msk0657
VERB-ING functions:
1. Verb-ING word as a noun
2. Verb-ING word as an adjective
3.Verb-ING as a verb with the helping verb.
1. Verbing words funciton as nouns that denote an action.
EX: Growing plants IS my hobby.
Here growing is the verb-ing noun because the word acts as a noun and hence the subject of the clause, but it also denotes the action.
VERB-ING nouns is that they are always SINGULAR. Reading mystery books gives me thrill..
2.VERB-ING as an adjective.
Verb-ing words function as adjectives.here it provides extra information of a particular noun entity...When the verb-ing word acts as an adjective, it doesn't have bearing on the verb of the sentence.The verb must agree in number and makes sense with subject of the sentence.
ex: Growing plants in your backyard need more care..
Here growing is adjective that presents a characteristic of the plants...what kind of plants need more care ? The plants that are growing.
3.VERB-ing as a verb with a helping verb:
These verb-ing along with helping verbs function as verbs...
ex: I am growing banana plants in my farm...here growing is not able to tell the tense of the word but it is helping verb that tells the tense...
Hope it helps...
This explanation is amazing. Thanks for providing so much conceptual clarity.!!
So to summarize.. If the verbing word is performing the function of a noun, it is usually singular. When as an adjective it depends on the sentence..
Is my understanding correct?
How about this sentence.
Rising property rates is of concern to homeowners
Or
ARE of concern to homeowners?
(should be ARE?)
How about this one:
Rising of property rates IS of concern
Or
ARE of concern.
Since rising is the subject thus singular?
1. Rising property rates is of concern to homeowners.
"Rising" is NOT the subject - it is the adjective for the subject "property rates". Since "rates" is plural, the verb should also be plural. (An adjective cannot be singular or plural. ONLY a noun can be singular or plural).
2. Rising of property rates IS of concern.
Here "rising" is a gerund (noun) and as stated previously in my post, a gerund is always singular. (The sentence is wrong though - concrete noun
There is a fourth use of verb-ing - as a present participle.
the sale of air-conditioners.