Gerund or Present Participle

[mary chipperfield]

Hi, my name is Mary and I am new to this site.
Can anyone help me please?
I need to know as soon as possible in plain English how to tell the difference between a Gerund and a Present Participle.

In theory I know that the Gerund is a noun acting as a verb but when it comes to actually deciding what the ...ing word is, when it is a sentence leaves me totally baffled.

Help!!

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by mary chipperfield

Hi, my name is Mary and I am new to this site.
Can anyone help me please?
I need to know as soon as possible in plain English how to tell the difference between a Gerund and a Present Participle.

In theory I know that the Gerund is a noun acting as a verb but when it comes to actually deciding what the ...ing word is, when it is a sentence leaves me totally baffled.

Help!!

The distiction between gerund and present participle has been abandoned by some. They are often just called -ing forms because sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the two.

Since the gerund acts as a noun it can:
1. be the object or the subject of a sentence: I like cycling

2. follow prepositions: She insisted on staying here
Here you have to be careful with preposition to. Sometimes it is a preposition and takes the gerund but sometimes it is part of the infinitive:
I used to smoke
I am used to smoking

3. take the article
4. be replaced by a noun

The present participle is by contrast descriptive. It can:
1. be used as an adjective: running water
2. be used instead of relative pronouns I saw a man wearing a coat.
3. come after certain verbs like see, spend: I spent an hour working.

These two ing-forms are better understood in comparison with the infinitive:
1. Infinitive vs. gerund (prospective vs. retrospective view). See my explanations on this matter elsewhere or the articles in the member area.

With like:
I like cycling (gerund implies enjoyment). The verb "enjoy" takes the gerund as well.
I like to cycle. (infinitive: implies choices)
I don't like going to the dentist (I go although I don't like)
I don't like to go to the dentist. (I don't go)

2. Infinitive vs. present participle
I saw him repair the car. (bare infinitive: I saw the complete action)
I saw him repairing the car. (present participle: not clear whether I saw a fraction of the action or all of it.)

[Humble]

A small correction:
It follows prepositions,
it is not followed by prepositions.

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by Humble

A small correction:
It follows prepositions,
it is not followed by prepositions.

Thanks I corrected it. Anyway the example given shows it comes after prepositions.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by mary chipperfield

Hi, my name is Mary and I am new to this site.
Can anyone help me please?
I need to know as soon as possible in plain English how to tell the difference between a Gerund and a Present Participle.

In theory I know that the Gerund is a noun acting as a verb but when it comes to actually deciding what the ...ing word is, when it is a sentence leaves me totally baffled.

Help!!

The simple answer is:

a gerund acts as a noun
a present participle acts as part of a verb (progressive/continuous) or as a modifier (adjective/adverb)

Look at the sentence and figure out what the word is doing. That will tell you what it is.

[mary chipperfield]

Hi,

many thanks all,

Much appreciated,

Mary

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

The simple answer is:

a gerund acts as a noun
a present participle acts as part of a verb (progressive/continuous) or as a modifier (adjective/adverb)

Look at the sentence and figure out what the word is doing. That will tell you what it is.

Sorry, but do seriously believe an answer like the one I am quoting can be of any help? Perhaps Ms Chipperfield can say something here.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim

Sorry, but you do seriously believe an answer like the one I am quoting can be of any help? Perhaps Ms Chipperfield can say something here.

Yes, I seriously believe it can be of some help. Otherwise, I wouldn't have posted it.