is this a verb, particple or a gerund.

[Anonymous]

Dear Madam/Sir,

In the sentence:
"This is the one your returned two months
ago thinking we wouldn't notice."

What is the function of the word "thinking" ?
Is it a participle, gerund or what ?

Thanks. (I say thanks now since I cannot
log back on with the same name twice.)

From,
Hopeless with "ing" forms.

[lucyarliwu]

"This is the one your returned two months
ago thinking we wouldn't notice."

I think in the preceding sentence, "thinking" is not a participle,nor a gerund, it justs works as an adverbial modifier to the verb "returned".


Lucy wu

[RonBee]

Actually, "thinking" modifies "you" in that sentence, so it can't be an adverb. In any case, I think we'll let TDOL have the last word on this one.

:)

[dduck]

"This is the one you returned two months
ago thinking we wouldn't notice."

My 2 centavos...

Firstly, what does the phrase "thinking we wouldn't notice" describe? Does it describe the person, or the action the person is performing? It seems to me, it describes the action of returning the object. The speaker noticed the action and comments on it.

In which case, the phrase is adverbial, using the participle "thinking". I believe this is called an adverbial participle phrase.

Regarding gerunds, you can tell the difference between participles and gerunds (or verbal nouns) by replacing the '-ing' for with a noun and testing to see if the sentence still holds true.

Running down the street, the water flooded the apartment.
Running down the street helped Doris become fit.

Okay, which is which?
Iain

[RonBee]

"This is the one you returned two months
ago thinking we wouldn't notice."

My 2 centavos...

Firstly, what does the phrase "thinking we wouldn't notice" describe? Does it describe the person, or the action the person is performing? It seems to me, it describes the action of returning the object. The speaker noticed the action and comments on it.

In which case, the phrase is adverbial, using the participle "thinking". I believe this is called an adverbial participle phrase.

I'll buy that. (I think Lucy was right in the first place.)

Regarding gerunds, you can tell the difference between participles and gerunds (or verbal nouns) by replacing the '-ing' for with a noun and testing to see if the sentence still holds true.

Running down the street, the water flooded the apartment.
Running down the street helped Doris become fit.

Okay, which is which?

I know, but I'm not telling.

:wink: