Page 85 - New Grammar with a Smile 8

5. The participial phrases are used to show cause and effect. For example,
• Feeling tired, I went to sleep early.
• Being a gym instructor, Vikas knows all the exercises that help to stay fit.

6. The participial phrases are used in place of relative clauses. For example,

• Who’s the girl talking to your brother?

Comparison between the Gerund and the Present Participle

Although the two are exactly alike in form, the gerund acts like a noun, while
the present participle acts like an adjective. The following two similar-looking
sentences bring out the differences between the two—
• I saw him swimming. (‘swimming’ as a present participle–adjective complement,
qualifying the pronoun ‘him’)
• I love swimming. (‘swimming’ as a gerund–object to the verb ‘love’)

A. Determine whether the ing forms of the verbs in these sentences are
gerunds (G) or participles (P).

1. The drowning man is still trying to swim. (G/P)

2. Will you be going rafting when you visit Rishikesh? (G/P)

3. I love reading and swimming. (G/P)

4. Growing interest rates can result in the number of loans falling. (G/P)

5. Spending time with one’s family is very relaxing. (G/P)

6. Let’s go fishing this weekend. (G/P)

7. Crying helps us release stress, sometimes. (G/P)

8. Seeing the heaving crocodile snapping its jaws at him, the man started
screaming. (G/P)

9. Sheltering thieving juveniles causes harm to one and all. (G/P)

♦ The Past Participle
Here are some example sentences which use the past participle.

• A broken jug lay on the ground.
• The teacher looks preoccupied.

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