To solve this worksheet, we need to look at each sentence and find the word that ends in
-ing. Then, we decide if it is acting like an
adjective (describing a noun) or a
noun (naming a thing, action, or idea).
*
Participle: Acts like an adjective. It describes a person, place, or thing.
* *Example:* The
barking dog. (Describes the dog).
*
Gerund: Acts like a noun. It can be the subject of the sentence or the object of a verb/preposition.
* *Example:*
Barking is loud. (The act of barking is the subject).
Let's go through them one by one:
1.
"The jumping frog landed in her lap."
* The -ing word is
jumping.
* What is it doing? It is describing the
frog. Which frog? The *jumping* one.
* Since it describes a noun, it is a
Participle.
2.
"Lucinda had a calling to help other people."
* The -ing word is
calling.
* What is it doing? Lucinda "had" a *what*? She had a
calling. It is the thing she possessed. It acts as a noun here.
* Since it acts as a noun, it is a
Gerund.
3.
"The mother barely caught the crawling baby before he went into the street."
* The -ing word is
crawling.
* What is it doing? It is describing the
baby. Which baby? The *crawling* one.
* Since it describes a noun, it is a
Participle.
4.
"The house was filled with a haunting specter."
* The -ing word is
haunting.
* What is it doing? It is describing the
specter (ghost). What kind of specter? A *haunting* one.
* Since it describes a noun, it is a
Participle.
5.
"Running in the halls is strictly forbidden."
* The -ing word is
Running.
* What is it doing?
Running is the subject of the sentence. What is forbidden? *Running* is. It names the action.
* Since it acts as a noun (subject), it is a
Gerund.
6.
"They won the award for caring for sick animals."
* The -ing word is
caring.
* What is it doing? It follows the preposition "for." You win an award *for* something. That "something" is
caring. Objects of prepositions are nouns.
* Since it acts as a noun, it is a
Gerund.
7.
"Paul bought new climbing gear."
* The -ing word is
climbing.
* What is it doing? It is describing the
gear. What kind of gear? *Climbing* gear.
* Since it describes a noun, it is a
Participle.
8.
"Escaping was the only thought he had."
* The -ing word is
Escaping.
* What is it doing?
Escaping is the subject of the sentence. What was the only thought? *Escaping* was. It names the action/idea.
* Since it acts as a noun (subject), it is a
Gerund.
Final Answer:
1. Participle
2. Gerund
3. Participle
4. Participle
5. Gerund
6. Gerund
7. Participle
8. Gerund
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of gerund practice worksheet.
