[Grammar] - The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"? (2024)

The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

Hi, guys.
I have got two questions!

First:

Is this sentence "I am done eating" grammatically correct or not?
If so, what is the word "eating"? is it a kind of adverb or something else?

Second:

What is the function of "using" in the sentence "You can contact us using one of the contact points below"?
Is it something like that (I mean "eating" in the first)?

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

[Not a teacher]

"I am done eating" means that you have finished eating.

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

And the second means You can contact us by using one of the contacts points below.

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

Sorry, I forgot the second sentence.

"By using one of the contacts..." or "by one of the contacts..." [not a teacher].

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

José Manuel Rosón Bravo said:

[Not a teacher]

"I am done eating" means that you have finished eating.

Click to expand...

I know that meaning!
I just want to know what the word "eating" is grammatically in that sentence (adverb or ...)?

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

Tdol said:

And the second means You can contact us by using one of the contacts points below.

Click to expand...

I know that meaning as well!

You mean that the original one was "by using" and then the "by" is taken from the sentence?

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

Let me light it up!

I am done eating -> subject + auxiliary verb + past participle + ????

Please help

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

Your questions are interesting, but difficult. If I had to parse your sentences, there are only a few possibilities. The two -ing words can only be gerunds or participles. They cannot be gerunds because there is no place for a noun there. So I have to conclude that they are participles. Participles often act as modifiers. So what do they modify? In your "eating" sentence, I would say that "eating" is an adverb modifying the adjective "done". In your "using" sentence, I would say that it is an adverb modifying the verb "can contact".

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

It is also possible to consider them as objects of a preposition. The preposition is omitted.

"I am done (with) eating."

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

I'm not convinced because there is not a definite reason for that!
After all, I've not found out if they are objects of an omitted preposition or an adverb?!

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

You have been given two different but plausible theories. You can pick one or develop your own. There is nothing definite about this issue. I try to analyse text without adding "missing" words. But sometimes that is the only solution.

Re: The function of the word "eating" in the sentence "I am done eating"?

And if you consider it as a prepositional phrase, that phrase then acts as an adverb.

Language is not an exact science.