SOME TIPS ON USING GERUNDS AND PRESENT PARTICIPLES
GERUND is a word that functions as a noun. It is derived by adding ‘–ing’ to the end
of a verb (climb), e.g. “Climbing stairs is a good way of exercising”.
A PRESENT PARTICIPLE is formed by adding ‘-ing’ to the verb, as in ‘reading’.,
e.g. “He is reading the newspaper in the library”.
A GERUND IS USED:
 as the subject of the sentence.
Example: Getting up early is good for your health.
 as the object of a verb.
Example: “I enjoy listening to music”
 as a verbal noun, i.e. as a verb doing the work of a noun.
Example: Thanks for your listening.
 after a verb.
Example: The clothes need washing.
 with a preposition.
Example: They are interested in jogging.
 after a phrasal verb.
Example: If we carry on working, we can complete it today.

A PRESENT PARTICIPLE IS USED:
 immediately after a subject to which it refers.
Example: People driving in the rain have to drive carefully.
 after a verb.
Example: He went fishing with his friends.
 after a noun. It tells us what a person or thing is doing.
Example: She heard them talking about her.
Example: I saw a rock rolling down the hill.
 as an adjective.
Example: That twinkling star is much brighter than the rest.
 to show that a person is doing two things at the same time.
Example: He is sitting outside the house, watching people pass by.
 to form the continuous tense.
Example: He is washing his car.
 when one action is followed by another.
Example: Walking on the beach, he threw a ball to his friend.