Parts of speech

A gerund is "a word ending in "-ing" that is made from a verb and used like a noun" (Cambridge University Press, n.d., para. 1).

Please see the following examples of gerunds from the OWL at Purdue (n.d.):

Gerund as subject:

• Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
• The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

Gerund as direct object:

• They do not appreciate my singing.
• They do not appreciate my assistance.

Gerund as subject complement:

• My cat's favorite activity is sleeping.
• My cat's favorite food is salmon.

Gerund as object of preposition:

• The police arrested him for speeding.
• The police arrested him for criminal activity. (para. 2-5)

For more information, please refer to The OWL at Purdue: Gerunds.

References

Cambridge University Press. (n.d.). Gerund. Cambridge dictionary. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/gerund

Purdue University. (n.d.). Gerunds. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/gerunds_participles_and_infinitives/index.html