like reading

[kwfine]

Dear teachers,

My sister asked me whether the word "reading" in the following sentence
a noun, or a verb:

"I like reading"

I think that it is a verb, but she just doesn't think so.

Please help teachers.

Thank you.

[SoothingDave]

It's called a "gerund." That's when a verb acts as a noun, in the -ing form.

So, it's a noun in that sentence.

Gerunds - Glossary Definition - UsingEnglish.com

[TheParser]

Dear teachers,

My sister asked me whether the word "reading" in the following sentence
a noun, or a verb:

"I like reading"

I think that it is a verb, but she just doesn't think so.

Please help teachers.

Thank you.

NOT A TEACHER


(1) As Soothing Dave told us, those -ing words can be

very confusing.

(2) You are 100% correct if you say that "reading" is a verb

in "I am reading." As you know, "be" + -ing = the progressive.

She is studying./ We will be sleeping./ It was raining.

(3) Sometimes, however, the -ing word is used like a noun:

Someone says to you: "I like something." Of course, you would

ask "What?" Then your friend would use a noun to explain the

word "something":

I like food./ letters./ sports.

Or you could say:

I like eating./ writing./ playing.

Or you could put them together:

I like eating food./ writing letters./ playing sports.

Respectfully yours,


James