SPYMASTER | Mission 25: ING

60 min

The -ING Form 1

1 topic

1 task

SPYMASTER

Mission 25

First, let's get the meaning straight. An -ing form has one of the three meanings:

Noun-like (the so-called gerund)

She loves reading.

Adjective-like (the so-called participle)

There is a man reading a book.
I knew someone reading a lot.

Technically, all Continuous forms are based on these participles.

The man is reading a book.

Adverb-like (still called a participle but with a different function)

He sat there reading a book.

Warning #1

Without enough context, things may get confusing.

a sleeping child
a sleeping pill

a waiting room
a waiting train

Warning #2

For adverb-like -ing forms, don't forget to add BY to indicate the method by which something was achieved.

The burglars got inside by breaking the window. (method)
The burglars got inside vandalising everything on their way. (accompanying action)

Perfect -ing forms are perfectly normal when we need to emphasise completion.

I dreamed of having finished my course last night.
Having been there before, I knew what to expect.

So are passive -ing forms:

I hate being shouted at.
Having been seen, she left hurriedly.

Sometimes participles are used so often they become adjectives. A lot of them have their passive counterparts.

alarming – alarmed
amazing – amazed
amusing – amused
annoying – annoyed
astonishing – astonished
boring – bored
confusing – confused
depressing – depressed
disappointing – disappointed
disgusting – disgusted
distressing – distressed
disturbing – disturbed
embarrassing – embarrassed
entertaining – entertained
exciting – excited
exhausting – exhausted
fascinating – fascinated

frightening – frightened
horrifying – horrified
inspiring – inspired
interesting – interested
irritating – irritated
moving – moved
paralyzing – paralyzed
pleasing – pleased
relaxing – relaxed
satisfying – satisfied
shocking – shocked
surprising – surprised
terrifying – terrified
tiring – tired
touching – touched
troubling – troubled

Participles normally have to agree with the subject of the sentence.

Feeling tired, they decided to take a break. (they were feeling tired)

However, in certain cases they may have a subject of their own.

I knew that we were having problems when
You put those piranhas in my bathtub again
You're still the light of my life
Oh darling, I'm beggin', won't you put down that knife?
You know, I even think it's kinda cute the way
You poison my coffee just a little each day
I still remember the way that you laughed
When you pushed me down the elevator shaft
Oh, if you don't mind me asking, what's this poisonous cobra
Doing in my underwear drawer?
Sometimes I get to thinking you don't love me anymore...

Here, asking refers to me, rather than to you.

This structure is quite common with:

1) see, hear and find

I saw a small girl standing in the goldfish pond.
Have you ever heard a nightingale singing?
I found her secretly drinking my whisky.

2) get, have, keep and (in spoken English) want

Do you think you can get the radio working?
The doctors will soon have you walking again.
Don't keep me waiting.
I don't want you thinking that.

Now things just get worse. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the absolute participial construction. It can be used instead of a clause with a corresponding meaning.

This structure is quite common with:

When-clause

The sun having risen, we continued our way.

While-clause

He walked carefully, his boots creaking at every step,
He continued his work, his assistant helping him.

If-clause

The weather permitting, we will go to the country.

Because-clause

It being very cold, we could not go skiing.
It being pretty late, we went upstairs.

You can put WITH at the beginning of it.

With inflation rate going down, the buying behaviour has changed.
The territory extends for about 200 miles, with a breadth varying from 50 to 100 miles.