Question

Look at the word “sitting” in each sentence:Participle: I saw him sitting there.Gerund: Sitting idly is not in my habit.Suggested paragraph formatWhat is a participle? How is sitting used as a participle in the first sentence?What is a gerund? How is sitting used as a gerund in the second sentence?How are gerunds and participles related?

Answer 1

A participle is a verbal form that functions as an adjective. It is derived from a verb and typically ends in -ing, -ed, or -en. In the first sentence, the word "sitting" is used as a participle to describe the pronoun "him." It indicates that he was in a sitting position at that moment.

A gerund, on the other hand, is a verbal form that functions as a noun. It is derived from a verb and ends in -ing. In the second sentence, the word "sitting" is used as a gerund as it acts as the subject of the sentence. It represents the action of sitting idly, which is being discussed as a concept.

Gerunds and participles are related because they are both derived from verbs and end in -ing. However, they differ in their grammatical function. Participles function as adjectives to describe nouns, while gerunds function as nouns themselves, representing the action or concept described by the verb.