Are they gerunds?

[moazzam]

Hi, friends.

He was busy preparing for the exams.
The boys were busy playing.
He will deny stealing that car.
We discussed buying a bigger apartment.

In the above sentences, are "preparing", "playing", "stealing" and "buying" gerunds?

Thanks a lot.

[Tukanja]

stealing and buying.

[Maylee]

He was busy preparing for the exams.
The boys were busy playing.
He will deny stealing that car.
We discussed buying a bigger apartment.

In the above sentences, are "preparing", "playing", "stealing" and "buying" gerunds?

Hi, Moazzam,

Yes. I think they are all gerunds.
But, both “busy doing something” and “deny doing something” are more of idiomatic phrases. It is typical of the natural way in which native English speakers speak or write when they are using English.