The Verbal Adjective
English adjectives ending in –ing may be roughly divided into three categories :
a. Adjectives that have the comparative and the superlative degree
surprising (more surprising, the most surprising)
astonishing
striking
amazing
b. Adjectives derived from verbs – namely from participles – having a verbal nature but discharging no verbal function and having no comparative or superlative.
Upon his aching and swelling head the cold cloth was like a tender
woman’s hand. (S. Crane, “The Red Badge of Courage)
The landscape was swelling into rising ground here and there.
Showing a state or a quality, these verbal adjectives may be assimilated with qualitative adjectives (grouped apart because they have no degree of comparison).
c. Adjectives derived from an –ing form other than the participle (gerund, verbal noun) , having a verbal character but discharging no verbal function and having no comparative or superlative.
a dancing – hall
a writing - table
a reading – book
More often than not, such forms should be looked upon as compound nouns. However, if analysed morphologically, the –ing forms may be assimilated to adjectives of the relative type.
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