Gerunds_L.8.1a

Gerund or Gerund Phrase-a verb or verb phrase that functions as a noun in the sentence. A gerund always ends in "-ing" (but there are other types of verbs and verb phrases that end in "-ing," so be careful).
Gerunds can do almost anything a noun can do in a sentence:
Subject: Cooking is a hobby of mine.
Direct Object: I enjoy swimming.
Object of the Preposition: James was punished for hitting his friend.
Predicate Nominative: My favorite hobby is cooking.