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Gerunds are the nominal forms (noun forms) of verbs, that is, verb forms in -ingused as nouns.

Present (and past) participles are adjectival forms of verbs. The present participles are verb forms in -ing used as adjectives.

So an -ing word used as a noun is a gerund; an -ing word used as an adjective isa present participle.

a long stick - a walking stick Both "long" and "walking" are adjectives. In this context "walking" is a present participle.

colorful parrots - speaking parrots. Both "colorful" and "speaking" are adjectives. In this context "speaking" is a present participle.

an efficient machine - a washing machine Both "efficient" and "washing" are adjectives. "washing" is a present participle.

a machine for the purification of chemicals - a machine for washing Both "purification" and "washing" are nouns. "washing" is a gerund in this context.

a machine that purifies - a machine that washes. Both "purifies" and "washes" are verbs. There are no gerunds or participles here.

fires are prohibited in this area - hunting is prohibited in this area. Both "fires" and "hunting" are nouns. "hunting" is a gerund in this context.

One note of caution: -ing words that denote physical objects are plain nouns, not gerunds.The building collapsed. "building" is a noun, but not a gerund.

Gerund

: a verbal noun in Latin that expresses generalized or uncompleted action

: any of several linguistic forms analogous to the Latin gerund in languages other than Latin; especially : the English verbal noun in -ing that has the function of a substantive and at the same time shows the verbal features of tense, voice, and capacity to take adverbial qualifiers and to govern objects

: A Gerund is a verb and noun combined. eg: "I think of retiring soon from business."

Retiring is a verb, being part of the verb retire. It is also a noun, because itis object to the preposition 'of.

Participle

: a word having the characteristics of both verb and adjective; especially : anEnglish verbal form that has the function of an adjective and at the same time shows such verbal features as tense and voice and capacity to take an object

: A Participle is a verb and adjective combined. eg: "A retired officer lives ne

xt door." or "She was killed by a falling tile."

Retired is a verb, being part of the verb to retire. It is also an adjective, be

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cause it qualifies the noun 'officer'. Falling is a verb, since it is part of the verb to fall, but it is also an adjective in that it qualifies the noun 'tile'. Hence a participle may be called a verbal adjective.