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When exactly to use the '-ing' form

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MamtaKrishnia
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When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   10 May 2008, 20:30
I am almost always confused as to when to use the -ing form over present or past participle.

For eg in the following Q:

First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's Sunbird a four-and-a-half inch animal found in the Philippines and that resembles a hummingbird,
has shimmering metallic colors on its head;
a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast;and a red eye.
a) found in the Philippines and that resembles
b) found in the Philippines and that,resembling
c)found in the Philippines ad resembling
d)that is found in the Philippines and it resembles
e) that is found in the Philippines ans that, resembling



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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   10 May 2008, 23:58
Mamta

-ing form normally refers to progressive tense. It implies that the verb is occurring currently (not did not stop in the past). Normally the usage is best when applied with a constantly occurring activity - such as studying or running but not resembling.

Look for my comments on your example.

MamtaKrishnia wrote:
I am almost always confused as to when to use the -ing form over present or past participle.

For eg in the following Q:

First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's Sunbird a four-and-a-half inch animal found in the Philippines and that resembles a hummingbird,has shimmering metallic colors on its head;a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast;and a red eye.

a) found in the Philippines and that resembles <-- I feel this is the best answer here
b) found in the Philippines and that,resembling
c) found in the Philippines and resembling
d) that is found in the Philippines and it resembles <-- it is incorrect here
e) that is found in the Philippines and that, resembling
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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   11 May 2008, 05:14
Thanks Bsd,

I choose option A too..
But the answer us C. This is a Q from Gmat prep practice test and the answer given is option C. :(
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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   11 May 2008, 05:40
I suppose the usage to "that" here is more incorrect than using the progressive "resembling", since the usage is ambiguous.
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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   11 May 2008, 07:46
I agree "that resembles" can refer to Phillippines. I keep going back to ||'ism

Is it gramatically correct to say - Lina's Sunbird found and that resembles ?

bsd_lover wrote:
I suppose the usage to "that" here is more incorrect than using the progressive "resembling", since the usage is ambiguous.
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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   11 May 2008, 10:12
bsd_lover wrote:
I suppose the usage to "that" here is more incorrect than using the progressive "resembling", since the usage is ambiguous.


Agree with u bsd.. the usage of that is a pronoun error in A.
BDE also suffer from pronoun errors hence C is the best choice.

As far as -ing is concerned, we use it for continous activities : like running, reading , dancing.. anything that is contuining in the present.

In this case as all options have a pronoun error its the best fit.
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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   22 May 2008, 02:22
MamtaKrishnia wrote:
I am almost always confused as to when to use the -ing form over present or past participle.

For eg in the following Q:

First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's Sunbird a four-and-a-half inch animal found in the Philippines and that resembles a hummingbird,
has shimmering metallic colors on its head;
a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast;and a red eye.
a) found in the Philippines and that resembles
b) found in the Philippines and that,resembling
c) found in the Philippines ad resembling
d) that is found in the Philippines and it resembles
e) that is found in the Philippines ans that, resembling


This is very tricky question. C is the best answer.

need parallelism so eliminate A (THAT refers to what; no parallelism), B (THAT), and D(THAT...IT).

C vs. E

In C: FOUND and RESEMBLING are parallel. Both of them are participle. Only C makes sentence run.
C: First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's sunbird, a four-and-a-half-inch animal found in the Philippines and resembling a hummingbird, has shimmering metallic colors on its head; a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast; and a red eye



In E, If we choose a four-and-a-half-inch animal as the objective, the sentence made by this rule is not correct. ==> Eliminate E.
E. First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's sunbird, a four-and-a-half-inch animal that is found in the Philippines and that, resembling a hummingbird, has shimmering metallic colors on its head; a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast; and a red eye
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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink] When exactly to use the '-ing' form   22 May 2008, 02:42
lexis wrote:
MamtaKrishnia wrote:
I am almost always confused as to when to use the -ing form over present or past participle.

For eg in the following Q:

First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's Sunbird a four-and-a-half inch animal found in the Philippines and that resembles a hummingbird,
has shimmering metallic colors on its head;
a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast;and a red eye.
a) found in the Philippines and that resembles
b) found in the Philippines and that,resembling
c) found in the Philippines ad resembling
d) that is found in the Philippines and it resembles
e) that is found in the Philippines ans that, resembling


This is very tricky question. C is the best answer.

need parallelism so eliminate A (THAT refers to what; no parallelism), B (THAT), and D(THAT...IT).

C vs. E

In C: FOUND and RESEMBLING are parallel. Both of them are participle. Only C makes sentence run.
C: First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's sunbird, a four-and-a-half-inch animal found in the Philippines and resembling a hummingbird, has shimmering metallic colors on its head; a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast; and a red eye



In E, If we choose a four-and-a-half-inch animal as the objective, the sentence made by this rule is not correct. ==> Eliminate E.
E. First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's sunbird, a four-and-a-half-inch animal that is found in the Philippines and that, resembling a hummingbird, has shimmering metallic colors on its head; a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast; and a red eye


Good one. lexi!



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Re: When exactly to use the '-ing' form [#permalink]
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