picking

[wowenglish1]

I wonder if "picking" in the next sentence is "present progressive" or gerund.
If "picking" is gerund, I would like to know the reason.


What's the big idea, picking on a little girl like that?

 

[bhaisahab]

I wonder if "picking" in the next sentence is "present progressive" or gerund.
If "picking" is gerund, I would like to know the reason.


What's the big idea, picking on a little girl like that?

It's a present participle.

 

[Raymott]

I wonder if "picking" in the next sentence is "present progressive" or gerund.
If "picking" is gerund, I would like to know the reason.


What's the big idea, picking on a little girl like that?

The distinction to be made is whether it's a present participle or a gerund.
I'd call it a gerund, since "picking on a little girl like that" is in apposition to "idea" - they are both noun phrases.
Picking ... is the big idea.
The sentence is in the simple present tense.

 

[TheParser]

I wonder if "picking" in the next sentence is "present progressive" or gerund.
If "picking" is gerund, I would like to know the reason.


What's the big idea, picking on a little girl like that?

***NOT A TEACHER***Perhaps some people might analyze your sentence as: What is the big idea (of your) picking on a little girl like that?" In that case, most people would probably construe "picking" as a gerund.

 

[bhaisahab]

Some people might analyse it as being "What's the big idea, (to be) picking on a little girl like that" using the continuous form of the phrasal verb "to pick on".