Taking typical verb dependents and modifiers such as objects and adverbs

[moseen]

In the sentence below, is the bold part "gerund" or "participle", please?


When used as a gerund or present participle, the -ing form is a non-finite verb, which behaves like a (finite) verb in that it forms a verb phrase, taking typical verb dependents and modifiers such as objects and adverbs

 

[Matthew Wai]

I consider the bold part a participial phrase modifying 'it'.

 

[moseen]

I consider the bold part a participial phrase modifying 'it'.

In your mind, is it adverb and hence it is participle phrase?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I consider it an adjectival participle phrase.

 

[PaulMatthews]

In the sentence below, is the bold part "gerund" or "participle", please?


When used as a gerund or present participle, the -ing form is a non-finite verb, which behaves like a (finite) verb in that it forms a verb phrase, taking typical verb dependents and modifiers such as objects and adverbs

Traditional grammar analyses this "taking" as a present participle, and thus the entire expression in bold a present participial clause. But a more modern approach taken by one leading grammar is to call ing words like "taking" simply a gerund-participle verb and the clause thus a gerund-participial clause.

Whatever term is preferred, the clause is a modifier of the NP "verb phrase".

 

[Matthew Wai]

As said earlier, for most purposes there is really no point in distinguishing gerunds and present participles, hence the term 'gerund-participle' used by some grammarians, or simply '-ing participle' by others. The most important thing is to determine the function of the word in the clause, and its category usually then becomes clear.