* Present participle: This is the most common use, acting as a verb form used to describe an ongoing action.
* Example: "The fire was consuming the forest."
* Adjective: "Consuming" can be used as an adjective, describing something that is overwhelming or intense.
* Example: "He had a consuming passion for music."
* Gerund: "Consuming" can function as a noun, specifically a gerund, referring to the act of consuming.
* Example: "Consuming too much sugar is unhealthy."
To determine the part of speech, look at how it's used in the sentence. If it's describing an action, it's likely a participle. If it's describing something, it's likely an adjective. And if it refers to the act itself, it's likely a gerund.