1. Expressing surprise or shock:
* "She gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw the unexpected sight."
* "He gasped, clutching his chest as he felt the sudden pain."
2. Describing difficulty breathing:
* "After the strenuous run, he stood gasping for breath, his chest heaving."
* "The smoke filled the room, making it hard to breathe, and people were gasping for air."
3. Illustrating a sudden intake of breath:
* "She gasped, a sharp intake of breath, as the icy water splashed over her."
* "He gasped, the words caught in his throat, unable to speak."
4. Metaphorically:
* "The city, once bustling with life, now lay gasping in the wake of the disaster."
* "The economy was gasping for life, struggling to recover from the recession."
Remember to choose the sentence structure that best fits your intended meaning. You can also use adverbs to modify the verb "gasping," such as "gasping audibly" or "gasping silently."