In English grammar, learners may sometimes feel confused about different verb forms and their usage. The present participle is a grammatical structure that not only allows you to shorten sentences but also helps make your writing more flexible and dynamic.
So, what is the structure of the present participle? How is it used in different contexts? Let’s dive into the details with IDP below.
1. What Is the Present Participle?
The present participle is the -ing form of a verb. It is commonly used in the present continuous tense to describe ongoing actions or states that are happening at the moment of speaking.
Examples:
Everything is going according to schedule.
Councils are joining up with their European counterparts.
2. How to Use the Present Participle in a Sentence
Although the present participle is often used in the present continuous tense, it appears in many other contexts. Here are the most common uses:
2.1. Present Participle in the Present Continuous Tense
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + V-ing
Examples:
The doctor is reading the Journal of Medical Science.
The children are playing with a seesaw.
2.2. After Verbs of Movement or Position
Examples:
My brother goes swimming at the weekend.
I lay looking up at the clouds.
2.3. After Verbs of Perception
Structure: Mental verb + object + present participle
Examples:
She heard the baby crying in the next room.
They felt the ground shaking beneath their feet.
2.4. Present Participle as an Adjective
Examples:
He was trapped inside the burning house.
The barking dog woke up the neighborhood.
2.5. After Verbs Like Spend, Waste, Catch, Find, Keep
Structure with spend/waste: Spend/waste + time/money + present participle
Examples:
Lose an hour in the morning, and you’ll spend all day looking for it.
Do not waste your time watching the idiot box.
Structure with catch/find/keep: Subject + catch/find/keep + object + present participle
Examples:
He caught his son playing video games instead of studying.
Natalie found him looking into nothingness.
She keeps her friends waiting for her for a long time.
2.6. Two Actions Happening at the Same Time
Use the present participle to show two simultaneous actions performed by the same subject.
Examples:
Breathing heavily, he kept running along the beach.
Waving his tail, the dog kept licking its owner's hand.
2.7. Explaining a Reason or Cause
The present participle can replace phrases starting with as, since, or because to express reasons.
Examples:
Because he knew his mother was coming, he cleaned his room. ➡ Knowing his mother was coming, he cleaned his room.
Since he was poor, he did not spend much on clothes. ➡ Being poor, he did not spend much on clothes.
3. Present Participle Exercise
Exercise 1: Change the verb in brackets into the present participle form
She enjoys (read) ................... books in her free time.
The dog is (bark) ................... loudly in the backyard.
They were (play) ................... soccer when it started to rain.
I saw him (dance) ................... at the party last night.
He is (study) ................... for his upcoming exams.
The (bloom) ................... flower is very beautiful.
The teacher catches the students (climb) ................... the wall.
(Feel) ................... hungry, he went into the kitchen and opened the fridge.
(Whistle) ................... to himself, he walked down the road.
Answer Key:
reading
barking
playing
dancing
studying
blooming
climbing
feeling
whistling
Boost Your IELTS Score with IDP by Mastering the Present Participle
With the overview above, we hope you now understand the present participle and how to use it in different grammatical situations. To explore more grammar topics, check out IDP’s free IELTS preparation materials and sample tests to get familiar with common question types.
You can also register for a free IELTS mock test at IDP to experience the actual test format and learn how to manage your time effectively. IDP offers both paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS tests depending on your learning style and preferences.
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