The verb + –ing used as an Adjective
The verb ending in –ing can be used as an adjective to modify a noun.
As an adjective, the verb + ing comes before a noun.
Examples:
- We are running short of cooking oil .
- I have to get another woodworking tool.
Adjectives that end in –ing do one of these things.
(a) The –ing adjective tells us that something is still going on.
Examples:
- What has become of my missing kitten?
- Some countries are experiencing a dwindling population due to very low birth rates.
- There are people who doubt the disappearing rain forest contributes to global warming.
(b) The –ing adjective shows how something can affect us.
Examples:
- It was a very tiring day at the workplace.
- It’s amazing that the university student is only 16.
- That noise he’s making is getting annoying .
The verb + ing adjective can come after the following:
Examples:
a helping verb
- It was a disturbing dream I had last night.
- It is a polling day, today.
an adverb
- The movie was very disappointing .
- What she said to him was deliberately insulting .
a possessive
- We really appreciate your helping to milk the cows.
- I can't understand his behaving in a strange manner whenever there is a full moon.
- She has arranged for our going over for a game of mahjong.