Tip 10
-ing verbs - not what you'd expect
Many people are taught at school as children that -ing- verbs (verbs such as: opening, closing, talking) describe things that are happening -only now- that is, at the time of speaking.
verb.ing
Is that really the case? Let's examine the following sentences:
a) I’m reading a really good book at the moment
Am I necessarily reading the book at these very moments? No. This sentence can also describe that – recently I’ve been reading the book, I’m in the middle of reading the book and haven’t finished reading it yet.
b) They are redecorating the house.
Are they necessarily remodeling the house at this very moment? No. This sentence can also mean that – recently they are redecorating the house, they are in the middle of this process and have not finished yet.
c) This week, I’m teaching Hebrew and not English (Normally, I teach English).
Am I necessarily teaching Hebrew at this very moment? No. The sentence relates to how only this week I’m teaching Hebrew (an unusual activity), while normally I teach English.
d) Today, I’m waking up at 8:00. (Normally, I wake up at 9)
Am I waking up at this very moment? No. The sentence actually describes how only today I’m waking up at 8, while on normal days I wake up at 9.
From the examples above we can clearly see that -ing- verbs have more than one purpose:
- They are used to describe things that are happening at the time of speaking (as many of us learn in school as children).
- They are used to describe things that are happening recently.
- They are used to describe things that are happening in an unusual manner – only in a certain time frame (this week, this month, today).
In fact, the third option above summarizes the purpose of -ing- verbs most aptly:
While simple verbs (open, close, talk) describe general information, which is true all the time, -ing- verbs describe processes that are only happening in a specific time frame.
– only in at this very moment (“now”)
– only recently
– only today
– Only this week, only this month, (and even) only this year
Once you comprehend the idea that -ing- verbs mean a process that takes place in a specific time frame and not just something that is happening -at the time of speaking- (“right now”), it will be much easier for you to also understand how to use them in the past and future tense.
Try to pay attention the next time you read a book or watch a movie for these patterns and you’ll quickly be on your way to better English 🙂
