What is the Difference Between Gerund and Participle?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a gerund and a participle lies in their grammatical functions. Here's a comparison of their functions and examples:
- Gerunds: Gerunds are verb forms that end in "-ing" and function as nouns. They are used in various verb tenses and are often referred to as "verb+ing" forms. Examples include:
- "I enjoy jogging" (functioning as a noun)
- "She loves traveling" (functioning as a subject)
- Present Participles: Present participles are also derived from verbs and end in "-ing," but they function as adjectives or are used in various verb tenses. Examples include:
- "I have been eating" (used in a verb tense)
- "a laughing child" (functioning as an adjective)
To differentiate between the two, look for the following patterns:
- If the "-ing" form is followed by a form of "be," it is a present participle.
- If the "-ing" form begins the sentence or follows a verb or preposition, it is likely a gerund.
In summary, gerunds function as nouns, while present participles function as adjectives or are used in verb tenses. Both are derived from verbs and end in "-ing," but their grammatical roles are different.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Gerund and Participle? Comparative Table: Gerund vs Participle
Comparative Table: Gerund vs Participle
Here is a table highlighting the differences between gerunds and participles:
Feature | Gerunds | Participles |
---|---|---|
Function | Act as nouns in a sentence | Act as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence |
Formation | Adding "ing" to the verb (e.g., running, swimming) | Adding "ing" to the verb (e.g., running, swimming) |
Position | Subject, direct object, or object of a preposition | Modifiers for nouns or verbs, usually associated with "is" or "am" |
Examples | - Running is my favorite sport. | - The man is running away. |
- I enjoy swimming laps at the pool. | - She was exhausted from working all night. | |
- He was scolded for skipping the meeting. | - The dogs were barking loudly. |
Both gerunds and participles are formed by adding "ing" to a verb, but they serve different functions in a sentence. Gerunds act as nouns, while participles function as adjectives or adverbs.
Read more:
- Tense vs Participle
- Present Participle vs Past Participle
- Past vs Past Participle
- Gerund vs Infinitive
- Past Perfect vs Past Participle
- Verbs vs Nouns
- Active Voice vs Passive Voice
- Verb vs Adverb
- Verb vs Action Verb
- Adjective vs Verb
- Apart vs A Part
- Grammar vs Punctuation
- Noun vs Adjective
- Present Continuous vs Present Perfect Continuous
- Difference vs Different
- Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs
- Present Perfect Continuous vs Present Perfect
- Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
- Are vs Do