Write whether the –ing forms used in the following sentences as nouns, verbs or adjectives.

1. The boys were playing in the garden.

2. She was reading quietly.

3. This is an interesting movie.

4. The old man was building a cottage for himself.

5. The boys started quarrelling.

6. She enjoys swimming in the sea.

7. We are waiting for his arrival.

8. They are struggling to survive.

9. All living things will die.

10. The monkey was sitting on a branch.

Answers

1. The boys were playing in the garden. (playing – present participle; it helps form the past continuous tense ‘were playing’.)

2. She was reading quietly. (reading – present participle; it helps form the past continuous tense ‘was reading’.)

3. This is an interesting movie. (interesting – adjective; it modifies the noun ‘movie’.)

4. The old man was building a cottage for himself. (building – present participle; it helps form the past continuous tense form ‘was building’.)

5. The boys started quarrelling. (quarrelling – gerund; it acts as the object of the verb ‘started’.)

6. She enjoys swimming in the sea. (swimming – gerund; it acts as the object of the verb ‘enjoys’.)

7. We are waiting for his arrival. (waiting – present participle; it helps form the present continuous verb ‘are waiting’.)

8. They are struggling to survive. (struggling – present participle; it helps form the present continuous verb ‘are struggling’.)

9. All living things will die. (living – adjective; it modifies the noun ‘things’)

10. The monkey was sitting on a branch. (sitting – present participle; it helps form the past continuous verb ‘was sitting’.)