[Grammar] Participle or Gerund..

[rambharosey]

He decided to succeed by working hard.

Is "working" a Participle or a Gerund? How do we identify.

Thanks,
RB.

 

[5jj]

He decided to succeed by working hard.

Is "working" a Participle or a Gerund? How do we identify.

Does it matter?

 

[tzfujimino]

He decided to succeed by working hard.

Is "working" a Participle or a Gerund? How do we identify.

Thanks,
RB.

Hello, rambharosey.:-D

"He decided to succeed by working hard."

The '-ing form' that functions as a noun is called a 'gerund'.
In your sentence, 'by' is called a 'preposition'.
After the 'preposition', you need a noun/pronoun.
So, 'working' in your sentence is a 'gerund'.

I hope you'll understand what I mean.

 

[5jj]

The '-ing form' that functions as a noun is called a 'gerund'.
In your sentence, 'by' is called a 'preposition'.
After the 'preposition', you need a noun/pronoun.
So, 'working' in your sentence is a 'gerund'.

"Note that -ing forms after prepositions can often be considered either as participles or gerunds - the dividing line is not clear." - Swan, Practical English Usage,2005. 384

 

[tzfujimino]

"Note that -ing forms after prepositions can often be considered either as participles or gerunds - the dividing line is not clear." - Swan, Practical English Usage,2005. 384

Thank you for the information.:-D
I've just checked the page.

I think Michael Swan is talking about those words which function as both 'conjunctions' and 'prepositions', such as 'after', 'before', 'since' etc... If those words are used as 'prepositions', the dividing line is not clear. I think that's what he means. I believe the word 'working' in the sentence above is a 'gerund'. (Well, it doesn't matter when communicating.:-D)

 

[5jj]

I think Michael Swan is talking about those words which function as both 'conjunctions' and 'prepositions', such as 'after', 'before', 'since' etc... If those words are used as 'prepositions', the dividing line is not clear. I think that's what he means. I believe the word 'working' in the sentence above is a 'gerund'. (Well, it doesn't matter when communicating.:-D)

So what parts of speech are the underlined words in 'On being introduced, British people often shake hands'? My second question is the same as my first in this thread: Does it matter?