Main semantic and syntactic characteristics of english gerund

A gerund is the term used for referring the non-finite verbal -ing form having prevailingly nominal features (e.g. playing computer games, our singing), but keeping the verbal features in its complementation. The general characteristics of a gerund is that it is a non-finite form which is formed by adding an -ing after a verb: (play+ing, paint+ing, cycle+ing, learn+ing and so on). It is considered a noun derived from the verb+ing. A gerund has the same form as the present participle. However, they function differently in the sentences. Unlike the present participle, the gerund has two kinds of features: verbal and nominal. It names the actions, behaviors, or states.