Gerunds
* Function: They act as nouns.
* Form: They always end in "-ing" and are formed from verbs.
* Examples:
* Swimming is my favorite activity. (Subject)
* I enjoy reading novels. (Object)
* She is good at baking. (Prepositional complement)
Participles
* Function: They act as adjectives, describing nouns.
* Form: They also end in "-ing" (present participle) or "-ed" (past participle).
* Examples:
* The running water splashed against the rocks. (Describing the water)
* He was exhausted from the race. (Describing the man)
Key Differences:
* Function: Gerunds are nouns, while participles are adjectives.
* Use in a sentence: Gerunds can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence. Participles modify nouns.
Examples to Illustrate:
1. Gerund: Eating breakfast is important. (Subject)
2. Participle: The broken vase lay on the floor. (Adjective modifying "vase")
Tricky Cases:
Sometimes it can be tricky to distinguish between gerunds and participles. If you are unsure, consider the following:
* Does the "-ing" word act like a noun? If so, it's a gerund.
* Does the "-ing" word describe a noun? If so, it's a participle.
Remember: If you're still confused, think about the function of the "-ing" word in the sentence. If it acts like a noun, it's a gerund. If it acts like an adjective, it's a participle.