Gerund

The gerund can be used like a noun and like a verb (Verbalsubstantiv).
 

The most common forms:

- gerund (active form) - playing

- gerund (passive form) - being sent
 

1. The gerund as a noun 

- Swimming is healthy. 
 

2. The gerund after verbs without a preposition 
 

- I like going for walks in the mountains.
 

3. The gerund after prepositions
 

- We are looking forward to meeting you 
  in summer.

- I'm fond of visiting my relatives. 

- We were in danger of falling off the rock.
 

4. Gerund constructions as adverbials (after prepostions)
 

- On arriving in York, he phoned his friend.

  As soon as he arrived ...

- Instead of going home, we went for a walk.

   Statt nach Hause zu gehen,....
 

5. The gerund after certain expressions

- It's no use ringing the bell. no one is at
  home. ( Es hat keinen Zweck...)

Participles

The participle can be used like an adjective and like a verb
(Verbaladjektiv).

The most common forms:

- present participle (active) - pulling

- past participle (passive) - pulled

- perfect participle (active) - having pulled 

1. Participles instead of relative clauses

- The girl waiting at the bus stop is my sister. 
..who is waiting

2. Participle constructions to replace adverbial clauses 

a. (When)looking down from the plane, we saw the 
    lights of the city.
   (When we looked down from the plane..) 

Als wir .. herunterschauten,.. 

b.  As the weather was bad, ...

Da das Wetter schlecht war, entschlossen wir 
uns...

3. The 'with + participle' construction 

- It's been a very busy day, with the
  phone ringing all the time.

Es war ein arbeitsreicher Tag.

Das Telefon klingelte pausenlos.

4. Participles after verbs describing a position or movement

- He just sits watching TV. 

5. Participles after verbs of perception

- Some of the neighbours 
  watched us moving in. 

6. Participles after 'have' and 'get' meaning 'to cause'

- We always have our car washed. 

- Our car is broken. Why don't you
  get it repaired?