GERUND

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb
"read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the
object of a sentence.
Reading helps you learn English. (subject) Her favorite hobby is reading.
(complement) I enjoy reading. (object)

I as the subject of a clause Cycling is good for your health

II after certain adjectives Hes afraid of going by plane.
III after certain prepositions Before going to bed he turned off the lights.
IV after certain verbs I enjoy cooking
V after certain verbs with prepositions I am looking forward to seeing you again.
VI after certain nouns We had problems finding our way back home
II afraid of angry about / at bad at busy, clever at, crazy about, disappointed about, excited
about, famous for, fond of, glad about, good at, impressed by, interested in, keen on, like,
proud of, sick of, sorry about, tired of, worried about, worth
III about (in 'how/what about'), after, apart from, because of, before, by, in, in spite of,
instead of, on, without
IV admit, advise, allow, appreciate, avoid, cant help, cant stand, consider, delay, deny,
dislike, enjoy, escape, fancy, finish, go (in go swimming), imagine, involve, keep, mention,
mind, miss, permit, postpone, practise, reject, resist, risk, stop, suggest, understand, waste
time/money
V accuse of, adjust, to agree with, apologize for, approve of, ask about, ask for, begin by,
believe in, be used to, blame for, care for, carry on, complain about, concentrate on,
congratulate on, congratulate on, consist of, cope with, decide against, decide for, depend on,
die of, dream about / of, escape from, feel like, forgive for, give up, insist on, keep on, look
forward to, pay for, prevent sb from, protect from, rely on, spend money on, spend time on,
succeed in, suspect of, take part in, talk about / of, thank for, think of, use for, warn, against,
worry about
VI advantage of, alternative of, alternative of, alternative of, chance of, choice between,
danger of, difficulty in, doubt about, experience in, fun, hope of, idea of, interest in,
opportunity of, place for, pleasure in, point in, possibility of, problem, reason for, trouble,
trouble in, use, way of, waste of money, waste of time
Difference between gerund and progressive
Reading is very unpopular. (the same function as a noun)

He continued reading. (the same function as a verb)