Verb or adjective

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thomas

Verb or adjective

Postby thomas » Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:16 am

Hi,

i have a grammar question, in this sentence :

"She has spent much of the last year touring, appearing all over the world"
The word "touring" "appearing" are adjective or verb + ing or something else?
And when are it used generally in a sencence?

Thanks!
Thomas

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nikita
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Re: ing participles

Postby nikita » Thu Nov 24, 2005 4:41 pm

Hello,

"Touring" and "appearing" are actually "ing" participles.

I really like how they describe them in New Headway Upper-Intermediate.

1. When present particles (-ing) are used like adjectives or adverbs, they are active in meaning.

Modern art is interesting.
Pour boiling water onto the pasta.
She sat in the corner crying.

2. When past participles (-ed) are used like adjectives or adverbs, they are passive in meaning.

I'm interested in modern art.
Look at that broken doll.
He sat in his chair, filled with horror at what he'd just had seen.

3. Participles after a noun define and identify in the same way as relative clauses.

I met a woman riding a donkey. (=who was riding ...)
The car stolen in the night was later found abandoned. (=that was stolen ...)

4. Participles can be used as adverbs. They can describe:

- two actions that happen at the same time
Opening his case, he took out a gun.

If it is important to show that the first action is completed before the second action begins, we use the perfect participle.

Having finished lunch, we set off in our journey.
Having had a shower, she got dressed.

- two actions can happen one because of another.

Being mean, he never bought anyone a Christmas present.
Not knowing what to do, I waited patiently.

5. Many verbs are followed by –ing forms.

I spent the holiday reading.
Don’t waste time thinking about the past.
Let’s go swimming.
He keeps on asking me to go out with him.



In your case, ing participles describe actions that were taking part at the same time.
She spent last year touring & appearing all over the world.

I hope this helps.

Nikita Kovalyov
www.eclecticenglish.com



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