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Gerund vs. Participle Exercise

November 14, 2023 - C1pdf

Say whether the ing form used in the following sentences is a gerund or a present participle.

Progress 0 of 12 answered
1In “Writing is his passion,” what is the function of “Writing”?
Wrong!
The word "Writing" acts as the subject noun, so the correct label is "Gerund".
2In “Not knowing what to do, I went home,” what is the function of “knowing”?
Wrong!
The phrase "Not knowing what to do" gives a circumstance for the main action, so the correct label is "Present participle".
3In “Knocking loudly on the door, he demanded admission,” what is the function of “Knocking”?
Wrong!
The phrase "Knocking loudly on the door" describes what he was doing, so the correct label is "Present participle".
4In “She ran out of the room crying,” what is the function of “crying”?
Wrong!
The word "crying" describes how she ran out, so the correct label is "Present participle".
5In “Smoking is bad for you,” what is the function of “Smoking”?
Wrong!
The word "Smoking" acts as the subject noun, so the correct label is "Gerund".
6In “When I found her, she was weeping,” what is the function of “weeping”?
Wrong!
The word "weeping" is part of the continuous verb phrase "was weeping," so the correct label is "Present participle".
7In “Climbing hills is a hobby of his,” what is the function of “Climbing”?
Wrong!
The phrase "Climbing hills" acts as the subject noun phrase, so the correct label is "Gerund".
8In “Who is the girl sitting next to your mother?” what is the function of “sitting”?
Wrong!
The phrase "sitting next to your mother" describes the girl, so the correct label is "Present participle".
9In “They have finished fixing the roof,” what is the function of “fixing”?
Wrong!
The word "fixing" is the object of the verb "finished," so the correct label is "Gerund".
10In “I have stopped talking to him,” what is the function of “talking”?
Wrong!
The word "talking" is the object of the verb "stopped," so the correct label is "Gerund".
11In “The dentist suggested changing the toothbrush,” what is the function of “changing”?
Wrong!
The phrase "changing the toothbrush" is the object of "suggested," so the correct label is "Gerund".
12In “She insisted on coming with me,” what is the function of “coming”?
Wrong!
The word "coming" is the object of the preposition "on," so the correct label is "Gerund".
Done.
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Answers

  1. In “Writing is his passion,” what is the function of “Writing”? — Gerund
  2. In “Not knowing what to do, I went home,” what is the function of “knowing”? — Present participle
  3. In “Knocking loudly on the door, he demanded admission,” what is the function of “Knocking”? — Present participle
  4. In “She ran out of the room crying,” what is the function of “crying”? — Present participle
  5. In “Smoking is bad for you,” what is the function of “Smoking”? — Gerund
  6. In “When I found her, she was weeping,” what is the function of “weeping”? — Present participle
  7. In “Climbing hills is a hobby of his,” what is the function of “Climbing”? — Gerund
  8. In “Who is the girl sitting next to your mother?” what is the function of “sitting”? — Present participle
  9. In “They have finished fixing the roof,” what is the function of “fixing”? — Gerund
  10. In “I have stopped talking to him,” what is the function of “talking”? — Gerund
  11. In “The dentist suggested changing the toothbrush,” what is the function of “changing”? — Gerund
  12. In “She insisted on coming with me,” what is the function of “coming”? — Gerund
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