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293 -ING FORMS (1):
INTRODUCTION
1. 'participles and 'gerunds'
We can use -ing forms (e.g. smoking, walking) not only as verbs, but also like
adjectives or nouns. Compare:
You're smoking too much these days. (verb: part of present
progressive)
There was a smoking cigarette end in the ashtray. (adjective describing
cigarette end)
Smoking is bad for you. (noun: subject of sentence)
When -ing forms are used as verbs or adjectives, they are often called
'present participles'.
(This is not a very suitable name, because these forms can refer to the past,
present or future.)
When they are used more like nouns, they are often called 'gerunds'.
In Practical English Usage the expression' -ing form' is used except when
there is a good reason to use one of the other terms. Noun-like uses of -ing
forms ('gerunds') are discussed in the following entries.
For their use to make progressive verb forms, see 470 and the entries on the
present progressive, past progressive etc. Other ways of using -ing forms are
discussed in 408-411 ('participles'), together with similar uses of 'past
participles' (e.g. invited, broken).
2. Perfect, passive and negative -ing forms

Note the structure of perfect, passive and negative -ing forms.
Having slept for twelve hours, I felt marvellous. (perfect)
She loves being looked at. (passive)
Not knowing what to do, I went home. (negative)
She's angry about not having been invited. (negative perfect passive)
For spelling rules, see grammar intermediate.
3. -ing form or infinitive?

-ing forms are often used in similar ways to infinitives. For instance, they can
follow certain verbs, adjectives or nouns (see 296-297). Compare:
- He agreed to wait.
He suggested waiting. (NOT ne suggested to wait.)
- She's ready to listen.
She's good at listening. (NOT She's good to listen.)
- the need to talk
the idea of talking (NOT the idetl to talk)
Unfortunately there is no easy way to decide which verbs, adjectives and
nouns are followed by -ing forms, and which are followed by infinitives. It is
best to check in a good dictionary.
Expressions with -ing forms can also be used as subjects in sentences, or as
complements after be. Infinitives are also possible in these cases, but they
are much less common in informal English. Compare:
Smoking cigarettes can kill you. (More natural than To smoke cigarettes can
kill you.)
My favourite activity is reading thrillers. (More natural than My favourite
activity is to read thrillers.)
4. 'participles' and 'gerunds': an unclear difference

The distinction between 'participles' and 'gerunds' is not always clear-cut,
and
it can sometimes be difficult to decide which term to use. For this reason,
some grammarians prefer to avoid the terms 'participle' and 'gerund'. For a
detailed discussion of this point, see Section 17.54 of A Comprehensive
Grammar of the English Language, by Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech and Svartvik
(Longrnan 1985).
294 -ING FORMS (2): A
WAITING ROOM; A
WAITING TRAIN
-ing forms can be used before nouns. This can happen both with noun-like -
ing forms ('gerunds') and adjective-like -ing forms ('participles'). The two
structures do not have quite the same kind of meaning. Compare:
- a waiting room (= a room for waiting. Waiting is a gerund, used rather
like a noun. Compare a guest room.)
a waiting train (= a train that is waiting. Waiting is a participle, used
rather like an adjective. Compare an early train.)
- a sleeping pill (sleeping is a gerund)
a sleeping child (sleeping is a participle)
- working conditions (gerund)
working men and women (participle)

295 -ING FORMS (3):
SUBJECT,
COMPLEMENT OR
OBJECT
1. Smoking is bad for you
An -ing form ('gerund') can be used, just like a noun, as the subject or
complement of a verb.
Smoking is bad for you. (subject)
My favourite activity is reading. (complement)
Infinitives (e.g. To smoke is bad for you) are possible in these cases, but are
formal and uncommon.
-ing forms can also be used as objects after certain verbs (see 296).
I hate packing. (object)
2. -ing form with its own object

The -ingform subject, complement or object is used like a noun, but it is still a
verb and can have its own object.
Smoking cigarettes is bad for you.
My favourite activity is reading thrillers.
I hate packing suitcases.
3. the opening of Parliament; my smoking

We can often use determiners (for example the, my, this) with -ing forms.
the opening of Parliament
Does my smoking annoy you?
I hate all this useless arguing.
Possessive's forms are also possible.
John's going to sleep during the wedding was rather embarrassing.
She was angry at Lina's trying to lie to her.
Subject pronouns are not possible.
His shouting gets on my nerves. (BUT NOT Ht!shouting ... )
Note that possessives and pronouns are not used before -ing forms if it is
already clear who is being talked about.
Thank you for waiting. (NOT Thank you for your Wtliting.)
When an -ing form is used with an article, it cannot usually have a direct
object. Instead, we can use an of-structure.
the smoking of cigarettes (NOT the smoking cigarettes)
No is often used with an -ing form to say that something is not allowed, or is
impossible. This often happens in notices and after there is.
NO SMOKING NO PARKING NO WAITING
Sorry - there's no smoking in the waiting room.
She's made up her mind; there's no arguing with her.
4. object forms: Do you mind me smoking?

In an informal style it is more common to use object forms (like me, John)
instead of possessives (my, John's) with -ing forms, especially when these
come after a verb or preposition.
Do you mind me smoking?
She was angry at Lina trying to lie to her.
After some verbs (e.g. see, hear, watch, feel) possessives are not normally
used with -ing forms, in formal or informal language.
I saw him getting out of the car. (NOT r saw his getting ... )
5. It's nice being with you
We can use it as a preparatory subject or object for an -ing form (see 446-
447).
It's nice being with you.
I thought it pointless starting before eight o'clock.
This is common with any/no good, any/no use and (not) worth (see 632).
It's no good talking to him - he never listens.
Is it any use expecting them to be on time?
It's no use his/him apologising - I shall never forgive him.
I didn't think it worth complaining about the meal.
6. nouns and -ing forms

When there is a noun which has a similar meaning to an -ing form, the noun
is usually preferred.
We're all excited about his arrival. (NOT ... about his arriving.)

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293 -ING FORMS (1):

2. Perfect, passive and negative -ing forms

3. -ing form or infinitive?

4. 'participles' and 'gerunds': an unclear difference

like a noun. Compare a guest room.)

a waiting train (= a train that is waiting. Waiting is a participle, used

rather like an adjective. Compare an early train.)

- a sleeping pill (sleeping is a gerund)

a sleeping child (sleeping is a participle)

- working conditions (gerund)

working men and women (participle)

2. -ing form with its own object

3. the opening of Parliament; my smoking

4. object forms: Do you mind me smoking?

6. nouns and -ing forms

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