Adjectives or present participles

Present participles are verb forms ending in –ing. Examples are: crying, learning, singing, interesting etc. Some –ing forms can also be used as adjectives.

State whether the –ing forms used in the following sentences are adjectives or present participles.

1. Interesting though it was, we didn’t enjoy the concert much.

2. It was raining when I got home.

3. I love the noise of falling rain.

4. It is a pressing problem.

5. She was writing a letter.

6. The lecture was very interesting.

7. She is an interesting writer.

8. The woodcutter was felling trees.

9. The news was exciting.

10. I was working on that report when she called.

Answers

1. Interesting is an adjective. It modifies the noun concert.

2. Raining is a present participle. It forms the continuous verb with be.

3. Falling is an adjective. It modifies the noun rain.

4. Pressing is an adjective. It modifies the noun problem.

5. Writing is a present participle. It forms the continuous verb form with be.

6. Interesting is an adjective. It modifies the noun lecture.

7. Interesting is an adjective. It modifies the noun writer.

8. Felling is a present participle. It forms the past continuous verb form with be.

9. Exciting is an adjective.

10. Working is a present participle. It forms the past continuous verb form with be.