| ING words
I'm interested in exploring the grammar of words ending in the suffix -ing in English. These are commonly categorised as nouns, adjective or verbs depending on context.
However some grammars suggest there is an adverbial use, typified in sentences like:
Removing his hat, he entered the room.
In this analysis, the word removing is said to modify the verb entered as part of an adverbial phrase of manner.
There is however by no means agreement on this point. Some sources treat the -ing word as a non-tensed verb arguing that its function is more verby than adverby.
I'd be interested in answers to the question: in the aforementioned sentence, what part of speech is removing considered to be? |