* From verb to noun: It turns the verb "shrink" into a noun, referring to the act of shrinking itself. For example: "The shrinking of the ice caps is a concern."
* From present tense to present participle: It creates the present participle of the verb, indicating an ongoing action. For example: "The sweater is shrinking in the wash."
* From active to passive: It can sometimes indicate a passive sense, highlighting the state of being affected by the action. For example, "The economy is shrinking" emphasizes the effect of the action, rather than the agent doing the shrinking.
Overall, "-ing" in "shrinking" adds a sense of process, ongoing action, and sometimes a passive focus to the root word "shrink".