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Exp Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Is progressive form (be -ing) a predicative use of present participials?

Descriptive use: Tall men (adjective). - Singing birds (present particle).

Predicative use: Those men are tall (adjective). - Birds are singing (present particle).

I see similarities of usage there, but am not sure if it's correct to say that progressive form (be -ing) is really a predicative use of present particles, or an extension of them, or something that is completely different.
  

Top answer

While the "are singing" in "birds are singing" is a predicate, "singing" is not an adjective there. g. "the film was interesting" or "her appearance was shocking".

— GPY

  • While the "are singing" in "birds are singing" is a predicate, "singing" is not an adjective there.
  • g.
  • "the film was interesting" or "her appearance was shocking".
  • These words also have other adjectival properties that "singing" is lacking; for example you can say "very interesting", but not "very singing".
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3 Answers
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While the "are singing" in "birds are singing" is a predicate, "singing" is not an adjective there. Certain present participles, however, have become like "true" adjectives, and these can be used predicatively, e.g. "the film was interesting" or "her appearance was shocking". These words also have other adjectival properties that "singing" is lacking; for example you can say "very interesting", bu
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Thanks. So "are singing" should be construed as a verb as a whole rather than a "to be" verb plus an adjective, whereas "interesting" is a true adjective.
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ExpThanks. So "are singing" should be construed as a verb as a whole rather than a "to be" verb plus an adjective, whereas "interesting" is a true adjective.
See also

CJ
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