(-ing) Verbs

A Verb ending in –ing can be:

Gerund form
or
Present Participle form
 Know the difference
-ing verbs can work as verbal nouns or
description verbs:
• I detest long waits at the hospital. (noun)
• I detest waiting at the hospital. (verbal noun)
The verb makes the sentence logical. Without “waiting” it makes no sense.

• I’m waiting at the hospital. (description verb)

The verb helps to understand the sentence, but it’s not 100% necessary
to make it logical. If we eliminate the verb, the sentence still makes sense.
 Verbal noun or Description Verb?
• I stopped smoking. _______
• The kids were hiding in the closet. _______
• The man is getting worried. _______
• Fishing is so difficult. _________
• Get away from the boiling water. ________
• I can’t resist playing with my dog. _________
• You said that driving at night is dangerous.___
 Verbal noun or Description Verb?
• I stopped smoking. VN
• The kids were hiding in the closet. DV
• The man is getting worried. DV
• Fishing is so difficult. VN
• Get away from the boiling water. DV
• I can’t resist playing with my dog. VN
• You said that driving at night is dangerous.VN
When -ing verbs work as description verbs, they are called present
participle verb forms.

The present participle is 100% necessary to form the continuous tenses;

without it, statements lack sense:
Gia is dancing. / The kids were playing.

In other circumstances, the present participle can be (SOMETIMES) removed

without altering the sentence’s essence.
I’m running late. / I’m late.
The room is freezing cold. / The room is cold.

REMEMBER: Present participle verbs help describe and understand a

situation. They give extra information.
When -ing verbs work as verbal nouns, they are called gerunds
verb forms.

Gerunds are 100% necessary for a statement to be logical:

Dancing makes me happy.
This frosting looks delicious.
She has no talent, her acapella singing is terrible.
I get relaxed by walking quickly.
Maya’s hobby is night surfing.
My remedy for stress is running in the rain.

Gerunds can’t be removed without altering the sentence’s essence.

 Gerund or Present participle?
Gerunds can be replaced by the pronoun it/them.
Dancing makes me happy. / It makes me happy.
This frosting looks delicious. / It looks delicious.
Maya’s hobby is night surfing. / It is Maya’s hobby.

Present participles depend on another verb.

Present participles form the continuous tenses.
Present participles modify and describe.
Gerunds are modified.
 “One of life’s biggest pleasures is staying
peacefully in bed all day.”
Gerund or Present Participle? Ask yourself:
• Can I remove the verb and have a logical sentence?
One of life’s biggest pleasures is __ peacefully in bed all day. (MAKES NO SENSE)
• Can I replace the verb or phrase with the pronoun
“it/them”?
It is one of life’s biggest pleasures. (Can be replaced)
• Is it modifying or being modified?
Staying isn’t describing or modifying anything; the adverb peacefully describes staying.

It’s a Gerund!!!
 Gerund or Present Participle?
• Walking in the morning releases my stress. (G/PP)
• I woke up today feeling sick. (G/PP)
• Mariana’s acting was incredible. (G/PP)
• The chef prepared vegetables swimming in blue soup. (G/PP)
• Do you think crying solves everything? (G/PP)
• The final part of the show is very interesting. (G/PP)
• Olivier is demanding food. (G/PP)
• I left my shoes hanging on the door. (G/PP)
• She’ll buy the coloring books. (G/PP)
• The heavy raining caused a lot of damage. (G/PP)
 Gerund or Present Participle?
• Walking in the morning releases my stress. (G/PP)
• I woke up today feeling sick. (G/PP)
• Mariana’s acting was incredible. (G/PP)
• The chef prepared vegetables swimming in blue soup. (G/PP)
• Do you think crying solves everything? (G/PP)
• The final part of the show is very interesting. (G/PP)
• Olivier is demanding food. (G/PP)
• I left my shoes hanging on the door. (G/PP)
• She’ll buy the coloring books. (G/PP)
• The heavy raining caused a lot of damage. (G/PP)
Verb+Gerund vs Verb+Infinitive
 Verb+Gerund
• Use Verb+Gerund for:
– Subjects and objects of a sentence
Running is a good exercise. (Subject)
Part of my workout is running. (Object)
– Real/Present/Concrete actions or routines.
Iris should stop smoking.
– Sports, physical activities, hobbies…
Let’s go bowling.
– After prepositions
I can tell that you’re sick by looking at your eyes.
– After spend/waste
Spend your time reading a good book, don’t waste it sleeping.
 Verb+Infinitive
• Use Verb+Infinitive for:
– Undefined/future actions
I prefer to eat at home. / Leslie will start to work for my farther.
– After adjectives and pronouns
It feels wonderful to be here. / He invited us to go to the beach.
– To show reason/purpose/intention.
I didn’t buy ice cream because I’m saving to go on vacation.
We are gathered to remember Ms. Lovey.
I didn’t wash my hair yesterday, so I need to wash it today.
I was driving, but I stopped to smoke.
 Verb+Infinitive or Verb+Gerund
Verb+Infinitive Verb+Gerund
– Undefined/future – Subjects and objects
actions of a sentence
– After adjectives and – Real/Present/Concret
pronouns e actions or routines.
– To show – Sports, physical
reason/purpose/ activities, hobbies…
intention. – After prepositions
– After spend/waste