GERUNDS

Gerunds

When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a present participle or it may be a gerund. It is important to understand that they are not the same.

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 have a boring teacher.

When we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, it is usually a gerund:

Fishing is fun.

Gerund as Subject, Object or Complement

Try to think of a gerund as a noun in verb form.

Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:

Smoking costs a lot of money.
I don't like writing.
My favourite occupation is reading.

But, like verbs, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression (gerund + object) can be the subject, 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 this film
his drinking of alcohol

When we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:

a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
Making this film was expensive.
The making of this film was expensive.

Gerund after Preposition

Here is a good rule. It has no exceptions:

Prepositions are always followed by a noun-phrase.

If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund (which functions as a noun). It is impossible to use an infinitive after a preposition. So, for example, we say:

I will call you after arriving at the office. not I will call after to arrive at the office.
Please have a drink before leaving.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
Do you object to working late?
Tara always dreams about going on holiday.

Notice that you could replace all the above gerunds with "real" nouns: