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characteristics of the gerund are not apparent. This happens mainly when an -ing form is used as a single word
without any modifiers or with such modifiers as occur with both the gerund and the verbal noun (His coming
was unexpected. Her acting was perfect). In such cases the meaning of the form should be taken into account.
Thus a gerund suggests a process, an activity, whereas a verbal noun denotes kinds of occupation (skating as
compared to hockey), an art form (acting, painting), a branch of knowledge (engineering, spelling as opposed
to pronunciation and as a synonym for orthography).
It goes without saying that an -ing form is a pure noun when it denotes an object, often the result of activity
(a building
- a house; a drawing, a painting - a picture). In such cases a noun unlike a gerund, may also
combine with numerals, as in two drawings, four buildings, etc.
The participle
The participle is a non-finite form of the verb. There are two forms of the participle - participle I and
participle II.
Participle I
§ 129. Participle I is a non-finite form of the verb with some adjectival and adverbial features. It is formed
by adding the suffix -ing to the stem of the verb.*
* For rules of spelling and pronunciation see § 7. 138
The verbal character of participle I is manifested morphologically in the categories of voice and perfect (see
table VII) and syntactically in its combinability. Thus, like the other non-finites, it may combine: a) with a noun
or a pronoun as direct, indirect or prepositional object; b) with an adverb or a prepositional phrase as an
adverbial modifier; c) with a noun or adjective as a predicative.
a) Seeing Jane, I rushed to greet her.
We didn’t utter a word while listening to the story.
b) Rising early, you’ll make your days longer.
Do you know the man sitting in the middle of the first row?
c) Being absent-minded, he went into the wrong room.
Participle I is used as a pure verb form in the formation of the continuous aspect forms.
The adjectival and adverbial features of participle I are manitested in its syntactical functions as an attribute
and an adverbial modifier.
Arriving at the station, she saw him at once, leaning agains the railing.
(adverbial modifier of time, detached attribute).
Non-perfect participle I active has synonymous adjectives formed from the same verb stem, such as
resulting - resultant, convulsing - convulsive, abounding - abundant, deceiving - deceptive. Some participles
border on adjectives when used as attributes or predicatives, and have qualitative adjectives as synonyms; for
example amusing - funny, boring - dull, deafening - (very) loud. There are even some deverbal adjectives that
have completely lost their verbal meaning, for example interesting, charming.
When they lose their verbal character, participles may be modified by adverbs of degree used with
adjectives, such as very, so, too, as in very (greatly, exceedingly, etc.) amusing, too boring, most exciting.
My job is with one of the ministers - too boring and distasteful to discuss.
All this was extremely gratifying.
Like an adjective, participle I forms adverbs with the suffix -ly:
laughingly, jokingly, surprisingly,
admiringly, appealingly, feelingly.