i like eating oranges.

[user_gary]

I like eating oranges.


I thought `here' eating is adjective or present participle because it modifies oranges.

But someone told me that here `eating' is gerund.

Then what about `oranges'. What it is? (object complement or subject complement or something?)

Could anyone explain me briefly?

[Damnit]

There are some verbs needing V-ing if following it is another verb, for example risk, postpone, enjoy, can't stand, can't bear... and so do Like.

But like has a special way of using. It can be followed either by a V-ing or to-V 'cos it depends on each case.

If I remember exactly, like + v-ing describes a permanent hobby, I means it exists through your whole life.

e.x I like reading books and watching TV
here reading books and watching TV are my hobbies and they will exist in all my life.

And like + to-V, it describes a temporary hobby, just exists for a short time.

ex I don't like to play basketball now.
In this sentence, maybe the person felt so tired that he didn't wanna do anything but sleep or take a rest. It's just a temporary feeling 'cos at least now, he feels really tired.

However, there is a thin line between tow ways of using Like. Personally, I think both are correct but I prefer V-ing form.

It's just my opinion. Hope this help ya.

[ian2]

Originally Posted by Damnit

There are some verbs needing V-ing if following it is another verb, for example risk, postpone, enjoy, can't stand, can't bear... and so do Like.

But like has a special way of using. It can be followed either by a V-ing or to-V 'cos it depends on each case.

If I remember exactly, like + v-ing describes a permanent hobby, I means it exists through your whole life.

e.x I like reading books and watching TV
here reading books and watching TV are my hobbies and they will exist in all my life.

And like + to-V, it describes a temporary hobby, just exists for a short time.

ex I don't like to play basketball now.
In this sentence, maybe the person felt so tired that he didn't wanna do anything but sleep or take a rest. It's just a temporary feeling 'cos at least now, he feels really tired.

However, there is a thin line between tow ways of using Like. Personally, I think both are correct but I prefer V-ing form.

It's just my opinion. Hope this help ya.

I agree that v+ing implies "permanent", whereas to verb implies "temporary". As to your original question, whether eating is a present participle or gerund, I would say it is a gerund. A gerund phrase functions as a noun, but a present participle phrase cannot function as a noun. In this case the verb "Like" requires a noun. Present participle phrase can function as adverbial, but not function as subject or object. The verb "like" here requires a noun or an object from a syntactic point of view.