1. As a verb (present continuous):
* She is singing in the shower.
* The dog is barking at the mailman.
* We are learning about the history of the United States.
2. As an adjective:
* The running water was refreshing.
* He bought a flying kite.
* The blooming flowers were beautiful.
3. As a noun (gerund):
* Swimming is my favorite form of exercise.
* Reading helps me relax.
* I love cooking for my family.
4. As part of a phrase:
* Having finished my work, I went home.
* Being tired, I decided to go to bed early.
* Despite being late, I managed to catch the bus.
5. In a compound verb (after a helping verb):
* I am going to the store.
* She is working on a new project.
* They are playing basketball.
6. After prepositions:
* I am interested in learning more about that.
* He is good at playing guitar.
* She is excited about going to the concert.
7. In certain fixed expressions:
* Considering your age, you are doing well.
* Looking forward to seeing you soon.
* Bearing in mind the circumstances, I think we did the best we could.
These are just a few examples of how the -ing form of the verb can be used.