The gerund is a verb form that ends in “–ing” and functions as a noun in a sentence. For example, in the sentence “Swimming is fun,” the word “swimming” acts as the subject. Gerunds can also serve as objects, as in “I enjoy reading.” Gerunds can be used in various ways, such as after prepositions or certain verbs. For instance, you might say, “She is interested in learning new languages.” Understanding gerunds helps improve sentence structure and clarity in writing and speaking.