When we use leaving, it means someone or something is going away from a place or a person. For example, 'She is leaving work early today.' This shows an action happening right now or very soon.
It can also describe something that is still there after others have gone, or something that is being put in a certain place. For instance, 'The dog was leaving paw prints on the clean floor.'
You might also hear it in phrases like 'leaving a message,' which means putting a message somewhere for someone else to find later.
When we use "leaving" at a B2 level, we're often talking about more nuanced situations than simply departing. It can refer to the act of departing, as in "She is leaving for her trip tomorrow." However, it can also describe something being left behind, either intentionally or unintentionally, like "The decision is leaving many questions unanswered." Furthermore, "leaving" can indicate a lasting effect or impression, such as "The experience was truly leaving a mark on her." It's important to consider the context to fully grasp the intended meaning at this level.
leaving em 30 segundos
- departing from a place or person
- going away from something
- remaining or being left behind
§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news
The word "leaving" is quite common and you'll encounter it in a variety of contexts, from everyday conversations to formal news reports. Because it's a fundamental verb describing movement or absence, its usage is widespread. Let's explore some typical scenarios where you might hear or read "leaving."
§ At Work
In a professional setting, "leaving" often refers to employees departing a company, or people finishing their workday. It can also describe the act of going away for a business trip or vacation.
- DEFINITION
- Referring to an employee's departure from a job.
Our team is sad to hear that Sarah is leaving at the end of the month.
- DEFINITION
- The act of finishing work for the day.
I'm leaving work early today for a dentist appointment.
§ At School
At school, "leaving" is used when students finish their studies, move to another school, or simply depart at the end of the school day. Teachers might also use it to refer to students going out for a break or a field trip.
- DEFINITION
- Students completing their education or transferring.
Many students are leaving for university after graduation.
- DEFINITION
- The act of departing the school premises.
The bell for leaving rings at 3:30 PM.
§ In the News
News reports frequently use "leaving" to discuss political figures departing their roles, individuals or groups evacuating an area, or even objects being left behind at crime scenes or significant events. It conveys a sense of movement, change, or abandonment.
- DEFINITION
- Political figures or leaders stepping down from their positions.
The President announced he would be leaving office at the end of his term.
- DEFINITION
- People evacuating a dangerous area or country.
Thousands of refugees are leaving the conflict zone.
- DEFINITION
- Objects or evidence found at a scene.
Police are investigating the belongings leaving at the scene of the incident.
As you can see, "leaving" is a versatile word with consistent meaning across different environments. Paying attention to the context will help you understand its precise nuance in any given situation. It's a common term that B1 level learners should be comfortable with, as it's integral to daily communication and understanding current events.
§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives
The word "leaving" is the present participle of the verb "to leave." It's a versatile word, and understanding its nuances, especially when compared to similar words, can greatly improve your English communication at a B1 level and beyond.
- Departing
- "Departing" is often used in more formal contexts, especially when talking about scheduled travel. It implies a definite start to a journey or movement from a specific location.
The train is departing from Platform 3 at 10 AM.
- Exiting
- "Exiting" specifically refers to going out of an enclosed space, such as a building, room, or vehicle. It emphasizes the act of going from inside to outside.
Please watch your step when exiting the bus.
- Going away
- "Going away" is a more general and informal phrase than "leaving." It often implies a longer absence or a journey, but it doesn't always specify a starting point as clearly as "leaving" can.
They are going away for the weekend.
- Withdrawing
- "Withdrawing" implies pulling back or removing oneself from a situation, group, or commitment. It can be physical or abstract, like withdrawing money from a bank.
He considered withdrawing from the competition.
When to use "leaving" vs. alternatives:
- Use "leaving" for the most general sense of going away from a place or person. It's often used for everyday situations.
- Use "departing" for formal travel, especially with schedules (e.g., trains, planes).
- Use "exiting" when specifically going out of an enclosed space.
- Use "going away" for a more informal and often longer absence.
- Use "withdrawing" when pulling back from a situation, group, or commitment.
Dicas
Understand the Core Meaning
At its heart, 'leaving' means moving away from a place or person. Think of it as the opposite of 'arriving' or 'staying'.
Distinguish from 'Left'
While 'leaving' is the present participle, 'left' is the past tense and past participle. For example, 'I am leaving now' versus 'I left an hour ago'.
Use in Continuous Tenses
'Leaving' is frequently used in continuous tenses, such as 'I am leaving soon' (present continuous) or 'They were leaving when I arrived' (past continuous).
Phrasal Verbs with 'Leave'
Be aware of common phrasal verbs like 'leave out' (to omit) or 'leave behind' (to forget something). These change the meaning significantly.
Contextual Clues for 'Remaining'
When 'leaving' describes something remaining, look for context. For example, 'The leaving marks on the wall' means marks that are still there.
Practice with Sentence Construction
Create your own sentences using 'leaving' in different contexts. This helps solidify your understanding and usage.
Listen for Native Speaker Usage
Pay attention to how native speakers use 'leaving' in conversations, movies, or podcasts. This will give you natural examples.
Avoid Direct Translation
While helpful, directly translating 'leaving' to your native language might sometimes miss nuances, especially with phrasal verbs.
Focus on the '-ing' Ending
Remember that the '-ing' ending generally indicates an ongoing action or a gerund (a verb acting as a noun).
Consider 'Leaving' as a Noun
In some cases, 'leaving' can function as a gerund, acting as a noun, e.g., 'His leaving was unexpected.' This is a more advanced usage.
Teste-se 24 perguntas
Write a short sentence about someone going away from a place.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
My friend is leaving for vacation tomorrow.
Imagine you are saying goodbye to a pet. Write one sentence about what you are doing.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I am leaving my dog with my neighbor for the weekend.
Describe something you might forget when leaving your house.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Sometimes I forget my keys when leaving the house.
What is the sister doing next week?
Read this passage:
My sister is leaving for college next week. She is very excited about studying in a new city. We will miss her a lot, but we are happy for her new adventure.
What is the sister doing next week?
The passage states, 'My sister is leaving for college next week.'
The passage states, 'My sister is leaving for college next week.'
What should you do if you want to ride the bus?
Read this passage:
The bus is leaving the station in five minutes. If you want to catch it, you need to hurry. Don't be late!
What should you do if you want to ride the bus?
The passage says, 'If you want to catch it, you need to hurry.'
The passage says, 'If you want to catch it, you need to hurry.'
What was left on the table after the party?
Read this passage:
After the party, everyone was leaving. There were many empty plates and cups remaining on the table. It was a fun evening.
What was left on the table after the party?
The passage mentions, 'There were many empty plates and cups remaining on the table.'
The passage mentions, 'There were many empty plates and cups remaining on the table.'
She waved goodbye before ____ for her trip.
The present participle 'leaving' is used after a preposition ('before').
The children were sad about ____ their toys behind.
The present participle 'leaving' is used after the preposition 'about'.
He spent the whole afternoon ____ messages for his friends.
The present participle 'leaving' is used here to describe an ongoing action.
After ____ the office, she went straight home.
The present participle 'leaving' is used after the preposition 'after'.
The plane is ____ in an hour, so we need to hurry.
The present participle 'leaving' is used with 'is' to form the present continuous tense, indicating a future event.
I don't like ____ my dog alone for too long.
The present participle 'leaving' is used as the object of the verb 'like'.
She waved goodbye, ___ for her flight to Paris.
The present participle 'leaving' is used here to describe an action happening at the same time as 'waved goodbye'.
The children were sad about ___ their friends behind when they moved.
The word 'leaving' functions as a gerund here, acting as the object of the preposition 'about'.
___ work early is sometimes necessary when you have an important appointment.
The word 'Leaving' is used as a gerund, acting as the subject of the sentence.
In the sentence 'The dog was happily leaving its paw prints in the sand,' 'leaving' is used correctly to show an ongoing action.
Yes, 'leaving' is the present participle, correctly indicating an action that was happening continuously.
The sentence 'He was leaving the office, and then he left his keys on the desk' uses 'leaving' to describe something that is remaining.
No, 'leaving' in this context describes the act of departing, not something that is remaining. 'Left' describes the keys remaining on the desk.
The phrase 'leaving no stone unturned' means that someone is being very thorough.
Yes, 'leaving no stone unturned' is an idiom meaning to investigate every possibility or to be very thorough.
After carefully weighing all his options, John made the difficult decision of ______ his long-standing position at the company to pursue a new entrepreneurial venture.
The present participle 'leaving' is used here to describe the act of John departing from his job, functioning as part of a gerund phrase that clarifies his decision.
The incessant rain, ______ no respite for days, had caused significant flooding across the region, necessitating widespread evacuations.
The present participle 'leaving' is used here to indicate the consequence or result of the incessant rain, creating a participial phrase that modifies 'rain'.
Despite the persistent rumors of her imminent departure, the CEO remained tight-lipped, ______ everyone in suspense about her future plans.
The present participle 'leaving' is used to describe the ongoing action of the CEO keeping everyone in suspense, forming a participial phrase that modifies 'CEO'.
In the sentence, 'The detective, leaving no stone unturned, finally uncovered the truth,' the word 'leaving' functions as a gerund.
In this sentence, 'leaving' functions as a present participle, forming a participial phrase that modifies 'detective' and describes an action performed by the detective. A gerund acts as a noun.
The phrase 'leaving a legacy' correctly uses 'leaving' as a present participle to describe the act of establishing an enduring impact.
'Leaving' in 'leaving a legacy' is indeed a present participle, indicating the action of creating a lasting impact, and it functions as part of a participial phrase.
The sentence 'Her sudden leaving of the party surprised everyone' uses 'leaving' as a verb that describes an ongoing action.
In this sentence, 'leaving' acts as a gerund (a noun formed from a verb), referring to the act of her departure, not an ongoing verb action. It is the subject of the sentence along with 'Her sudden'.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Leaving means going away from a place or person, or something that is remaining.
- departing from a place or person
- going away from something
- remaining or being left behind
Understand the Core Meaning
At its heart, 'leaving' means moving away from a place or person. Think of it as the opposite of 'arriving' or 'staying'.
Distinguish from 'Left'
While 'leaving' is the present participle, 'left' is the past tense and past participle. For example, 'I am leaving now' versus 'I left an hour ago'.
Use in Continuous Tenses
'Leaving' is frequently used in continuous tenses, such as 'I am leaving soon' (present continuous) or 'They were leaving when I arrived' (past continuous).
Phrasal Verbs with 'Leave'
Be aware of common phrasal verbs like 'leave out' (to omit) or 'leave behind' (to forget something). These change the meaning significantly.
