Gerund vs Continuos

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What is the difference between a gerund and a present continuous?

Both a gerund and a present continuous come from a verb, and both end in –ing. However, each has a different function.  A gerund acts like a noun while a present participle acts like a verb or adjective.

Example: snowboarding

Snowboarding can be a gerund or a present participle.

When snowboarding is a gerund, it acts like a noun. It can be a subject, an object, the object of a preposition, or a subject complement.

• Snowboarding is a winter sport.   [snowboarding = subject]
• I love snowboarding.    [snowboarding = object ]
• I am excited by snowboarding.   [snowboarding = object of a preposition]
• One popular sport is snowboarding.   [snowboarding = subject complement]

When snowboarding is a present participle, it is part of a continuous verb tense.

• Right now, the athlete is snowboarding.   [is snowboarding = present continuous]
• He was snowboarding yesterday afternoon.   [was snowboarding = past continuous]
• Tomorrow, my friends and I are going to be snowboarding.   [are going to be snowboarding = future continuous]

Unlike a gerund, a present participle can act like an adjective that modifies a noun or follows the be verb.

Example: exciting

The word exciting is a present participle used as an adjective to modify a noun or to follow the verb to be.

• The exciting ride made the people scream.   [adjective + noun]
• People enjoyed the exciting roller coaster.   [adjective + noun]
• The roller coaster is exciting. [be verb + adjective]

https://portlandenglish.edu/difference-gerund-present-participle/