Let me begin by explaining that I teach English As A Second
Language in the Texas University and College System, and my students
tend to be very demanding of "rules." I have been seeking 'rules' that
govern the use of articles with gerunds. If you will allow me, I will
show some of the grammar structures that plague a "general rule":
We can say, "Making a cake is fun." Does anyone see a change of meaning
when we say, "The making of a cake is fun" or "Cake making is fun"?
Here, in the first example, cake is the gerund's object, and then the
introduction of an preposition removes the gerund's object. When the
gerund does not take an object, as in "Swimming in a race is fun" or
"Running in a race is fun," when adding an article,  the preposition
needs to change to "The swimming/running of a race is fun." Does the
meaning change? And, as a third problem, "Swimming in a pool is fun."
Here, it becomes awkward to change it to "The swimming in a pool is fun"
(I think one would never say this nor "The swimming of a pool is fun." -
but, "The swimming of the English Channel is fun" sounds credible). Do
"Pool swimming is fun" and "English Channel swimming is fun" have the
clearly different meanings - more general in connotation - I think they
have?
        Trying to quote "grammar rules" to guide my students through
this labyrinth of articles and gerunds has become a challenge. (Like the
'natural progression of adjectives' we use but that are difficult to
show by "rule."  The big old brown cow - not, usually - The  brown old
big cow.) Have any of you discovered a magic source to guide students
through these mine fields? Am I trembling at monsters that are not
really under the bed? I simply hate to appear lazy and fall back on the
ole "It's a usage thing" popular with some teachers. I would appreciate
any guidance and/or suggestions you might care to share.
Gordon in a very hot and very dry Texas