Here's why:
* Present participles are formed by adding "-ing" to the base form of a verb.
* They can function as:
* Verbs: *She is eating dinner.*
* Adjectives: *The eating habits of bears are fascinating.*
* Nouns: *The eating was excessive.*
In the context of your question, it's impossible to determine the specific part of speech without more information. You need a sentence to understand how the word is used.