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Riglos Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Gerund vs Present Participle
Hi people!
Would anyone be so kind to explain the difference between these two verbals?
Here are some examples which I find confusing:
1. A walking stick: Is "walking" to be taken as a gerund here for it is "a stick for walking", and not used attributively?
2. Speaking parrots: Is "speaking" a present participle for these are "parrots that speak"?
And here, an even more confusing example:
A washing machine: Gerund = A machine for washing.
A washing machine: Present Pariciple = A machine that washes.
Could anyone give me some tips so that making the distinction between the two becomes easier for me?
Thanks a lot!
Mara.
Would anyone be so kind to explain the difference between these two verbals?
Here are some examples which I find confusing:
1. A walking stick: Is "walking" to be taken as a gerund here for it is "a stick for walking", and not used attributively?
2. Speaking parrots: Is "speaking" a present participle for these are "parrots that speak"?
And here, an even more confusing example:
A washing machine: Gerund = A machine for washing.
A washing machine: Present Pariciple = A machine that washes.
Could anyone give me some tips so that making the distinction between the two becomes easier for me?
Thanks a lot!
Mara.
Top answer
Gerunds are the nominal forms (noun forms) of verbs, that is, verb forms in -ing used as nouns. Present (and past) participles are adjectival forms of verbs. The present participles are verb forms in -ing used as adjectives.
- Gerunds are the nominal forms (noun forms) of verbs, that is, verb forms in -ing used as nouns.
- Present (and past) participles are adjectival forms of verbs.
- The present participles are verb forms in -ing used as adjectives.
- So an -ing word used as a noun is a gerund; an -ing word used as an adjective is a present participle.
- a long stick - a walking stick Both "long" and "walking" are adjectives.
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32 Answers
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Gerunds are the nominal forms (noun forms) of verbs, that is, verb forms in -ing used as nouns.
Present (and past) participles are adjectival forms of verbs. The present participles are verb forms in -ing used as adjectives.
So an -ing word used as a noun is a gerund; an -ing word used as an adjective is a present participle.
a long stick -
Present (and past) participles are adjectival forms of verbs. The present participles are verb forms in -ing used as adjectives.
So an -ing word used as a noun is a gerund; an -ing word used as an adjective is a present participle.
a long stick -
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Hi CalifJim!
What about "Building cars is a very difficult task"? Is "building" here a gerund or a plain noun? I'd say it's a gerund, what do you think?
Regards,
Mara
What about "Building cars is a very difficult task"? Is "building" here a gerund or a plain noun? I'd say it's a gerund, what do you think?
Regards,
Mara
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One more thing:
I accept that speaking parrots is a present participle, but as regards "walking stick" or "swimming trunk", I wouldn't readily call "walking" and "swimming" present participles. I think they're gerunds, for they are not used here as adjectives, i.e. "a stick that walks" or "a trunk that swims" but rather as nouns, functioning the same way as "street" in "a street light". T
I accept that speaking parrots is a present participle, but as regards "walking stick" or "swimming trunk", I wouldn't readily call "walking" and "swimming" present participles. I think they're gerunds, for they are not used here as adjectives, i.e. "a stick that walks" or "a trunk that swims" but rather as nouns, functioning the same way as "street" in "a street light". T
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0 and what is it in "killing gorillas is a crime"????? 02 br
02 br
00 gerund or not? i am so confused with this thermes 0-
02 br
00 gerund or not? i am so confused with this thermes 0-
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1 i 00 Killing 02 i 00 is a gerund-- the subject of the verb 01 i 00 is 02 i 00 . 0-
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0 Swimming pool means a pool which is used to swim. "Which is used to to swim" is an 01 b 01 u 00 adjective 02 u 02 b 00 clause functioning to modify the pool. It must be very clear to you that a word or clause modifying a noun is an adjective. Now move to your question, Gerund or P.Participle. Only one thing u must remember to differenciate the two terms. Gerund funct
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we can make diferencies by used (who) and (for)
e.g.
I see dringking man
it's no gerund, because refers to man ( Who ? ) a drinking man
I need the drinking water
It's gerund (for what The water) ,dringking
e.g.
I see dringking man
it's no gerund, because refers to man ( Who ? ) a drinking man
I need the drinking water
It's gerund (for what The water) ,dringking
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· I see dringking man - this is not a sentence with complete sense.
Possibilities: I see a man drinking (a soda) where drinking is a present participle of the verb “drink” describing the action.
I see a man who is drinking (a soda) ---drinking is used in it’s present progress form.
Possibilities: I see a man drinking (a soda) where drinking is a present participle of the verb “drink” describing the action.
I see a man who is drinking (a soda) ---drinking is used in it’s present progress form.
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Hello CJ
I don't like to argue against a great guru like you, but I agree with Riglos about this issue.
I understand "walking stick" is "stick for the purpose of walking" or "stick to be used in walking". So I take this "walking" as a gerund and I parse "walking stick" as a noun-noun phrase just like "lacrosse stick" is a noun-noun phrase.
paco
I don't like to argue against a great guru like you, but I agree with Riglos about this issue.
I understand "walking stick" is "stick for the purpose of walking" or "stick to be used in walking". So I take this "walking" as a gerund and I parse "walking stick" as a noun-noun phrase just like "lacrosse stick" is a noun-noun phrase.
paco
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