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.
1In the sentence "Interesting though it was, we didn’t enjoy the concert much," what is the function of "interesting"?
Wrong!
Here, "interesting" describes the concert, so the correct answer is "Adjective".
2In the sentence "It was raining when I got home," what is the function of "raining"?
Wrong!
Here, "raining" is part of the past continuous verb phrase "was raining", so the correct answer is "Present participle".
3In the sentence "I love the noise of falling rain," is "falling" a true adjective or a present participle? ...............
Wrong!
Here, "falling" means "rain that is falling" and cannot take "very", so it is a present participle used before the noun, not a true adjective like "interesting" or "pressing".
4In the sentence "It is a pressing problem," what is the function of "pressing"?
Wrong!
Here, "pressing" describes the problem, so the correct answer is "Adjective".
5In the sentence "She was writing a letter," what is the function of "writing"?
Wrong!
Here, "writing" is part of the past continuous verb phrase "was writing", so the correct answer is "Present participle".
6In the sentence "The lecture was very interesting," what is the function of "interesting"?
Wrong!
Here, "interesting" describes the lecture, so the correct answer is "Adjective".
7In the sentence "She is an interesting writer," what is the function of "interesting"?
Wrong!
Here, "interesting" describes the writer, so the correct answer is "Adjective".
8In the sentence "The woodcutter was felling trees," what is the function of "felling"?
Wrong!
Here, "felling" is part of the past continuous verb phrase "was felling", so the correct answer is "Present participle".
9In the sentence "The news was exciting," what is the function of "exciting"?
Wrong!
Here, "exciting" describes the news, so the correct answer is "Adjective".
10In the sentence "I was working on that report when she called," what is the function of "working"?
Wrong!
Here, "working" is part of the past continuous verb phrase "was working", so the correct answer is "Present participle".
Exercise complete
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correct answers
Answers
- In the sentence “Interesting though it was, we didn’t enjoy the concert much,” what is the function of “interesting”? — Adjective
- In the sentence “It was raining when I got home,” what is the function of “raining”? — Present participle
- In the sentence “I love the noise of falling rain,” is “falling” a true adjective or a present participle? Present participle.
- In the sentence “It is a pressing problem,” what is the function of “pressing”? — Adjective
- In the sentence “She was writing a letter,” what is the function of “writing”? — Present participle
- In the sentence “The lecture was very interesting,” what is the function of “interesting”? — Adjective
- In the sentence “She is an interesting writer,” what is the function of “interesting”? — Adjective
- In the sentence “The woodcutter was felling trees,” what is the function of “felling”? — Present participle
- In the sentence “The news was exciting,” what is the function of “exciting”? — Adjective
- In the sentence “I was working on that report when she called,” what is the function of “working”? — Present participle