present participle

Other forms: present participles

In English grammar, the present participle is a verb that ends in –ing, as in “I am eating this cookie.” It can also be adjective, as in “I stole the cookie from the sleeping child.” Now give it back.

As a verb, the present participle is used for the progressive verb forms, which express action that is ongoing (like "is ongoing" in this sentence). It uses a helping verb and the good news is that it always ends in –ing. In addition to continuous action, present participles are often used as adjectives, like that “sleeping” child, who might wake up and have a “hair-raising” tantrum.