went for a walk.' (participle)
Please explain if my interpretation is wrong. I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Specter
CB
CJ
Her job is analyzing data brought in by satellite.
Her job is exciting.
---> Her job, analyzing data brought in by satellite, is exciting.
So ( analyzing data brought in by satellite ) is an adjective phrase. Therefore ' analyzing is not a gerund '.
(analyzing data brought in by satelite) is a noun phrase. analyzing is a noun like analysis.
Her job, the analysis of data brought in by satellite, is exciting.
The job is not performing an analysis of data, which is what an analyzing job would be, so analyzing is not an adjective. The job cannot actually do anything. People, and perhaps certain special machines, can perform analysis, but not jobs.
Here's an example where the same phrase acts as an adjective. Note the difference.
The electronic spectrograph analyzing data brought in by satellite is a very complicated piece of machinery.
CJ