GERUND

Definition: A Gerund is the form of a verb when it acts as a noun; a gerund (often known as an -ing word) is a noun formed from a verb by adding -ing.

For example:

• Studying is good for you.

Formation: Base Form + ING
Gerunds can act as the subject or object of a main verb.
For example:

• Going to parties is fun.
• Hunting elephants is dangerous.
• Flying makes me nervous.
• 
  * Here, gerunds are subjects
• I enjoy reading.
  * Here, gerund is object

Use
Certain words like adjectives, prepositions, verbs, nouns are followed by an Ing-Form.
Use after certain adjectives
Adjectives (with Prepositions) followed by the Gerund

afraid of angry about / at bad at busy clever at interested in proud of

crazy about disappointed about excited about famous for fond of sorry about worried about

For example:

• He’s afraid of going by plane.
• I am interested in visiting the museum.
• He is clever at skateboarding.
• The girl is crazy about playing tennis.
• I'm worried about making mistakes.

Use after certain prepositions
Prepositions followed by the Gerund

about after apart from because of before

by in instead of on without

For example:

• Before going to bed he turned off the lights.
• She avoided him by walking on the opposite side of the road.
• We arrived in Madrid after driving all night.
• He told the joke without laughing.

Use after certain verbs
Verbs followed by the Gerund

admit advise allow appreciate avoid suggest understand miss reject

consider delay deny dislike enjoy resist imagine permit practise

For example:

• I enjoy cooking.
• He admitted having driven too fast.
• Ralph is considering buying a new house.
• I delayed telling Max the news.
• They miss playing with their friends.

Use after certain nouns
Nouns with Prepositions followed by the Gerund

advantage of alternative of chance of choice between danger of doubt about experience in fun hope of point in

idea of interest in opportunity of pleasure in problem reason for trouble in use waste of money waste of time

For example:

• We had problems finding our way back home.
• There's no point in waiting any longer.
• What is the advantage of farming over hunting?
• He is in doubt about buying the correct software for his computer system.
• There's a real reason for winning the contest.

Rules:

• If a verb ends with -e, it loses the last letter before adding the -ing suffix.