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Sun 11 Jul, 2010 01:29 pm
I've been trying to classify what exactly the word "writing" in the phrase "a writing desk" is. In its current state it seems to be an adjective, but all examples I could find for verbal adjectives use the noun being modified as the one carrying out the action (e.g. "a writing man"). Obviously the desk isn't what's doing the writing.
On the other hand, "a writing desk" could be rewritten as "a desk for writing", in which case "writing" would be a gerund, right?
Any clarification would be amazing, thanks!
a writing desk
The word "writing" is an adjective. It describes what kind of desk it is.
It's a style of furniture. It could have been a rolltop desk or a secretary's desk.
@rolandofthewhite,
Gerund (Ving)= noun only. can be a subject, object or complement
Present Participle (Ving)= adjective
A writing desk= it's an adjective (Present participle)
for writing= prep + noun= adj phrase describing "desk"
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