Gerund vs Participle

Gerund or Participle?

In English we have to often calculate Gerund and Participle almost. But there is a question that puts them in Confusion

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Read the following explanation and remove your confusion forever-

Qustion: I joined a riding school. Here"riding" is a

(a) Participle

(b) Verbal noun.

(c) Infinitive

(d) Gerund .

Correct answer: 100% Gerund.

Reference from: Practical English usage by Michael Swan, A practical English Grammar by Thomson & Martinet, High school English Grammar By Wren & Martin. 

And many more.

In the guide book, it has been given the answer participle, which is completely wrong. Keep in mind that Participle will be when the current state is indicated. As it is directed at the stable condition here it is Gerund.

But why??? Read on to know ✪ THE GERUND: The verb is composed of the current form of verb, and the verb and noun of it together are done by him, called Gerund. So Gerund is considered to be part of the double part of speech, because it works on Verb and Noun simultaneously. Since gerund works like noun, so they can be used as a noun, subject to object, object of the preposition, and the complement of the incomplete verb.

In short, Gerund = verb + ing = noun = verb + noun ✪ Note: Refers to status or work by Gerund. Example: ✪ Swimming is good for health ✪ Teaching is a good profession ✪ Reading books is my hobby.

Explanation: In the above sentences, the work is interpreted by swimming, teaching, reading words. So those words are notified as GERUND.

On the other hand,

Present Participle will always point to something running.

For example: I heard them singing song, that is, when they were singing (indicating running conditions).

Now let's discuss in the main discussion

✪ Noun before gerunds to create noun compounds with ing:

I need a walking stick.

My reading room is neat and clean.

He takes a sleeping pill every night .

They do not use a dining table .

I joined the riding school.

Important note: (very interesting thing)

There are no nouns (walking, room, pill, table, school) after the above five words Gerund but they are not working in gerund. If v-ing were participles,

For example, 'running car', 'flying bird' and 'rolling stone' are the words themselves running in the car, the bird itself is flying and the stone itself is in rolling position. So 'running', 'flying' and rolling are participles here, not gerunds.

On the other hand, in the school teacher, college students, the word 'school' and 'college' are used as two, in the above sentence three, reading, sleeping and dining- are similarly used as nouns. So they are gerunds. There may be more gerund like this.

For example: - Laughing gas, driving license, swimming pool, sleepingu room, reading room, walking stick, looking glass, fencing sticks, hunting whip, running shoes, a running mill, a calling bell, frying pan, a drawing room, feeding room, a washing machine, a spinning mill etc.

# Moreover, if i say 'school is riding', the 'school' fails to perform the task of 'riding'. Is it possible in real life ???

Bidrude

It is to be remembered that am, is, are If was replaced by was, it would be present Participle on the other hand, if replaced by For, it is Gerund. A riding class is not going to be replaced by A school, but A is going to replace it. Therefore, it is the example of gerund.

Thank you