Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that function as nouns. They can be used in three main ways: as the subject or object of a verb, after certain verbs like "enjoy" and "avoid", and after prepositions like "for" and "without". Some examples of common uses include "swimming is fun", "I enjoy cooking", and "apologized for being late".

1. Gerund
is a noun formed from a verb by
adding -ing

2.  In English, the ing form, for
example swimming or smoking, is both
a noun and a verb. You can follow it by an
object, smoking cigarettes, by a
verb, swimming is good, or you can
make it the object of a sentence, I like
swimming.

3. The ing form is used:
 As a noun:
 For example: Eating vegetables is good for
your health.

4. After verbs
 You use the ing form after some verbs
such as
enjoy, admit, avoid, appreciate, can't
stand / help /
bear, consider, continue, deny, delay, esca
pe, excuse, fancy, finish, forgive, imagine,
involve, keep, look forward
to, mention, miss, object
to, postpone, practice, prevent, report, res
ist, rest, save, stand, suggest

5.  For example:
 I can not stand doing nothing.
 She denied breaking the copier.

6.  After love, like, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer
(to express general preference)
 He likes cooking. (in general)
 Note: like + to – inf= it is a good idea, it is
useful
 I like to eat a healthy breakfast.

7.  After I am busy, it is no use, it is (no)
use, it is no worth, what is the use of, can
not help, there is no point (in), be/get
used to, be/get accustomed to, have
difficulty (in).
 It is no use complaining.

8.  After “go” for physical activities
They go skiing every year.
I go swimming twice a week.

9.  After spend/waste time
 He wasted his time playing video games.

10. After prepositions:
 He entered without knocking at the door.
 They apologized for being late.
 Do you concentrate on reading or writing?

11.  After see, hear, listen, watch to express
an incomplete action, an action in
progress or a long action
 I saw Kate painting the kitchen. (I saw Kate in the
middle of painting. I saw part of the action in progress. I
did not wait until she had finished.)

12. But:
 after see, hear, watch, listen + infinitive
without to to express a complete
action, something that one saw or heard
from the beginning till the end.
 I watched Kate paint the kitchen. It took
her two hours. (I saw the whole action.)