Why is reading not a gerund?

You're right to question this! "Reading" can actually be a gerund, depending on how it's used in a sentence.

Here's why there might be confusion:

* Gerunds often act as nouns. For example, "Reading is my favorite hobby." Here, "reading" is the subject of the sentence, functioning as a noun.

* Sometimes, the "-ing" form is used as a present participle, describing the action of a noun. For instance, "The reading child was very quiet." Here, "reading" modifies "child," telling us what the child was doing.

So, "reading" can be both a gerund and a present participle. It depends on its role within the sentence.

Here's a simple way to tell the difference:

* Gerund: Can be replaced with a noun (e.g., "My favorite hobby is reading" can become "My favorite hobby is books").

* Present Participle: Describes a noun (e.g., "The reading child was very quiet" describes the child as an active reader).

Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other grammar questions!