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Fri 03-Nov-06, 08:13 PM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Nov 2006 Occupation: Student Location: 
Posts: 5
 | 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? |
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Fri 03-Nov-06, 10:54 PM
| #2 (permalink) | |
| Moderator   Join Date: Jun 2005 Occupation: ESL Teacher Location: 
Posts: 119
| Adverbial use Quote:
Examples of adverbs are: - very - well - quickly Adverbs typically express some relation of place, time, manner, attendant circumstance, degree, cause, inference, result, condition, exception, concession, purpose, or means. So I don't see "Removing" as being an adverb in your example. Removing is just a normal old verb. 
__________________ English Teacher Guru ! Ask me a question, and I'll see if I can help.  | |
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Fri 03-Nov-06, 10:57 PM
| #3 (permalink) |
| Guru   Join Date: Jun 2005 Nationality: British Occupation: Teacher Location: 
Posts: 88
| Way too much depth Give a man a drink! Unless you're a linquist, no need to go so deep into a language. You will only confuse yourself and your student. My favourite: A verb is an action word! Yeh!!! A adjective is a describing work. Yeh yeh!! |
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Mon 06-Nov-06, 04:44 AM
| #4 (permalink) |
| ESL Rookie  Join Date: Oct 2006 Occupation: substitute teacher Location: 
Posts: 18
| I see no way to call removing an adverb here. If it describes anything it is the subject of the sentence--he. The adverb would have to describe entered and removing his hat in no way does this. Curiously, this reminds me of a participal phrase. |
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Fri 24-Nov-06, 11:16 AM
| #5 (permalink) |
| ESL Rookie Join Date: Nov 2006 Occupation: student Location: 
Posts: 22
| Re: ING words Nay I think you are looking too deep into the language issue. I don't see the necessity in seeing "removing" as an adverb because it is still behaving pretty much like a verb.. hmm maybe you can elaborate further why you think so. Last edited by gfell; Fri 24-Nov-06 at 12:10 PM. |
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