Raen  +  566279 Mon, 15 Sep 08 02:28 PM Here's the sentence: Our next job, to finish the painting, should be easy. Answer:  to finish the painting is a noun infinitive used as an appositive/ painting is a gerund used as the direct object to the verbal to finish   I underlined the part in question. Doesn't "painting" simply mean a picture? Not a gerund which a verb turned into a noun by adding "ing" to the verb"? If the sentence said: Our next job, to finish painting, should be easy. I would have agreed it (painting)  to be gerund. False?   Regards Raen   Raen Joined on Thu, May 1 2008 Full Member 354 Regards, Verbs, Nouns, Gerunds, Direct Objects

	Grammar Geek  +  566290 Mon, 15 Sep 08 02:58 PM My first guess would have been "a picture" too. But if they are working on a house, they could have to lay the carpet, paint, put in the trim work, etc. In that case "the painting" could be the gerund meaning the task of applying paint to the walls. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Nouns, Gerunds

	Raen  +  566304 Mon, 15 Sep 08 03:50 PM hmm..I see your point. I have thought the article "the" disqualified "painting" from being a gerund. But you're right, it could very well be the task of applying paint to the walls . Thank you GG.   Raen Raen Articles, Nouns, Gerunds