ing suffix

Hi, there

I am really having a hard time understanding some usages of the suffix "ing". Sometimes it is used to make some nouns. For example, yesterday I came across a sign that read: "No ball playing".. Why "playING"? ... Likewise, the other day I saw the word "fencing"... What does that mean? Isn't "fence" already a noun? Why "fencing"... There are still some other examples, like "no retouching on these girls", "aisle lighting"(why not light?), free LIVING referal service... Why "living"? ... More: shampooing, footing. Why "shampooing"? Please, help me .Besides, sometimes the adjective takes a ing suffix, sometimes it doesn't... Like :bathinh suit and bedding aisle and bath aisle(at a supermarket)... Why? Please, englighten me

Thank you

The form is known, in many instances, as a gerund. From the WRF entry

ger•und/ˈdʒɛrənd/n. [countable]Grammar: a form of a verb that functions as a noun, such as the -ing form of an English verb:The word writing is a gerund in the sentence: Writing is easy.
No ball playing.

A light is a single object. Lighting is either what it does or a section in a store where you can buy equipment that allows (the action of) lighting.
Living is what you do in your life.
A fence is a single item. Fencing is one way to describe the material the fence is made with.
The -ing prefix is just a part of English. You will just have to learn it 👁 Thumbs Up :thumbsup:

JulianStuart said:

The form is known, in many instances, as a gerund. From the WRF entry

ger•und/ˈdʒɛrənd/n. [countable]Grammar: a form of a verb that functions as a noun, such as the -ing form of an English verb:The word writing is a gerund in the sentence: Writing is easy.
No ball playing.

A light is a single object. Lighting is either what it does or a section in a store where you can buy equipment that allows (the action of) lighting.
Living is what you do in your life.
A fence is a single item. Fencing is one way to describe the material the fence is made with.
The -ing prefix is just a part of English. You will just have to learn it 👁 Thumbs Up :thumbsup:

But why "fencing" and not "fence"? or like in this sentence: "We're going to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace."... why "changING" and not "change"? Both are nouns. Like "do some brainstorming ", why not "do some brainstom"?