adjectives ending in -ing by eguriase s. m. okaka

Adjectives ending in –ing

By Eguriase S. M. Okaka In English, some types of adjectives are formed by adding –ing to some classes of verbs. Examples

Adjectives ending in –ing characterize or describe the entity to which they refer. Examples • The display of the performers at the circus was interesting. • The crime committed in the village was shocking. The –ing conveys an active meaning. That is, it modifies does something. These adjectives describe someone or something. Let’s take a look at the following examples.

Exercise Use the –ing words in the box below to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

• My friend didn’t like the ----------------------- arrangements at the party. • Jessica, come and listen to the ---------------- news on BBC. • Many ignorant students blame ---------------------- bodies for their failures. • The men visited a herbalist renowned for his --------------------- powers. • My grandmother has a ---------------------- clock in her bedroom. • Children like ----------------- birds. • A ----------------- team is the darling of every football fan. • My uncle lost his ----------------------- license in the accident. • The principal praised the -------------------- performance of the drama club. • Our class teacher condemned the ------------------ attitude of the class captain. Simple sentence A simple sentence expresses a simple thought or statement. It has only one clause and one finite verb. Can you identify the finite verbs in the following simple sentences? • The dog bit the boy. • Olu rang the bell. • Taju ate the meat. • His father was ill. • My mother is a teacher. Exercise Think about what you did yesterday and what you have been doing since you woke up this morning. Write down ten simple sentences that describe the things you did yesterday and the things you have been doing today. Follow the pattern below: • I washed my uniform yesterday. • I swept the floor this morning. Compound sentence A compound sentence expresses two or more statement or thoughts. It has two or more finite verbs. In compound sentences, clauses are usually linked by coordinating conjunctions such as and, but and or. Other words that link clauses in compound sentences, clauses are neither, too, either. In compound sentences, clauses are linked so that each clause still retains its own identity and independence. Examples • The girls washed the clothes and the boys ironed them. • He swept on time but he woke up late. • Patrick will repair the shoes or buy new ones. • Bright spoke well but his opponent spoke even better and he lost the debate. • Chinwe either made the dress or bought it. • Bisola was washing the clothes and Layo too. When to use and, but, or, either….or, neither…nor 1. And is used to join two sentences that are closely related. Example: Paul came first and Peter came second. 2. But is used to express contrast. Example: Dotun worked hard but he failed. 3. Or is used to express the idea that only one of the possibilities is obtainable. Example: You can sleep in the living room or you can go to a guesthouse. 4. Too is used when the action of the second sentence is the same as that of the first sentence. Example: Kate was sleeping and Jane was too. 5. Either… or is used to join two simple sentences or clauses that express a choice between two things. Example: Either Chinwe broke the plate or Layo did. 6. Neither … nor is the negative equivalent of either … or. Two clauses with neither in the first and nor in the second are like two negative clauses joined by and Example: Chinwe neither likes Oke nor wants to be his friend. (Chinwe does not like Oke and Chinwe does not want to be his friend). Eguria.blogspot.com