What is the part of speech for running?

"Running" can be several parts of speech depending on its function in a sentence. Here are the most common ones:

* Verb: When "running" describes an action, it's a verb.

* Example: "I am running a marathon."

* Gerund: When "running" functions as a noun, it's a gerund.

* Example: "Running is my favorite way to exercise."

* Present Participle: When "running" modifies a noun or pronoun, it's a present participle.

* Example: "The running water was refreshing."

To determine the part of speech for "running" in a specific sentence, consider its role and function within the sentence.