reading is a predicate adjective, not an adverb.

http://www.bartleby.com/68/24/4724.html


Phil

I don't understand how reading is either an adjective or an adverb in this case. It doesn't describe the chair. Just because it appears in the predicate doesn't make it an adjective. It's not an adverb either as it doesn't describe the way the man sits.

If I'm wrong, please explain. I don't think I am.

Quoted from James McClung I don't understand how reading is either an adjective or an adverb in this case. It doesn't describe the chair. Just because it appears in the predicate doesn't make it an adjective. It's not an adverb either as it doesn't describe the way the man sits. If I'm wrong, please explain. I don't think I am.

Frankly, it doesnt matter. Sits is your verb. VERBS with ING creates a passive sentence.

reading is also a noun http://209.161.33.50/dictionary/reading

Quoted from JD_OK Frankly, it doesnt matter. Sits is your verb. VERBS with ING creates a passive sentence.

Putting the suffix -ing at the end of a word makes it progressive, not passive.


Phil

Again, a passive sentence is created when the noun doing the action falls as either the direct or indirect object of the sentence or is implied in context. These are usually created when the verb "to be" is used as a helping verb to another verb. Here's a passive sentence devoid of an ING verb.

Charlotte's Web was read to Sam.

Why is that a passive sentence? Because the READER of the book is not included in the sentence at all. The book was read by whom? To make it active, we have to add the action-creating person to the sentence and reorient it.

Frank read Charlotte's Web to Sam.

Now we have an active (albeit past tense) sentence.
ING verbs, poor things, do not create passive sentences.

Frank is reading Charlotte's Web to Sam.

This is an active sentence indicating the present progressive tense. We have the person actively reading to someone else. We don't use this in screenplays because we understand that whatever is going on is actively happening. So we'd reword it simply to:

Frank reads Charlotte's Web to Sam.

The sentence is still active, but without the progressive tense. Do not confuse words unfortunately enough to be blessed with the ING suffix to create passive sentences. Passive sentences are created in part using "to be" as a helping verb moreso than the existence of a ING-ed verb.

I'm not sure how often we must go over basic grammar to dispel this little rumor.

If this topic comes up again, I'm going to take out my unabridged dictionary and literally beat someone to death!

That's a pun.  Get it?


Phil