English Grammar and Composition chapter 5: The -ing form of Verb, Gerund and Participle

UNIT 05 The -ing form of Verb: Gerund & Participle

Lesson 1: The -ing form of verbs: Gerund

Read the following conversations and notice the use and positions of -ing verbs.

1.a. Samim: What do you like to do at your free time?

1.b. Samiul: I enjoy watching movies with my friends.

(watching: object of the verb enjoy)

2.a. Ria: Would you mind closing the door? (closing: object of the verb mind)

2.b. Bivu: Not at all, I was also thinking of doing the same.

3.a. Promi: I like jogging in the morning. How about you?

3.b. Sujon: Jogging in the morning is good! But I hate it.

In fact, I don't jog.

Cycling in the afternoon is ok for me.

( Jogging is object of the verb like in 3.a.

Jogging is subject of the sentence in 3.b.

Cycling is the subject of the sentence in 3.b.)

4.a. Do you like pizza?

4.b. I hate eating greasy foods.

(eating: object of the verb hate)

5.a. Shuvro: What type of classroom activity is your favourite?

5.b. Pia: I love learning by doing.

6.a. Shuvro: How about lectures?

6.b. Pia: Attending lectures is boring**.**

(learning by doing: object of the verb love)

(attending lectures: subject of the sentence)

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Sentence begins with -ing verb in in 3.b; and 6.b. Here verb+ing is used as subject of the sentences.

Sentence begins with -ing verb in 1.b; 2.a, 3.a, 4b, and 5b. Here verb+ing is used as object of the sentences.

Grammar point

When -ing verbs are used to begin or complete sentences (i.e. used as subjects or objects), they have nominal function (function of a noun) and they are called gerund. A gerund is also called a verbal- noun. It looks like a verb but functions like a noun.

We also use -ing form as the subject of a sentence when the subject is an action or situation, not a person or thing. In that case, we need a complement or object at the end.

Examples

Walking is a good exercise. (-ing verb as subject followed by a linking verb and complement)

ing-verb linking verb complement

Working too hard ruins his health. (-ing verb as subject followed by verb and object)

ing-verb verb object

When -ing verbs are used after another verb, they are objects.

i) We use –ing verb after various verbs connected with liking or not liking something: like, love, enjoy, hate

ii) We use –ing verb after mind in negative statements to say that we are not angry or unhappy about something:

I would like to buy a new car. I don't have sufficient money.

I don't mind lending you some money.

Thanks. Not now.

iii) We use 'would you mind' followed by –ing verb to ask someone to do something politely.

Would you mind closing the door, please? It's very cold, isn't it?

Not at all. I was also thinking the same.

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Activity 1

Make sentences by matching words from columns A and B. Each phrase can only be used once. The first one is done for you.

a. Browsing net is James' passion.

b. ____________________________________________________________.

c. ____________________________________________________________.

d. ____________________________________________________________.

e. ____________________________________________________________.

f. ____________________________________________________________.

Activity 2

Lima and her friends do a lot of activities. Look at the pictures and complete the sentences using gerund. Use the verbs like, love, enjoy, hate as needed. The first one is done for you.

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a. Linda likes chatting with friends. Chatting together is Linda's favourire pastime.

b. ____________________________________________________________.

c. ____________________________________________________________.

d. ____________________________________________________________.

e. ____________________________________________________________.

f ____________________________________________________________.

Activity 3

Zami is 12 years old. Recently he has shifted to a new town to live. Here he talks about his experiences. Complete what he says, using -ing form of the correct verbs from the box. The first one is done for you.

Zami's family came to live in this small town about a year ago. At first, it wasn't easy. (a) Finding a suitable place to live was difficult.(b) ________________ people was another problem because they speak with local dialect here. But things are better now. They are living in a small house in the town. Zami likes (c) ________________ and (d) ________________ is easy here! Everything is available around. (e) ________________ is a bit difficult as there are a few trains to go to other places. (f) ________________ the roads is not difficult like big cities.(g) ________________ out is great fun because there are many places to go around. Jeremy loves (h) ________________ new places and (i) ________________ new people. Jeremy is happy with this life. Zami hated (j)______________ their previous town but they are okay now.

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Lesson 2: The 'ing' form of verb: Present Participle

Read the following conversations and notice the positions of -ing verbs.

1. Pikul : Do you like birds, Raja? Raja : Oh sure! I love them. Pikul : What bird is your favourite? Raja : Parrot. I've a singing parrot! (singing modifies parrot)

2. Mitu : Hi, ever smiling boy! Why are you sad today? Shanto : I've lost my new English book. Mitu : How did you lose it? Shanto : I went over there. Some students were laughing at a crying girl. She was holding a melting ice-cream bar in her hand. When I came back, the book was gone!

Grammar Focus

As indicated above, a participle can be made by adding ing to a verb. However, it becomes a participle only when adding ing to the verb makes it function as an adjective. A participle is also called a verbal adjective as it looks like a verb but functions like an adjective; it modifies a noun or pronoun.

singing parrot smiling boy crying girl a melting ice-cream bar

What type of parrot? a singing parrot. singing works as an adjective What type of boy? a smiling boy smiling works as an adjective What type of girl? a crying girl? crying works as an adjective What type of ice cream? a melting ice-cream bar melting works as an adjective

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Activity 1

Read the following text and fill in the gaps using present participle. Pick the suitable words from the box below. The first one is done for you.

Raja has a singing parrot. It's a nice ___________ bird. His uncle brought this bird from his village. Now the bird lives in a ___________ cage. Everyday Raja feeds the bird and looks after him. Raja feels very good when the bird sings. Sometimes Raja takes the bird under ___________ water to bathe him. Raja loves the bird but he doesn't like seeing birds in the cage. Raja likes free ___________ birds. But due to his ___________ uncle he can't do anything. Raja has decided to discuss the matter with his uncle.

Activity 2

Read the following text and fill in the gaps using participles of the verbs in the box below.

Tuli went to her (a) ___________ mom. Mom is cooking a special dish for them. Tuli felt tempted seeing the (b) ___________ fish. She wanted to have one piece. Her (c) ___________ mom told her to wait a bit. Tuli told her mom about her zoo visit experience the last day. She saw some (d) ___________ elephants, (e) ___________ tigers, (f) ___________ lions, (g) ___________ jumping monkeys, (h) ___________ birds and many other things there. Tuli requested her mom to take her there again.

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Grammar Point

Gerund vs Participle

Gerund

People are confused about the use of gerund and present participle because of their similarities in form. Both are formed by adding 'ing' to a verb. There is another similarity and that is the fact that both gerund and present participle indicate some action or state of being. However, there are differences between them which is highlighted here.

Participle

As seen above, present participles are formed by adding ing to a verb. However, it becomes a participle only when adding ing to the verb makes it function as an adjective. It is also called a verbal noun.

What is the difference between Gerund and Participle?

A gerund is a verbal noun (verb made noun by adding ing) that looks like a verb but functions as a noun. It is called a verbal noun.

• A (present) participle is also formed by adding 'ing' to base form of an action verb but it functions like an adjective. It is a a verbal adjective. They are structurally the same but functionally different. A gerund functions as a noun but a participle functions as an adjective.