The tricky part about gerunds is distinguishing them from an actual verb because most of the time, gerunds are used in gerund phrases...which look like predicates. Boo. Our usual find-and-replace trick just doesn't work here.
A foolproof method is not parsing a sentence like a computer. Think about what the sentence is saying. Is the sentence discussing the act of doing something? In that case, it's a gerund. Does it express the act itself? If so, it's not a gerund.
Some extra help: first, identify the subject of the sentence. Is the subject performing the action of the present participle? If so, it's a verb. Is the subject the present participle? If it is, then it's a gerund.
Below are a few example sentences that each contain a present participle. Read them, think about what they're saying, and decide whether the present participle is a gerund or not:
- Wilhelm Vandercraft was running and skipping for joy.
- Looking for a sign, Magdalena stopped walking and looked up at the sky.
- Ignoring your problems never works.
- I was just thinking about you.
- When is playing with fire ever a good idea?
- Burping is something I'm really good at.
- I'm liking your wacky outfit.
- You can't prove that I'd been singing in the shower.
- I'm scared of walking alone at night.
- Venting is a healthy coping mechanism.
Answer key: N, N, N, N, Y, N, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y