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Every gerund, without exception, ends in ing.
Gerunds are not, however, all that easy to identify. 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 of gerunds:
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 Francisco wore dive fins to class, everyone
knew that he was devoted to swimming.
Swimming = object of the preposition
to.
These ing words are examples of present
participles:
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 Francisco's
swimming coach.
Swimming = present participle modifying
coach.
Now Francisco practices his sport in safe
swimming pools.
Swimming = present participle modifying
pools.
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