Question

Choose whether the verb form in italics is Gerund or Participle.
Singing songs is a routine work for him.

a) Gerund
b) Present participle
c) Past participle
d) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:A gerund form of the verb is written by adding –ing to it. The participle form also adds –ing to it and indicates the present continuous tense.

Complete answer:
The gerund form of a verb helps it function as a noun with the addition of –ing to it.
Example: Smoke - smoking, drink – drinking, and so.
Participle, on the other hand, is a word formed by a verb with the addition of –ing and then used as an adjective, as well as a noun. These participles are particularly used to form compound verb forms.
Example: Sleeping in the phrase ‘sleeping boys.’
In the given sentence, ‘singing’ is given in italics. We have to identify if it is a gerund or participle.
We understand that ‘singing’ is given here as a noun and hence it is in gerund form. ‘Singing’ cannot be in the participle form as it is the auxiliary verb here and is not used as a continuous form of the verb.
Hence, the option becomes the right answer.
Option b is incorrect as ‘singing’ is not a present participle.
Option c is wrong because the past participle form the verb unusually ends with –ed.

Note:The present participle form can be used with ‘to be’ to form the continuous tense. Example: dancing, crying, and so.