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)
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
ing-verb linking verb complement linking verb and complement)
Working too hard ruins his health. (-ing verb as subject followed by verb and 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.
Make sentences by matching words from columns A and B. Each phrase can only be used once. The first one is done for you.
| Column A | Column B |
| a. Browsing net is | i. playing drums. |
| b. He admitted | ii. seeing him. |
| c. But he denied | iii. watching it. |
| d. I also didn't see him yesterday. At least I don't remember | iv. entering my room in my absence. |
| e. James doesn't like sport and he hates | v. James' passion. |
| f. He still likes singing but he has stopped | vi. using my computer. |
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, hateas needed. The first one is done for you.
| Picture 1: some girls are chatting together. | Picture 2: bicycle | Picture 3: swimming | Picture 4: singing | Picture 5: playing football | Picture 6: shopping |
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 his 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.
| i | ii | iii | iv | v | vi | vii | viii | ix | x |
| cross | go | shop | leave | find | meet | cross | understand | travel | see |
zami's family came to live in this small town about a year ago. At first, it wasn't easy. (a) Findinga 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.
Read the following conversations and notice the positions of -ing verbs.
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)
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
Activity 1
Read the following text and fill in the gaps using participle. Pick the suitable words from the box below. The first one is done for you.
| run | love | fly | shine | look |
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.
| roar | chirp | smile | sleep |
| walk | jump | cook | fry |
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.
Grammar Point
Gerund vs Participle
Gerund
People are confused about the use of gerund and 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 particle 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. |
