1. What a Verb Is, and What Verbs Aren't. English Grammar Lesson

wat is a verb?

thank you so much you real are a great teacher you tough me something that confused me for a long time

So, if thinking isn't a word in this context then what is it? Is 'contested' an adjective?

In the sentence in question, "contested" and "thinking" are both participles functioning as adjectives (as is "functioning" in this sentence). My video on participles might clear this up.

It's interesting. I've watched all of your lessons and this is the only one which I struggle with. It may come from the fact that I've studied Japanese for many years an in cases such as this 'thinking' would have been identified as a verb.

I still face huge challenges when trying to identify grammatical elements in English sentences. If only they'd taught us this stuff in school! Then again, I never would have listened.

´sandor was thinking´ makes the word ´thinking´ to a verb, thats correct. But ´Thinking that...´ is, as I would suppose, a gerund. But I am not quite sure. A gerund is what makes a ´verb´ into a subject like `I stopped smoking´ (´the´ smoking). In german it becomes very obvious because we capitalize the letter. But it could also be that ´thinking´ in this kind of sentence is a reduction like - while he was thinking. It still confuses me a little, might be that second is true.

watch lesson 10 ,... its a participal phrase .. damn it ! :D

hey Clev. St. writing class students!!

Thank you very much for giving the globe an opportunity to strengthen ones grammar skills. Very kind of you to shear your knowledge with the globe.I envy you

Very nice videos. Thank you.

I've been looking to improve my grammar; if only my teachers at School were like you I'm sure I would have learnt a lot more.