What are expressions and gerunds?

[Loos]

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #23 "Expressions and Gerunds", question 1

The secret to calming yourself down in moments of panic or crisis is simple: just breath slowly in and out a few times.

(a) calming
(b) down
(c) breath

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #23 "Expressions and Gerunds", answer 1

The secret to calming yourself down in moments of panic or crisis is simple: just breathe slowly in and out a few times.

Correct entry: breathe
The error was: (c) breath
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what are expressions and gerunds

Loos

[Alan]

Hi Loos,

Expressions are ways of saying something/expressing an idea as in the sentence: calming yourself down means relaxing. Calming is a gerund and is like a noun and a verb in one word.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Only Three Letters

[Rahul B]

Hi,

I couldn't really get it.

what is wrong with the sentence
The secret to calm yourself down in moments of panic or crisis is simple: just breathe slowly in and out a few times.

Can you please get me to a link which explains about how and why are gerunds used?

Thanks
Rahul

[Isaias]

Hi, "The secret to calming" or "the secret to calm"? Are both correct?