mr unsure said:
What is the easiest way to explain the difference between a gerund, a present participle and present progressive - Its giving me a headache so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Yours confused again .... Mr unsure :shock:
A present participle and a gerund are verb forms with an -ing ending.
The present participle is used (with a form of the verb "to be") to create progressive tenses. It can also be used alone as an adjective. A gerund is a verbal used as a noun.
Present progressive: The baby is
crying.
Past progressive: The baby was
crying.
Future progressive: The baby will be
crying.
Adjective: We were annoyed by a
crying baby.
Gerund:
Crying is a sign that a baby is hungry.