Is 'Lying' a gerund acting as a noun?

Question

Hi teachers,How did he move from his lying position?By the way are gerunds always nouns?Thanks in advance.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Thinking SpainHow did he move from his lying position?

In this sentence, "lying" is an adjective. Therefore, it's a present participle, rather than a gerund.
(It all depends upon how the -ing word us used! - how it functions!)

Thinking SpainBy the way are gerunds always nouns?

Yes, by definition.

He was tired of lying on the ground. Here, "lying" is a gerund/noun. It's object of the preposition "of."

How did he move from his position? "Position" is the object of the preposition "from."
If you say, "lying position," "lying" simply tells us something more about "position," so it's an adjective.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Avagi,
Thank you very much for your reply.
Hmm, so words ending '-ing' can also be adjectives if they are in front of nouns of course, as in that case.

TS

Surfer · Answer

AvangiIn this sentence, "lying" is an adjective. Therefore, it's a present participle, rather than a gerund.(It all depends upon how the -ing word us used! - how it functions!)

Hello Avangi. If you don't mind me asking, isn't lying here a gerund acting as a noun modifier?

What I mean is, if lying was a present participle acting as an adjective, and as it stands in the sentence, it would be modifying position as to mean it, position, was lying, which is most improbable.. .

AvangiIf you say, "lying position," "lying" simply tells us something more about "position," so it's an adjective.

It is, in the sense that it's a gerund acting as a noun modifier.

Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Surferisn't lying here a gerund acting as a noun modifier?

A gerund by definition is an '-ing' verb acting as a noun. If it acts as anything else, it is not a gerund.

Surfer · Answer

Mister Micawber Surferisn't lying here a gerund acting as a noun modifier?A gerund by definition is an '-ing' verb acting as a noun. If it acts as anything else, it is not a gerund.

Hi Mister Micawber.

.. But nouns can act as adjectives, i.e. noun modifiers,..?
The way I understand it:

Running man, running is a present participle.
Running shoes, running is a gerund (i.e. a noun), acting as a noun modifier.

Thank you.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Mister MicawberA gerund by definition is an '-ing' verb acting as a noun. If it acts as anything else, it is not a gerund.

Hi Mister Micawber,
So, words ending '-ing' can also be adjectives if they are in front of nouns of course, as in that case. Right?

TS

Mister Micawber · Answer

Yes, right.

Mister Micawber · Answer

SurferRunning shoes, running is a gerund (i.e. a noun), acting as a noun modifier.

No, if it's acting as a noun modifier, it is not a gerund—by definition, as I posted before. If it not acting as a noun, it is not a gerund. Of course, we are talking about the term only.

Avangi · Answer

Surfer .. But nouns can act as adjectives, i.e. noun modifiers,..?The way I understand it:Running man, running is a present participle.Running shoes, running is a gerund (i.e. a noun), acting as a noun modifier.

This is certainly an interesting proposition, Surfer. I've never heard it stated before.

Do you have any references to back this up? I have to admit there's some logic to it.

But I can't see any purpose in calling an -ing word "a noun acting as an adjective," when it can be an adjective in its own right.

The step seems to be missing which would make "running" a noun to begin with.

If you call them "shoes for running," then "running" is a gerund (object of the preposition).
Semantically, "shoes for running" and "running shoes" are equivalent. Grammatically they are not.

Surfer · Answer

AvangiThis is certainly an interesting proposition, Surfer. I've never heard it stated before.Do you have any references to back this up? I have to admit there's some logic to it.

Hi Avangi

. I do, I googled the issue and found it's true.
Please take a look at these:
http://sman1slawienglish.wordpress.com/gerunds/
http://anismuyasaroh.blogspot.com/2010/01/gerund.html

AvangiBut I can't see any purpose in calling an -ing word "a noun acting as an adjective," when it can be an adjective in its own right.

But then, there is; for the two modify the noun that comes after them differently. As an adjective in its own right, the present participle directly modifies the noun so as to alter the state of its addressee and render it doing as the verb implies. In that sense, a swimming man is a man who is swimming.

As a noun modifier, the gerund, or any other noun for that matter, classifies the noun rather than directly change it. As such, the -ing form of the verb swim as it stands in, for example, swimming pool, modifies pool by existing as it's type or class, that is, the pool is a pool for swimming, but it's not swimming itself!

I believe the context determines whether the -ing form of a verb is a present participle acting as an adjective or a gerund acting as a noun modifier.

AvangiThe step seems to be missing which would make "running" a noun to begin with.

I guess that step is the context.

AvangiIf you call them "shoes for running," then "running" is a gerund (object of the preposition).Semantically, "shoes for running" and "running shoes" are equivalent. Grammatically they are not.

In light of the above discussion, they are!

Thank you.

Is 'Lying' a gerund acting as a noun?

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