Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

Thought I'd share my headache of the day.

Can you smell something _________ in the kitchen?

(a) burning
(b) burned
(c) burnt


I'd choose (a) in a flash, but is it safe to say that choices (b) and (c) are wrong?

Thanks for any replies.

[edwardcatflap]

They're all correct as far as I can see. Number one is a present participle and short for saying

'I can smell something which is burning'

The other two could either be past participle passive forms as in short for

I can smell something which was burnt/burned (by someone)

Or just past participle adjective forms as in

I can smell something which is burnt/burned

You would expect to hear number 1 most frequently as the smell would soon wear off

[Seoulman69]

I would have thought c is an acceptable answer too. Burning would be something that is still in the process of burning and burnt would be something which has finished the process. Burning would also be a verb while burnt would be an adjective.

Hope this helps.

[The Cosmic Hum]