Gerund vs Present Participle

 

Both a gerund and a present participle come from a verb, and both end in –ing. However, each has a different function. 

Gerunds

A gerund acts like a noun .All gerunds end -ing. For example:

• swimming
• running
• drinking

More about Gerunds

Unlike an ordinary noun, a gerund maintains some verb-like properties. Like a verb, a gerund can take a direct object and be modified with an adverb.

• drinking a flagon
(The gerund drinking has a direct object, a flagon.)
• driving erratically
(The gerund driving is modified with an adverb, erratically.)
• regularly visiting the hospital
(The gerund visiting is modified with an adverb, regularly, and has a direct object, the hospital. )

Gerunds can function as one of the following:

The Subject of a Verb.

•  For example:

Visiting New York is always an experience.
("Visiting" is the subject of the verb "is.")

The Object of a Verb. 
• For example:

I love visiting New York.
("Visiting" is the direct object of the verb "love.")

The Object of a Preposition. 

• For example:

I surprised them by visiting New York.
("Visiting" is the object of the preposition "by.")

A Subject Complement. 

• For example:

My highlight was visiting New York.

("Visiting" is a subject complement. It completes the linking verb "was" and renames the subject, making it a subject complement.)

Gerund Phrases

A gerund will often be at the head a gerund phrase. A gerund phrase (underlined) consists of a gerund, its objects, and all modifiers.

• Eating blackberries quickly will make you ill.

(Here, the gerund phrase consists of the gerund eating, the direct object blackberries, and the adverb quickly.)

Gerunds End -ing (But So Do Present Participles)

Even though all gerunds end with the suffix -ing, not every word which ends -ing is a gerund. The other common type of word which ends -ing is the present participle. 

Like gerunds, present participles are also formed from verbs (making them verbals), but they are not used as nouns. They are used as adjectives or when forming verbs in a progressive tense. For example:

Running the tap will clear the air pocket.
(This is a gerund.)

Can you fix the running tap?
(This is a present participle as an adjective.)

The tap was running for an hour.
(This is a present participle used to form the past progressive tense.)

Adapted from: https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/gerunds.htm#:~:text=Even%20though%20all%20gerunds%20end,are%20not%20used%20as%20nouns.