Here's why and some examples:
* Gerunds are noun forms of verbs: They end in "-ing" and act like nouns in a sentence.
* Prepositions require objects: Prepositions like "to," "from," "by," "for," "with," etc., need a noun or pronoun to follow them.
Examples:
* "She is interested in learning new languages." ("Learning" is the gerund, the object of the preposition "in").
* "He was excited about going to the concert." ("Going" is the gerund, the object of the preposition "about").
* "They succeeded by working together." ("Working" is the gerund, the object of the preposition "by").
Key takeaway: Gerunds can fulfill the role of a noun and act as the object of a preposition, making your sentences more concise and dynamic.