Different uses of the –ING form from the student viewpoint

Why I chose this topic
As used as it is, students still find it difficult to understand most of the uses of the –ing form. I do not believe there is any other member of all parts of speech that has such a wide range of functions and as much influence on our daily talks and writings as the –ing form. It is interesting to note that, standing alone, the gerund can function as noun, as verbs in non-finite noun clauses, as the complement of to be, as object of a preposition. Moreover, the difficulty that the –ing form posses regarding its translation into Spanish is also a matter to be considered. These are the reasons why I decided to focus my essay on this topic.

To begin with, the gerund is a noun in the form of the present participle of a verb (that is ending in –ing) which not only may be qualified by adjectives and adverbs but also it can be used with an article and can have a plural form, while the participles either function as verbal adjectives or operate as verbs i...