Gerunds vs Present Participles

Identifying Gerunds and Present Participles

• A gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun.
• A present participle is a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a verb, adjective, or adverb.

Key Differences

• The main difference between a gerund and a present participle is their function in a sentence.
• A gerund acts as a subject, complement, or object of a verb, whereas a present participle acts as a verb, adjective, or adverb.
• For example: "I love eating ice cream" (eating is a gerund) vs. "I am eating ice cream" (eating is a present participle).

Test your knowledge of gerunds and present participles with this quiz! Identify which words are gerunds and which are present participles, and learn the difference between the two. Perfect for English language learners and grammar enthusiasts!