Gerunds

The format for gerunds is that they always end in -ing.

Examples: Swimming is fun.

Writing can be harder than reading.

Note: It should be noted that present participle also ends with -ing.

Examples: I was watching TV when the postman came to deliver the parcel.

I will be teaching English in my new school.

What is the difference between a gerund and a present participle?

You can differentiate between the gerund and the present participle as follows:

1. Gerunds function as nouns.

2. Gerunds can be a subject, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.

3. Present participles, on the other hand, complete progressive verbs or act as modifiers.

Examples of gerund:

Cycling is fun. (subject)

I like cycling. (direct object)

He gives painting all his time. (indirect object)

He has devoted all his life to painting. (object of the preposition to)

Examples of present participle:

They were talking when the bell rang. (talking is a present participle which is part of the past progressive tense "were talking")

I bought a colouring book. (colouring is a present participle modifying book)