This document provides information about present participles for the TOEFL preparation session. It explains that a present participle is the "-ing" form of a verb. It can be either part of a verb or an adjective. It is part of the verb when accompanied by a form of "to be", such as "is" or "was". It is an adjective when not accompanied by a form of "to be". Examples are provided to illustrate these uses. Strategies are discussed for identifying whether a present participle is being used as a verb or adjective in a sentence.

1. TOEFL Preparation Session
Day 2
Structure and Written Expression Section
Skill 2 Present Participle

2. Structure and Written Expression Section
Be careful of Present Participle
A present participle is the –ing form of the verb (washing, eating, etc). Present
participle can cause confusion because it can be either a part of the verb or an
adjective.
It is part of the verb when it is preceded by some form of the verb be.
The boy is playing with his friend.
VERB
In this sentence playing is part of the verb because it is accompanied
by is.
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3. Structure and Written Expression Section
A present participle is an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of
the verb be.
The boy playing with his friend has short hair.
ADJ.
In this sentence playing is an adjective and not part of the verb because it is not
accompanied by some form of be.
The verb in sentence is has.
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4. Structure and Written Expression Section
Example
The man _________ talking on the phone is my neighbor.
(A) now
(B) is
(C) he
(D) was
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5. Structure and Written Expression Section
It appears that man is the subject and talking is part of the verb.
If you think that talking is part of the verb, you might choose answer (B), is, or
answer (D), was, to complete the verb. However, these two answers are
incorrect because talking is not part of the verb.
You should recognize that talking is a participial adjective rather than a verb
because there is another verb in the sentence (is).
In this sentence there is a complete subject (man) and a complete verb (is),
So this sentence does not need another subject or verb.
The best answer here is (A).
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6. Structure and Written Expression Section
Present Participles
A present participle is the –ing form of the verb. The present participle can be (1)
part of the verb or (2) an adjective. It is part of the verb when it is accompanied
by some form of the verb be. It is an adjective when it is not accompanied by
some form of the verb be.
1. The boy is talking to the girl.
2. The boy talking to the girl is smart.
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7. 085710006158
Thank You
Structure and Written Expression Section