VERBAL VS DEVERBAL

Distinction between verbal and deverbal uses

When used as a gerund or present participle, the -ing form is a non-finite verb, which behaves like a (finite) verb in that it forms a verb phrase, taking typical verb dependents and modifiers such as objects and adverbs. That verb phrase is then used within a larger sentence, with the function of an adjective or adverb (in the case of the participle) or with the function of a noun (in the case of the gerund).
However the same verb-derived -ing forms are also sometimes used as pure nouns or adjectives.^[3] In this case the word does not form a verb phrase; any modifiers it takes will be of a grammatical kind which is appropriate to a noun or adjective respectively.
For example:

• Shouting loudly is rude. (shouting is a gerund, modified by the adverb loudly)
• Loud shouting is something I can't stand. (shouting is a pure noun, modified by the adjective loud)
• I saw him exciting the crowds. (exciting is a participle, taking the object the crowds)
• It was a very exciting game. (exciting is a pure adjective, modified by very, an adverb typically applied to adjectives)

When used as a pure noun or adjective (i.e. having lost its grammatical verbal character), the -ing form may be called a deverbal noun or deverbal adjective. Terminology varies, however; it may also be called a verbal noun or adjective (on the grounds that it is derived from a verb).