hinting

Question

The following month, Masseria arranged for a peace meeting with Umberto Valenti and former Morello leader Peter Morello, (hinting) that he was prepared to give up his aspirations to being the Boss
Could You please tell me why it is used hinting instead of hinted.
Thank You.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

tuvaletCould You please tell me why it is used hinting instead of hinted.

He was hinting this information to the reporter at the time.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

The -ing verb form is a present participle. When it is used as a non-finite verb rather than in a progressive tense form,  it shows that the action was happening in the same time frame as the main verb.

CalifJim · Answer

tuvaletCould you please tell me why it is ~~used~~ 'hinting' instead of 'hinted'?

The following month,
Masseria arranged for a peace meeting with Umberto Valenti and former Morello leader Peter Morello,
and at that time he (Masseria) hinted that he was prepared to give up his aspirations to being the Boss.
[finite clause]
~
The following month,
Masseria arranged for a peace meeting with Umberto Valenti and former Morello leader Peter Morello,
hinting that he was prepared to give up his aspirations to being the Boss.
[non-finite clause]

Review the topic of participles. These are non-finite forms, and they do not behave the same as finite forms such as the simple past tense.

The -ing form says what someone or something does, is doing, did, or was doing. It's active.
The -en form says what is done, is being done, was done, or was being done to someone or something. It's passive.

In this case Masseria hinted, so the active participle hinting is used.
Masseria was not hinted, so the passive participle hinted is not used.
(I don't think there is such a thing as a person who was hinted. It makes no sense, does it?)

CJ

Tuvalet · Answer

Thank you so much for answering so quickly

hinting

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