Home of English Grammar

Grammar Guide
  • Home
  • Exercises
  • Rules
  • Test Yourself
  • Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Top Social Media Posts
  • Writing Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Exercises / Adjective or present participle

Adjective or present participle

May 14, 2012 - pdf

An –ing form can be used in several different ways. Sometimes it is used like a present participle. Sometimes it is used like an adjective. It can also be used like a noun or an adverb.

State whether the –ing forms used in the following sentences are adjectives or present participles.

1. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Correct! Wrong!

2. That was an interesting book.

Correct! Wrong!

3. You are smoking too much.

Correct! Wrong!

4. He put the smoking cigarette end in the ashtray.

Correct! Wrong!

5. The delay was maddening.

Correct! Wrong!

6. She is waiting for us.

Correct! Wrong!

7. The scenery was enchanting.

Correct! Wrong!

8. Barking dogs seldom bite.

Correct! Wrong!

9. The news was distressing.

Correct! Wrong!

10. Interesting though it was, I didn’t like the film.

Correct! Wrong!

Answers

1. Rolling is an adjective

2. Interesting is an adjective

3. Smoking is a present participle.

4. Smoking is an adjective.

5. Maddening is an adjective.

6. Waiting is a present participle.

7. Enchanting is an adjective.

8. Barking is an adjective.

9. Distressing is an adjective.

10. Interesting is an adjective.

Notes

When an –ing form is used to make continuous tenses, it acts like a present participle.

When an –ing form is used to modify a noun, it acts like an adjective. –ing forms used like subject complements are also adjectives.

  • Share
  • Post
  • Send
  • Mail
2,485,429 
716,032 

Grammar Checker

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • Would Have Been, Could Have Been, Should Have Been July 4, 2025
  • Intermediate Level Vocabulary Exercise July 3, 2025
  • Being, To Be July 1, 2025
  • Verb + Preposition June 26, 2025
  • B2 Level Tenses Exercise June 24, 2025
  • Conjunctions Exercise Level B1 June 20, 2025
  • Passive Voice – Simple Past Tense June 16, 2025
  • Pronouns Exercise Level B1 June 15, 2025
  • Phrasal Verbs And Vocabulary Exercise June 14, 2025

Copyright © 2025 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap

Notifications