[Grammar] Present participle or gerund?

[Brucec]

Hi all,
I'm doing a grammar test at the moment in which I've been asked to identify the part of speech of the word 'supporting' in this sentence:

"A quick examination of the facts will reveal much evidence supporting the contention that the theory of evolution is essentially correct."

I maintain it is the present participle. It is clearly active and it relates adjectivally to the noun 'evidence'. However the test says it is a gerund and I'm being marked down as a result.

Clarity (especially if it supports my case!) would be very welcome please.

Unhappily,
Bruce

 

[birdeen's call]

You're right. Gerunds work like nouns. It's impossible to understand "supporting" as a noun in this sentence.

 

[Rover_KE]

I agree with BC.

What is the source of this grammar test, Bruce?

Rover

 

[bhaisahab]

I agree with BC.

What is the source of this grammar test, Bruce?

Rover

I agree with Rover and BC, it's a present participle.

 

[Brucec]

Thanks for all your support. I'd rather not quote the source of the test specifically, but I will say that it forms part of the preparation materials I've been given by a language school in advance of starting a CELTA course. Quite a well-known, high profile language school.

I will be mentioning it to them, however.

It doesn't exactly fill a person with confidence, does it?