Gerunds, participles and forms in -ing.pptx
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The document explains the use of -ing forms in English, including gerunds, verbal nouns, and present participles. It highlights the differences and potential confusion between these forms, providing examples to illustrate their proper use. Key points include the conditions under which -ing words can function as gerunds or verbal nouns based on their context and structure.
Gerunds, participles and forms in -ing.pptx
- 1. Gerunds, participles and forms in -ing Using gerunds and participles in English
- 2. The different types of word ending in -ing : • The English language does not use many grammatical "endings", but some of those it does use have several different functions. The ending -ing is one of them. Words ending in -ing can be gerunds, verbal nouns, or present participles. Distinguishing (= gerund) between these, and using them correctly is not always easy – until you understand these three simple rules.
- 3. • The gerund is a verb which is used as if it were a noun. Since it is a verb, it can not be qualified by an adjective, nor preceded by an article, but it can be modified by an adverb and take a complement (Examples 1 & 2 below). Examples: 1- Seeing believes. 2- Living in new York is exciting but rather expensive.
- 4. • A verbal noun is a noun formed formed from a verb; some of these end in -ing. It can take an determiner, and be qualified by adjectives. • Examples: 3- The book was easy reading! 4- He managed to make a good living.
- 5. • A participle is an adjective or part of a participial phrase qualifying a noun or a pronoun. (Examples 5 et 6). It is also used to form the progressive forms of verb tenses (Examples 7 & 8). • Examples: 5- Smiling, the lady told them they'd won the big prize. 6- I heard them arguing last night. 7- I'm taking my brother to the station tonight. 8- The man was phoning his friend, when the lights went out.
- 6. Areas of possible confusion • Sometimes it is difficult to decide if a word is a gerund or a verbal noun; and in fact, the quality of the -ing word can change according to context. Look at these examples: 1- For musicians, practising is essential. 2- For musicians, practising an instrument is essential. In examples 1 and 2 above, practising is clearly a gerund; in example 2 it is followed by a complement, an instrument. 3- For musicians, regular practising is essential. 4- For musicians, regular practising an instrument is essential. • But in example 3 it is preceeded by an adjective regular; so this time it is being used differently, as a verbal noun. We can verify this if we try to add a complement, as in example 4. It is not possible. We cannot say "For musicians, regular practising an instrument is essential.". An -ing word cannot simultaneously be preceeded by an adjective and followed by a direct complement. Other solutions are needed; the ing word must either be used as a gerund, or as a verbal noun, but not both at once. So while example 4 does not work, there are two solutions. 5- For musicians, regularly practising an instrument is essential. 6- For musicians, the regular practising of an instrument is essential. Example 5 uses the word practising as a gerund, as in examples 1 and 2; and as it is a gerund, it is modified by an adverb, regularly. Finally, example 6 rephrases example 5, but using practising as a verbal noun, not a gerund. We can see that it is a noun, as it is now part of a noun phrase introduced by an article and including an adjective.
- 7. Present participles • Participles are adjectives; they can either stand alone, before or after their noun, as the situation requires, or else they can be part of an adjectival phrase. • Examples: 1- This book is seriously interesting. 2-The winning team will go through to the finals.