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Yaniwidi Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Gerund or Present Participle

Hi all!

Im working on my research of hyphenated compound adjectives in a novel. Help me to reveal this words, please...

"a cattle-breeding centre"

Which is the most natural structure?

1. A centre of breeding cattle, or

2. A centre that is breeding cattle.

It will help me to know, is it a noun+gerund or noun + present participle of the hyphenated compound adjective above.

Thank you.

Yaniwidi


  

Top answer

"cattle-breeding" is a noun meaning the activity of breeding cattle. In "cattle-breeding centre", the noun "cattle-breeding" is used attibutively to modify "centre". In other words, it is a centre where cattle-breeding takes place.

— Mr Wordy

  • "cattle-breeding" is a noun meaning the activity of breeding cattle.
  • In "cattle-breeding centre", the noun "cattle-breeding" is used attibutively to modify "centre".
  • In other words, it is a centre where cattle-breeding takes place.
  • It does not mean a centre that is breeding cattle.
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4 Answers
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"cattle-breeding" is a noun meaning the activity of breeding cattle. In "cattle-breeding centre", the noun "cattle-breeding" is used attibutively to modify "centre". In other words, it is a centre where cattle-breeding takes place. It does not mean a centre that is breeding cattle.
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Thanks Mr. Wordy. It really helps me.

After understanding your answer, I can conclude that the structure of the hyphenated compound adjective "cattle-breeding" is noun + gerund since it's a noun.

But I have 2 more question, Sir. How about this:
1. A beef-eating boy.
2. Scientists are beer-drinking lot.
Is it correct that the words "beef-eating" and "beer-drinking" ar
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yaniwidiAfter understanding your answer, I can conclude that the structure of the hyphenated compound adjective "cattle-breeding" is noun + gerund since it's a noun.
Yes, that's the way I see it. "breeding" here is a noun (gerund), from which we develop "cattle-breeding".
yaniwidiIs it correct that the words "beef-eating" and "beer-drin
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Thanks for your quick reply, Sir! I appreciate it Emotion: smile
Your explanation is very useful.

Regards,
Yani
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