ING Form of A Verb

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ING Form of A Verb :



Read the following sentences noticing the ING forms.

1. He jumped from the moving train.
2. They ate standing up.
3. The boys are playing.
4. Smoking isn’t allowed here.
5. I like swimming.
6. She is interested in reading poetry.

In 1, the ING form (moving) is used as an adjective. It tells us about the noun train.

In 2, STANDING does the work of an adverb. it tells us how they ate.

In 3, the form helps to make a continuous tense.

We call this type of ING form the present participle.

In the other sentences the ING form does the work of a noun.

In 4, it is the subject of verb.
In 5, it is the object of a verb.
In 6, it is the object of a preposition.

We call this the gerund.

It would be sometimes difficult to differentiate between the present participle and the gerund. We might therefore avoid these terms and use the term ING form for both cases.

Here are a few more examples where the ING form is used as an adjective.

1. Look at the running horse.
2. Do you know the missing word in this sentence?
3. There were three people inside the burning house.

When two actions by the same subject happen at the same time, one of them can be expressed by the ING form. The ING form may come before or after the main part of the sentence. But it is more usual to put it after the main part.

1. The children ran.
2. They shouted as they ran.
3. Mary ate her supper.
4. She watched TV while eating.
5. The children ran shouting.
6. Mary ate her supper watching TV.

When an action happens just before another action, the ING form (phrase) comes before the main part of the sentence.

1. He opened the drawer.
2. He took out a pistol.
3. I heard a noise.
4. I turned round.
5. Opening the drawer, he took out a pistol.
6. Hearing a noise, I turned round.

The ING from is often used after many verbs as object.

1. She began singing.
2. I’ve finished writing the letter.
3. The children enjoy playing in the park.
4. I hate telling lies.
5. My brother intends going to the States.

Among the chief verbs followed by the ING form are….

1. Advise
2. Avoid
3. Begin
4. Consider
5. Continue
6. Deny
7. Dislike
8. Enjoy
9. Fancy
10. Finish
11. Forget
12. Hate
13. Imagine
14. Intend
15. Like
16. Love
17. Mean
18. Mind
19. Miss
20. Postpone
21. Prefer
22. Propose
23. Recommend
24. Regret
25. Start
26. Suggest
27. Try

Some of the words listed above can also be followed by the to-infinitive.

The verbs see, hear, feel, notice, watch, find, observe, listen, keep, get are used with noun / pronoun + ING form.

1. We saw Kishore crossing the bridge.
2. I can hear somebody knocking on the door.
3. He felt his heart beating.
4. They kept her waiting.
5. She caught him opening her letter.

Many of these verbs can also be used with the bare infinitive.

The ING form is used after prepositions.

1. She is fond of singing.
2. He earns money by selling wood.
3. You should check the oil before starting the car.
4. I had a lot of difficulty in finding his house.
5. You can’t pass the exam without working hard.

Note the use of go with the ING form of verbs like shop, swim, fish, drive, walk & skate.

1. She went shopping yesterday.
2. I go fishing on Sundays.
3. We went skating during the holiday.

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