The present participle of most verbs has the form base+ing and is used in the following ways:
as part of the continuous form of a verb
Example:
after verbs of movement/position in the pattern: verb + present participle
Example
This construction is particularly useful with the verb 'to go' , as in these common expressions :
to go shopping |
to go walking |
after verbs of perception in the pattern:
verb + object + present participle
Example
NOTE : There is a difference in meaning when such a sentence contains a zero-infinitive rather than a participle. The infinitive refers to a complete action, but the participle refers to an incomplete action, or part of an action.
Compare:
as an adjective
Examples
amazing, worrying, exciting, boring.
with the verbs spend and waste , in the pattern:
verb + time/money expression + present participle
Example
with the verbs catch and find , in the pattern:
verb + object + present participle:
With catch, the participle always refers to an action which causes annoyance or anger:
This is not the case with find , which is unemotional:
to replace a sentence or part of a sentence:
When two actions occur at the same time, and are done by the same person or thing, we can use a present participle to describe one of them:
When one action follows very quickly after another done by the same person or thing, we can express the first action with a present participle:
The present participle can be used instead of a phrase starting as, since, because , and it explains the cause or reason for an action: