Gerunds and participles are verb forms that shape how we talk about actions and qualities. This guide covers the -ing form (gerund and present participle) and the past participle, showing when to use each and giving clear examples.
Gerund
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. It can act as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence.
Examples
Common Uses
Gerunds commonly follow verbs, prepositions, and certain expressions. They highlight activities or ideas rather than specific moments.
Present Participle
Uses in Continuous Tenses
Yo corro en el parque cada mañana.
Uses as Adjective or Modifier
Present Participle
The present participle is the -ing form used to create continuous tenses and to make adjectives or modifiers. It shows ongoing action or describes something by its action.
Examples
Uses in Continuous Tenses
Use the present participle with forms of be to make the present, past, or future continuous tense, emphasizing an action in progress.
Uses as Adjective or Modifier
The present participle can describe a noun directly or begin a phrase that gives more detail about timing, cause, or manner.
Past Participle
The past participle is usually the -ed form for regular verbs or the third column form for irregular verbs. It is used in perfect tenses, passive voice, and as an adjective.
Examples
Uses in Perfect Tenses
Use the past participle with forms of have to make perfect tenses, which show completed actions relevant to a certain time.
Uses in Passive Voice
Use the past participle with forms of be to make the passive voice, focusing on the action's result or the receiver of the action.
Uses as Adjective
The past participle can describe a noun by showing that it has been affected by an action, giving a sense of completion or change.
Summary
The gerund -ing acts as a noun, the present participle -ing shows ongoing action or modifies, and the past participle (usually -ed or irregular) appears in perfect tenses, passive voice, and as an adjective. Recognizing each form helps you describe actions and states clearly.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025