present participle
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present participle

noun

Definition of PRESENT PARTICIPLE

: a participle that typically expresses present action in relation to the time expressed by the finite verb in its clause and that in English is formed with the suffix -ing and is used in the formation of the progressive tenses

Examples of PRESENT PARTICIPLE

  1. The verbs dancing in He was dancing and crying in The baby is crying are present participles.

First Known Use of PRESENT PARTICIPLE

1864

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