Present Participles
Descubre qué son los participios presentes en inglés, cómo se forman, cuándo se usan y qué funciones gramaticales cumplen en oraciones, desde adjetivos hasta tiempos progresivos.
Discover what English present participles are, how they are formed, when they are used, and what grammatical functions they fulfill in sentences, from adjectives to progressive tenses.
Present participles show an ongoing action, and they help you describe what someone is doing right now or how things happen. This guide goes through how to form them and use them in natural sentences.
Formation
Add -ing to the base verb to create a present participle, and adjust for spelling rules like doubling consonants or dropping silent e. This form can turn an action into a description or an ongoing activity.
| Base Verb | Present Participle | |
|---|---|---|
| run | running | |
| swim | swimming | |
| make | making | |
| study | studying |
Ella está corriendo en el parque hoy.
Usage
Present participles can act as adjectives, form continuous tenses with be, or create vivid images by showing an action in progress. They keep your description lively and focused on movement.
As Adjectives
When a present participle modifies a noun, it describes something that causes the action or is characterized by it, making your description more specific. For example, The crying baby needs attention shows that the baby is making noise now.
In Continuous Tenses
Use the present participle with forms of be to show actions that are ongoing at a particular time, whether in the present, past, or future. This structure highlights that the activity is in progress rather than completed.
After Verbs
Some verbs are followed by a present participle when you want to emphasize the action itself or when the verb describes an experience related to doing or perceiving something. Try both forms after verbs like enjoy and avoid to see which sounds better.
After Prepositions
When a verb comes immediately after a preposition, it usually takes the present participle form, which allows you to turn actions into ideas that fit smoothly into longer sentences. This rule helps maintain natural rhythm and clarity.
Common Verbs
Here are examples of verbs frequently followed by a present participle, divided by whether they take the form in a sentence or come after a preposition. Learning these patterns helps you predict which form to use.
Verbs Followed by -ing
Verbs like enjoy, avoid, and consider are typically followed by a present participle when they lead into another action. This makes your meaning precise and keeps the sentence flow consistent.
Verbs Followed by Prepositions
Verbs such as look forward to, talk about, and insist on are followed by a preposition plus a present participle. The present participle turns the action into a noun-like phrase that fits neatly after the preposition.
Summary
The present participle (-ing form) describes ongoing actions and can function as an adjective, part of continuous tenses, or a noun-like phrase after verbs and prepositions. Practice these patterns to make your English more natural and precise.
Suggested Reading
English File by Unknown (Oxford University Press series)
Practical English Usage by Michael Swan
English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
English Grammar Workbook: Simple Grammar for Non-Native Speakers by SIMPLE English Language School
Essential Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
New Concept English by L. G. Alexander
Oxford Practice Grammar by Norman Coe, Mark Harrison & Ken Paterson
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus
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