Having people stare/staring

Question

A) It's embarrassing having everyone stare at us in this way. B) It's embarrassing having everyone staring at us in this way.Which is the correct sentence?

Phxsunstoon · Accepted Answer

Sentence A, for me, just sounds better.  For sentence A, ...everyone stare... means that the everyone is the noun and stare is the verb. In sentence B, ...everyone staring... means that everyone is the adjective of the gerund staring. When a participle verb (-ed or -ing) does not follow a to be verb is, are, am, was, and were, it becomes a noun.

Fivejedjon · Answer

phxsunstoonSentence A, for me, just sounds better. For sentence A, ...everyone stare... means that the everyone is the noun and stare is the verb. In sentence B, ...everyone staring... means that everyone is the adjective of the gerund staring. When a participle verb (-ed or -ing) does not follow a to be verb is, are, am, was, and were, it becomes a noun.

I am afraid that that is confused and confusing. '... everyone is the adjective of the gerund staring' means little to me.

'When a participle verb (-ed or -ing) does not follow a to be verb is, are, am, was, and were, it becomes a noun.'

No. The third form (past participle) of the verb may follow BE as part of the passive mood of the verb. It can also function as an attributive or predicative adjective. When the -ing form of the verb functions as a noun, it is generally known as a gerund. In other functions, it is generally known as the present participle.

ESLearnerA) It's embarrassing having everyone stare at us in this way. B) It's embarrassing having everyone staring at us in this way.

Both of these are possible.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

phxsunstoonSentence A, for me, just sounds better. For sentence A, ...everyone stare... means that the everyone is the noun and stare is the verb. In sentence B, ...everyone staring... means that everyone is the adjective of the gerund staring. When a participle verb (-ed or -ing) does not follow a to be verb is, are, am, was, and were, it becomes a noun.

Everyone is always a pronoun. It is never an adjective.

ESLearner · Answer

If they are both possible, what is their difference?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

ESLearner A) It's embarrassing having everyone stare at us in this way. B) It's embarrassing having everyone staring at us in this way.Which is the correct sentence?

The progressive form give the sentence the idea of present and continuing activity.

You and your friends are on a big stage because you have just won the lottery and are getting a prize. Everyone is staring at you. You whisper to your friend:
B) It's embarrassing having everyone staring at us in this way.

The simple present form does not have that same idea of continuing activity. But "stare" is an action that does have continuation in its definition, so the two sentences have about the same meaning. Either one can be used.

Anonymous · Answer

If everyone is always a pronoun and never an adjective, how about everyone's gift?

RandomGuy · Answer

Anonymous… how about everyone's gift?

It’s still a pronoun.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousIf everyone is always a pronoun and never an adjective, how about everyone's gift?

Everyone's is a possessive pronoun.

Anonymous · Answer

Everyone's is a possessive pronoun; however, it is modifying a noun, so it is being used as an adjective.

RandomGuy · Answer

Anonymousit is modifying a noun, so it is being used as an adjective.

No.

Having people stare/staring

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