IndiaIndia UKUKUSUS

Every Question Helps You Learn

Join Us
IndiaIndia UKUKUSUS
Streak
Leading Streak Today 2
Your Streak Today 0
Streak
Leading Streak Today
2
Your Streak Today
0
Grammar 47 - Nominalisation - Using ‘ing’ form 1
"Her singing is melodious." - 'Singing' is the 'ing' form of 'sing'.

Grammar 47 - Nominalisation - Using ‘ing’ form 1

As we have seen in the previous three High English grammar quizzes, nominalisation is the process by which verbs or adjectives are converted into nouns. This is the first of two quizzes that looks at nominalisation using the 'ing' form of a word, or the gerund.

A word is nominalised by adding a suffix to the verb or the adjective. For instance, the verb ‘compel’ is nominalised to ‘compulsion’ by adding the suffix ‘-sion’ with modifications, or ‘participate’ is converted into ‘participation’ after nominalisation by adding ‘-ation’ with modifications. Similarly, an adjective such as ‘beautiful’ is converted into ‘beauty’ after nominalisation. Apart from the nominalisation of verbs and adjectives with suffixes we have already looked at in the previous quizzes, there is another way of nominalisation - using the ‘-ing’ form. This form is the gerund.

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." For instance, ‘rowing’ is the gerund form of the verb ‘row.’ The ‘-ing’ form offers versatility that verbs cannot. The ‘-ing’ form can follow a possessive pronoun allowing the communication of the action to be more specific. It is possible to use the '-ing' form as the subject of the verb, the object of the verb, or the object of a preposition, as shown in these examples:

'Her dancing is very aesthetic.’
‘In India many resorts on the coast do not offer windsurfing or sailing.’
‘Many young men and women are going in for engineering.’

These sentences clearly show the versatile nature of the ‘-ing’ form.

Nominalisation has many positive effects in writing. It helps in compressing various elements of a clause into a single noun. It helps in technical writing, especially for government officials and the scientific community. It helps in structuring the writing and bringing coherence into it.

While adding suffixes other than ‘-ing’ limit the number of verbs or adjectives that can be nominalised, the ‘-ing’ form of nominalisation is uniform and can be applied to almost any verb. Take the quiz that follows and learn how to use nominalisation to make communication more precise, compact and informative, simply by using the gerund, or 'ing'.

1.
"__________ online is becoming more common as it is so convenient."
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form of a verb.
Growing
Cutting
Plotting
Purchasing
'Purchasing' is associated with online buying. 'Purchasing' is the '-ing' form of 'purchase' and is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb with modifications. The other options are not associated with buying online
2.
"Many young men and women are signing up for ____________ as a hobby."
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form of a verb.
Sweeping
Mountaineering
Digging
Managing
'Mountaineering' is associated with hobbies. 'Mountaineering' is the '-ing' form of 'mountaineer' and is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb. Remember it is possible to use the '-ing' form as the the object of a preposition (for), subject of the verb or the object of the verb. The other options are not associated with hobbies
3.
Choose the sentence that contains an '-ing' form acting as an adjective.
Running a long distance needs lots of stamina.
Eating plenty of vegetables is good for the body.
Commuting to office during peak hours is very tiring.
Hearing a loud noise, people rushed out of their homes.
The sentence is an example of present participle which has the characteristic of functioning like an adjective. Here, 'hearing' describes the noun people. The other options are '-ing' forms (running-run; eating-eat; and commuting-commute) resembling a noun, though in all cases the words are verbs
4.
"_________ your thoughts on to paper is a good way to free yourself from confusion."
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form of a verb.
Recording
Writing
Penning
All of the above are correct.
'Recording', 'writing' and 'penning' are all associated with thoughts. 'Recording', 'writing' and 'penning' are the '-ing' forms of 'record', 'write' and 'pen' and are formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb with modifications
5.
"The resort is on the Hesarghatta Lake and offers _______."
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form of a verb.
Aeging
Farthing
Sailing
Drying
'Sailing' is associated with lakes. 'Sailing' is the '-ing' form of 'sail' and is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb. Remember it is possible to use the '-ing' form as the subject of the verb, the object of the verb, or the object of a preposition. The other options are not associated with lakes
6.
"Her _______ is very melodious."
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form of a verb.
Singing
Dancing
Working
Shouting
'Singing' is associated with melody. 'Singing' is the '-ing' form of 'sing' and is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb. Remember the ‘-ing’ form can follow a possessive pronoun (her singing) allowing the communication of the action to be more specific The other options are not associated with melody
7.
"Is _______ your favourite form of exercise?"
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form associated with this activity from the following options.
Reading
Listening
Cycling
Hurting
'Cycling' is associated with exercise. 'Cycling' is the '-ing' form of 'cycle' and is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb with modifications. The other options are not associated with exercise
8.
"________ the truth is always the best policy."
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form of a verb.
Swimming
Speaking
Canoeing
Bluffing
'Speaking' is associated with truth. 'Speaking' is the '-ing' form of 'speak' and is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb with modifications. The other options are not associated with truth
9.
"________ a hot cup of coffee is a good way of keeping awake."
Fill up the blank to complete the sentence choosing the '-ing' form of a verb.
Drinking
Sowing
Cleaning
Washing
'Drinking' is associated with coffee. 'Drinking' is the '-ing' form of 'drink' and is formed by adding the suffix ' -ing' to the verb. The other options are not associated with coffee drinking
10.
Choose the sentence that contains an '-ing' form acting as an adjective.
I can see the school cricket team playing at the nets.
Stop making this terrible noise at once!.
I remember meeting the Prime Minister in Mumbai.
Why don't you try hitting it with a hammer?
The sentence is an example of present participle which has the characteristic of functioning like an adjective. Here, 'playing' describes the noun phrase 'school cricket team.' The other options are '-ing' forms (making-make; meeting-meet; and hitting-hit) resembling a noun, though all are in fact verbs
Author:  V T Narendra

© Copyright 2016-2024 - Education Quizzes
Work Innovate Ltd - Design | Development | Marketing