I would like to ask native speakers of English the following thing
All tours can be harmful to nature, so ecotours must be planed well. Large numbers of people walking in a forest can kill plants and disturb animals. Also, vehicles that bring people into nature create noise and pollution. Thousands of people enjoying a beautiful area can destroy it.
Are both walking and walking gerunds or present participles modifying people?
I think they are present participles because large numbers of people, vehicles and thousands of people are parallel. But can they be taken as gerunds whose subject in meaning are “large numbers of people” and “thousands of people?”
I mean walking in a forest can kill plants and disturb animals and enjoying a beautiful area can destroy the area.
Thank you very much
All tours can be harmful to nature, so ecotours must be planed well. Large numbers of people walking in a forest can kill plants and disturb animals. Also, vehicles that bring people into nature create noise and pollution. Thousands of people enjoying a beautiful area can destroy it.
Are both walking and walking gerunds or present participles modifying people?
I think they are present participles because large numbers of people, vehicles and thousands of people are parallel. But can they be taken as gerunds whose subject in meaning are “large numbers of people” and “thousands of people?”
I mean walking in a forest can kill plants and disturb animals and enjoying a beautiful area can destroy the area.
Thank you very much