What tense is this?

Question

Sitting down for too long is unhealthy.In the above sentence, does the word 'sitting' make this sentence present continuous?Thanks, Lee.

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

No, Continuous (progressive) forms always contain a part of BE.  You hav a gerund in your sentence.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIn the above sentence, does the word 'sitting' make this sentence present continuous?

No. To have a continuous tense you need a verb in the -ing form, but that's only part of it. You also have to have a form of the auxiliary verb be (is sitting, was sitting, are sitting, etc.).

The main verb is "is":

Sitting down for too long (subject) | is (linking verb) | unhealthy (adjective).

When a phrase beginning with an -ing form is used as a subject or object, it's called a gerund phrase. The -ing form (sitting) is called a gerund.

CJ

Cup cake · Answer

Thanks CJ. This makes sense. I thought a gerund is a verb that turns into a noun, but I can see it's a gerund phrase in this sentence.
Many thanks.

Cup cake · Answer

Thanks for the reply. I can see it now. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/78.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/78.gif' alt='Emotion: nodding'/>

What tense is this?

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