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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

adjectives

What is the difference between "swim lessons" and "swimming lessons"? You'd obviously say "running" shoes and not "run shoes" and "snow shovel" but not "snowing shovel". So, when do you use the noun form and when the -ing form as an adjective. Is there a rule?
  

Top answer

This type of usage in English is determined by tradition and established use, evolved over hundreds of years. There is no set rule about them, and they have to be learned by experience. " "Swim lessons" is possible but less often heard.

— Anonymous

  • This type of usage in English is determined by tradition and established use, evolved over hundreds of years.
  • There is no set rule about them, and they have to be learned by experience.
  • " "Swim lessons" is possible but less often heard.
  • Other examples: golf course, not golfing course surf board, not surfing board row boat, not rowing boat golf lessons is usually heard, golfing lessons is also heard surf shop, not surfing shop golf shop, not golfing shop dog grooming salon, not dog groom salon dive tour, diving tour is also heard dive shop, diving shop is also heard fishing pole, not fish pole dancing shoes, dance shoes is infrequently heard boxing gloves, not box gloves
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3 Answers
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This type of usage in English is determined by tradition and established use, evolved over hundreds of years. There is no set rule about them, and they have to be learned by experience.

In the US you'd usually say "swimming lessons." "Swim lessons" is possible but less often heard.

Other examples:

golf course, not golfing course

surf board, not surfing board
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AnonymousSo, when do you use the noun form and when the -ing form as an adjective.
"swimming" in "swimming lessons" and "running" in "running shoes" are nouns, not adjectives.
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AnonymousThis type of usage in English is determined by tradition and established use, evolved over hundreds of years.
It's also determined by location in the world.
Anonymousrow boat, not rowing boat
In the UK, it is rowing boat.
Anonymousfishing pole, not fish pole
In the UK, it i
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