-ING FORM

THE ING FORMThe ing form can be used like a noun or like a verb.

EXAMPLESFilming took place in Denmark and PortugalNOUN

They are filming a new movie.VERB

When we use a verb in -ing form as anoun, it is usually a gerund:Fishing is fun

GERUND

When we use a verb in -ing form as averb, it is usually a present participle:Anthonyis fishing.

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

How we use gerunds?Gerunds can be used as the subject of the sentence. Smoking costs a lot of moneySUBJECT

Gerunds can be used as the object of a sentenceMy favourite activity is readingdetective stories.OBJECTVERB

Gerunds can be used as the object of a prepositionThe police arrested him for speedingPREPOSITIONGERUND

EXERCISE 1Identify whether theingforms given in the following sentences are participles or gerunds. Choosingthe right health club is important.Sneezingspreads colds.He is washing his car.Waitingfor a bus can take a long time.I saw a rock rolling down the hill.We wererunningthrough the woods.

ANSWERSGERUNDGERUNDPARTICIPLEGERUNDPARTICIPLEPARTICIPLE

EXERCISE 2Identify the use of the gerund in the following sentences. (subject/object/ object of a preposition)Skiingis my favorite sport.Francisco enjoysswimmingmore than spending time with his girlfriend DianaWe are tired after walking for two hours.What I most detest is smokingPlaying basketballtakes up too much of her time.The job consists ofansweringthe phone,

ANSWERSSUBJECTOBJECTAFTER A PREPOSITIONOBJECTSUBJECTAFTER A PREPOSITION