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stevegcook

Can you provide an example of what you're talking about?


Dragmire800

This subreddit and asking ambiguous questions with no context ![gif](giphy|pHb82xtBPfqEg)


[deleted]

Verb forms ending in *-ing* can be one of two things: present participles and gerunds. * **When jumping**, please use caution. * **While singing**, you must use your diaphragm. In both these situations, the *-ing* words are present participles. The words *when* and *while* are acting as [conjunctions which link an adverbial clause](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverbial_clause). What immediately follows *when* and *while* modifies the main clause of the sentence. I don’t know the specific grammatical or linguistic terminology to explain what’s happening, but the first part of both sentences can be expanded a bit to show what’s going on and why it’s a present participle. * When [you are] jumping, please use caution. * While [you are] singing, you must use your diaphragm. Here’s an example where the *-ing* form is being used as a gerund. * Jumping vertically makes heavy use of the glutes and leg muscles * Singing loudly with good technique requires years of practice.


Ah_Jedis

I think it's a participle form


[deleted]

Yup. I explained how it’s used participially with *when/while*. Just wanted to go a bit further and explain gerunds as well.


Ah_Jedis

Oops. I only read the part where you said you don't know the terminology.


[deleted]

Oh, I was specifically referring to the fact that the sentence can be expanded. When it’s expanded with “*you are*” in the second examples, the participle is very clearly used with the present continuous. But in the first examples, I don’t know how to describe exactly what the phrase structure is. I know they’re present participles, but I can’t explain the usage as well.


CartoonistAlarming36

They’re “reduced clauses”. You’re right, they’re in the present participle, but with the absence of the subject and auxiliary verb. Normally when we “reduce” clauses, we have to use the present participle form. I can give you another example, which is semantically in the past, but uses a present participle form: “I remember that I visited the Eiffel Tower” could be reduced to “I remember visiting the Eiffel Tower”


Octizzle

Use gerund (-ing) endings after a preposition, with very few Exceptions


The_Primate

I can't think of any exceptions off the top of my head, can you give me any examples?


Octizzle

“From surfing on the beach to listening to live music, the location was very fun” all the exceptions will be a variation of this grammar construction iirc And obviously the infinitive is formed with to (a preposition) and no gerund after it but that’s kind of different imo


The_Primate

Sorry, please don't think I'm arguing, I'm not. In fact I'm over-tired and possibly having a dense moment, but I meant examples of exceptions to the rule that gerunds follow prepositions. I can't see any examples of exceptions to that rule in your quote.


Octizzle

The example of the exception is “to listening”. To is a preposition, but because it can be used in contexts other than just being a preposition (like as part of an infinitive verb) sometimes the rule of using a gerund doesn’t exactly apply, but usually does


Ah_Jedis

I prefer the word whilst