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Gerunds (-ing)
When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a present participle. It is important to understand that they are not the same.
When we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, itis usually a gerund:
* Fishing is fun.
When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verb or an adjective, it is usually a present participle:
* Anthony is fishing.
* I havea boring teacher.
Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement
Try to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form.
Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:
* Smoking costs a lot ofmoney.
* I don't like writing.
* My favourite occupation is reading.
But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression [gerund + object] can be thesubject, object or complement of the sentence.
* Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.
* I don't like writing letters.
* My favourite occupation is reading detective stories.
Like nouns,we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners):
* pointless questioning
* a settling of debts
* the making of Titanic
* his drinking of alcohol
But whenwe use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:
* a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
* Making "Titanic" was expensive.
* The making of "Titanic" wasexpensive.
Gerunds after Prepositions
This is a good rule. It has no exceptions!
If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund. It is impossible to use an infinitive after apreposition. So for example, we say:
* I will call you after arriving at the office.
* Please have a drink before leaving.
* I am looking forward to meeting you.
* Do youobject to working late?
* Tara always dreams about going on holiday.
Notice that you could replace all the above gerunds with "real" nouns:
* I will call you after my arrival at the office.
* Please...