Anonymous  +  389156 Sat, 07 Jul 07 07:49 PM Hi to all of you. This is my first post. I am preparing for the ALCE (Advanced Level of Americal English) examinations and I have the following query. There is little likelihood of the negotiations____the desired result. a. to bring b. bringing c. will bring d. have brought Which is the correct answer? A or B and why? Thank you in advance! Anonymous

	Clive  +  389182 Sat, 07 Jul 07 09:00 PM Hi, Welcome to the Forum. This is my first post. I am preparing for the ALCE (Advanced Level of Americal English) examinations and I have the following query. There is little likelihood of the negotiations____the desired result. a. to bring b. bringing c. will bring d. have brought Which is the correct answer? A or B and why? B. You might look at 'bringing the desired result' as an adjectival phrase modifying 'him'. However, I prefer to interpret it as follows. There is little likelihood of his calling. 'Calling' here is a gerund. Sometimes we write this as There is little likelihood of him calling. This is basically the same structure as in your example. 'To bring' does not fit with either of these approaches. Let us know if we can help you with any other questions, too. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,663 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Gerunds

	Clive  +  389192 Sat, 07 Jul 07 09:19 PM Hi, There is little likelihood of the negotiations to bring the desired result. It wouldn't be correct grammar, so it's hard to see any clear meaning in this. Clive Clive Grammar

	Bird Of Paradise  +  389349 Sun, 08 Jul 07 09:26 AM  Clive wrote: You might look at 'bringing the desired result' as an adjectival phrase modifying 'him'. I can't see him in that sentence. Bird Of Paradise Joined on Thu, Feb 15 2007 Full Member 107 I would appreciate it if anyone would correct my grammar mistakes if there are any. ( Even in this sentence.) TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE,

	Intelligent Freak  +  389353 Sun, 08 Jul 07 09:40 AM  Bird Of Paradise wrote:  Clive wrote: You might look at 'bringing the desired result' as an adjectival phrase modifying 'him'. I can't see him in that sentence. There is little likelihood of the negotiations bringing (him) the desired result. The "him" in this sentence is only implied.  It's just like this sentence:                    Call me.    Even if I don't mention the "You", the sentence implies that I am asking "You" to call me.           (You) Call me.   Ciao, IF  Intelligent Freak Joined on Sat, Jun 23 2007 I am a Filipino in UAE Contributing Member 1,408 God sometimes allows us to feel pain in order for us to appreciate the mere comfort of just being ok.

	Clive  +  389644 Mon, 09 Jul 07 03:45 AM Hi guys, I said You might look at 'bringing the desired result' as an adjectival phrase modifying 'him'. Bird of Paradise replied I can't see him in that sentence. Let me now try to clarify my meaning. I typed 'him' because I got a bit mixed up between my example and the original example . Sorry. What I was trying to say was this. There is little likelihood of his calling. 'Calling' here is a gerund. 'His' is a possessive. There is little likelihood of the negotiations'  bringing the desired result. 'Bringing' here is a gerund. ' The negotiations' ' is a possessive. Some people would argue that this is the way that the original example you gave should have been punctutaed. Sometimes we write my example as There is little likelihood of him calling. You might look at 'calling' as an adjective modifying 'him'. There is little likelihood of the negotiations bringing the desired result. In your example, without the apostophe, you might look at 'bringing the desired result' as an adjectival phrase modifying 'negotiations'. I'm not sure if I have now made this any clearer. Please post again if you have any more questions or comments about this. Best wishes, Clive Clive Possessives, Gerunds