Which suffix marks the present participle in English?

• A. -ing
• B. -ed
• C. -er
• D. -s

Answer: (A)

The suffix -ing marks the present participle. It forms words like walking, running, and singing. When combined with a form of be, it shows ongoing action, as in she is walking or they were singing. It also begins participial phrases that describe a noun, such as the man running down the street waved. The same -ing form can function as a noun (a gerund) in sentences like Singing is fun, but in the present participle use it often appears in continuous tenses or as a modifier. The other endings have different roles: -ed signals past tense or a past participle, -er often forms agent nouns or comparative adjectives, and -s marks the third-person singular present.