Question

read the paragraph. select two underlined words or phrases that are gerunds that function as the subject of a sentence in the passage.
colin and priya were viewing the graduation ceremony when they heard a bang at the back of the auditorium. sudden banging was unusual at a time like this, so most of the audience turned around to see what was happening. unfortunately for the graduates, watching the ceremony became more difficult after the distracting sounds.

Explanation:

1. A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that acts as a noun. When it functions as a sentence subject, it is the doer or focus of the main verb.
2. Analyze each underlined item:

• were viewing: Verb phrase (past continuous), not a gerund subject.
• banging: Gerund; it is the subject of the verb was in "Sudden banging was unusual...".
• at a time: Prepositional phrase, not a gerund.
• turned: Verb (past tense), not a gerund.
• to see: Infinitive phrase, not a gerund.
• was happening: Verb phrase (past continuous), not a gerund subject.
• watching: Gerund; it is the subject of the verb became in "watching the ceremony became more difficult...".
• distracting: Participle acting as an adjective, not a gerund subject.

Answer:

banging, watching