Verbs Unveiled: Grammar Quiz - Participle, Gerund, Or Verb

Reviewed by Juliette Firla
Juliette Firla, MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
Review Board Member
Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.
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  • 1/20 Questions

    Pitching is our weakness.

    • Verb
    • Participle
    • Gerund
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About This Quiz

Are you confident in your grasp of the nuances between a verb, participle, and gerund in the English language? Our comprehensive grammar trivia quiz is here to help you not only distinguish between them but also enhance your existing knowledge!
Before diving into the quiz, it's essential to understand the basics. A participle is a non-finite verb form that can convey grammatical aspects across various tenses. On the other hand, a gerund is a verb form ending in "ing," and its role in a sentence is that of a noun. Lastly, a verb is the element in a sentence that describes the action.
This quiz is designed to challenge your understanding of these fundamental grammatical concepts, providing an opportunity to sharpen your language skills. Whether you're a grammar enthusiast or looking to brush up on your language knowledge, give this quiz a try to put your grammar expertise to the test!

Verbs Unveiled: Grammar Quiz - Participle, Gerund, Or Verb - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Moving is always troublesome.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    Moving is always troublesome because it refers to the action of moving in general, rather than a specific instance or ongoing activity. The gerund form of a verb is used to talk about actions as nouns, and in this case, "moving" functions as the subject of the sentence. The sentence implies that whenever someone moves, it is always a troublesome experience.

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  • 3. 

    Cal gave a stirring speech.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    The given sentence "Cal gave a stirring speech" indicates that the word "stirring" is functioning as an adjective to describe the type of speech Cal gave. In this case, "stirring" is a participle, which is a verb form used as an adjective. It modifies the noun "speech" and adds more detail to it.

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  • 4. 

    He has a strong pitching arm.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    The given sentence "He has a strong pitching arm" contains the phrase "a strong pitching arm." In this phrase, "pitching" is functioning as an adjective to describe the arm. It is not being used as a verb or a gerund (a verb form functioning as a noun). Instead, it is functioning as a participle, which is a verb form that can function as an adjective. Therefore, the correct answer is "participle."

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  • 5. 

    I am afraid of flying.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "gerund" because "afraid" is a verb that is used as a noun in this sentence. In this case, "afraid" functions as a gerund, which is a verb form that acts as a noun and ends in -ing.

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  • 6. 

    Bruno hates shopping.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "gerund" because "shopping" is functioning as a noun in the sentence. It is the object of the verb "hates" and is referring to an activity or concept rather than a specific person, place, or thing.

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  • 7. 

    The moving van was late.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "participle" because "moving" is a present participle form of the verb "move." In this sentence, "moving" is used as an adjective to describe the noun "van." It indicates that the van is in the process of moving or being moved.

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  • 8. 

    A rolling stone gathers no moss.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    This phrase is an idiom that means a person who is constantly moving and changing will not accumulate responsibilities or burdens. In this context, "rolling" is used as a present participle to describe the stone that is constantly moving. Therefore, the correct answer is participle.

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  • 9. 

    I was stirring the stew.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Verb
    Explanation
    The given sentence "I was stirring the stew" contains an action word that describes what the subject (I) is doing. In this case, the action word is "stirring," which is a verb. Therefore, the correct answer is "verb."

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  • 10. 

    The shopping trip lasted all day.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    The given sentence "The shopping trip lasted all day" contains the verb "lasted" which is in the past tense. The word "all day" indicates a duration of time, suggesting that the shopping trip continued for the entire day. In this context, the word "lasted" is functioning as a past participle, indicating the action of the shopping trip that occurred in the past and continued for a specific duration of time. Therefore, the correct answer is "participle."

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  • 11. 

    Who is acting in the play?

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Verb
  • 12. 

    Portia was her first acting role.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Participle
    Explanation
    The statement "Portia was her first acting role" indicates that Portia was the role that the person had as their first acting experience. In this context, "participle" is the correct answer as it is a verb form that functions as an adjective. In this case, "acting" is a present participle that describes the role of Portia.

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  • 13. 

    Acting is a great hobby for some people.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The phrase "Acting is a great hobby for some people" contains the gerund "Acting." Gerunds are verb forms ending in -ing that function as nouns. In this context, "Acting" serves as the subject and is indeed a gerund.

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  • 14. 

    Ed never stopped hoping.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The given sentence "Ed never stopped hoping" contains the word "hoping" which is functioning as a noun in the sentence. It is used to refer to the action of hoping. In this case, "hoping" is acting as a gerund, which is a verb form that functions as a noun in a sentence. It is formed by adding the "-ing" ending to a verb. In this sentence, "hoping" is the subject of the sentence and is being used as a noun to convey that Ed never stopped having hope.

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  • 15. 

    The gravy needs stirring.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The given correct answer is "gerund" because "stirring" is functioning as a noun in the sentence. It is the object of the verb "needs" and is referring to the action of stirring the gravy. In this context, "stirring" is not a verb or a participle, but a gerund.

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  • 16. 

    The Halls are moving away.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Verb
    Explanation
    The given statement "The Halls are moving away" is a complete sentence that expresses an action or state of being. In this case, the word "moving" is functioning as a verb, indicating that the Halls are in the process of changing their location. Therefore, the correct answer is "verb."

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  • 17. 

    Who is pitching today?

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Verb
    Explanation
    The question is asking about the person who is currently pitching. "Verb" is the correct answer because it is a part of speech that refers to an action, and in this context, it is the action of pitching. The other options, "participle" and "gerund," are not applicable in this context as they refer to verb forms used in different grammatical constructions.

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  • 18. 

    I have been shopping for new shoes.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Verb
    Explanation
    The given correct answer is "verb" because "have been shopping" is a verb phrase, indicating an action that the speaker has been doing. In this sentence, "shopping" is functioning as a verb, showing the action of the speaker engaging in the activity of shopping for new shoes.

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  • 19. 

    Jo practices singing daily.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Gerund
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "gerund" because "singing" is a verb form that functions as a noun in this sentence. It is the object of the verb "practices" and is used to talk about the activity that Jo does regularly.

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  • 20. 

    The team is hoping for a win.

    • Verb

    • Participle

    • Gerund

    Correct Answer
    A. Verb
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "verb" because "hoping" is a verb form that indicates an action or state of hoping. It is not a participle, which is a verb form used as an adjective or to form verb tense, or a gerund, which is a verb form used as a noun.

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Juliette Firla |MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.

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  • Jan 27, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
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    Expert Reviewed by
    Juliette Firla
  • Feb 05, 2012
    Quiz Created by
    Hkcoy
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