Grammar help needed

[MissMillie]

In the (partial) sentence below:

"... a mental tapestry of changing intentions for harmonizing and focusing our efforts as the basis for realizing some aim or purpose in an unfolding and often unforeseen world of many bewildering events and many contending interests."

are the words "unfolding," "bewildering" and "contending" considered to be gerunds?

I thought a gerund was a word that was used as a noun. These appear to be adjectives.

[redqueen]

1. I agree with you.

I also think that's a horrid sentence. But that's just me.

[Az]

2. Sux Syntax

That is all. :hi:

[Deep13]

3. They are verbals, verbs used as adjectives.

As my 8th grade English teacher said, "Verbal rhymes with gerbil, but has nothing to do with it."

A gerund is a verb used as a noun.

[Felix Mala]

4. Don't know where this sentence is going, but it should be a landfill.

"...in an unfolding and often unforeseen world..."

What "unforeseen worlds" is the writer referring to? Something in the Anteres system?

Try: "...in a world of unfolding and unforeseen circumstances..." And get to 'period' ASAP.

[woo me with science]

5. Is this from the Harriet Miers questionnaire? :op

It sounds a lot like the excerpts from her writings that David Brooks published...

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

6. they're adjectives, and that sentence needs a spanking

[skygazer]

7. Is this an entry in the Bulwer-Lytton bad writing contest?

It certainly sounds like it. Just the fragment has given me a headache. :silly: