Gerund?

Spot on, Kate.

Gerunds usually have the -ing form.

Yeah, I know they have -ing. But not all -ings are gerunds, that's where I get confused!

Usually a gerund will occur closely after another verb. If you see a verb and then another verb ending -ing, then there is a good chance that it is a gerund.

It isn't always true (English is full of exceptions, we even have a saying 'the exception that proves the rule'. This basically means, a rule is not really a rule until an exception to it has been found!) but is a general guideline.

KateJSIs 'going' a gerund? If not, what is it?

It is an -ing form of a verb and is immediately after a preposition (to), so it has to be a gerund.

CJ

Ah, thanks - that's a good rule to know.

To establish whether an -ing is a gerund or a participle, decide whether its role is adjectival or nominal:

1. I like eating ] object of verb; thus nominal; = gerund.

2. I'm looking forward to eating ] object of preposition; thus nominal; = gerund.

3. The boy eating the apple was quite fat ] qualifies "boy"; thus adjectival; = participle.

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Thanks MrP - I wish my CELTA tutor had explained it so clearly!