The Gerund
Recognize a gerund when you see one.
Every gerund, without exception, ends in -ing. Gerunds are not, however, all that easy to pick out. The problem is that all present participles also end in -ing. What is the difference?
Gerunds function as nouns. Thus, gerunds will be subjects, subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. Present participles, on the other hand, complete progressive verbs or act as modifiers. Read these examples:
Since Francisco was five years old, swimming has been his passion.
Swimming = subject of the verb has been
Francisco's first love is swimming.
Swimming = subject complement of the verb is
Francisco enjoys swimming more than spending time with his girlfriend Diana.
Swimming = direct object of the verb enjoys
Francisco gives swimming all of his energy and time.
Swimming = indirect object of the verb gives
When Franciso wore dive fins to class, everyone knew that he was devoted to swimming.
Swimming = object of the preposition to
One day last summer, Francisco and his coach were swimming at Daytona Beach.
Swimming = present participle completing the past progressive verb were swimming
A great white shark ate Franciso's swimming coach.
Swimming = present participle modifying coach
Now Francisco practices his sport in safe swimming pools.
Swimming = present participle modifying pools