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What is the present participle?
The present participle is a participle that ends in ing. It can be used with the auxiliary verb 'to be' to form the continuous tense. It always takes the ‘ing’ form of the verb, even irregular verbs have an ‘...ing’ form, in fact virtually all English words that end with ‘ing’ are present participles.
I am learning English. (Learning is part of the continuous verb phrase 'am learning')
We were running through the woods. (Running is part of the continuous verb phrase 'were running' ).
It can also be used as an adjective.
As an adjective: I am a working woman. (Working is used here as an adjective.)
The present participle can also be used as a noun denoting the action of a verb a gerund. But remember the present participle can be used as a verb or an adjective whilst the gerund is used as a noun.