Search results for 'tag:Gerunds tag:Grammar' matching tags 'Gerunds' and 'Grammar'

CAN'T STAND + INFINITIVE vs CAN'T STAND +GERUND

Tuongvan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:56:31 GMT

Hi teachers,

My English Grammar written by Raymond Murphy says after CAN'T STAND we must use a gerund, not an infinitive, but in Longman English dictionary,It gives an example with CAN'T STAND + INFINITIVE:
Quote :

can't stand

spoken used to say that you do not like someone or something at all, or that you think that something is extremely unpleasant [= can't bear]:

I can't stand bad manners.

I know he can't stand the sight of me.

can't stand (somebody/something) doing something

Lily can't stand working in an office.

I can't stand people smoking around me when I'm eating.

can't stand to do something

She can't stand to hear them arguing.

Unquote

I'm very confused about this.So could you possibly clarify it for me?

Thank you in advance

Re: gerund or verbal noun with an article?

Crokey — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:41:35 GMT

Generally, what follows the "of" in a double possessive will be definite and human, not otherwise, so we would say "a friend of my uncle's" but not "a friend of the museum's [museum, instead]." What precedes the "of" is usually indefinite (a friend, not the best friend), unless it's preceded by the demonstratives this or that, as in "this friend of my father's." - http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htm
the nail is never comin out now!!! enjoy the tennis, i'm off to the hardware store to get a few screws, they should be easier to bury than nails!!!

Re: gerund or verbal noun with an article?

Cool Breeze — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:40:18 GMT

Crokey
"The speech of the english language is beautiful". speech is surely a verbal noun, derived from the verb speak but there is no action being performed, i am merely naming an action. When i say "The speaking of the english language is easy", am I naming an action or am I implying that an action may be performed that is difficult.

I would consider speech incorrectly used in your sentence and in the terminology I am familiar with the term "verbal noun" only refers to nouns derived from verbs by adding ing. If you want to use the term in another sense, I have absolutely nothing against it. I am not in the least trying to impose my terminology upon others, I just have to stick to something and be consistent, otherwise I'll soon lose track of what I am saying! I suppose the same applies to other members of EF whose terms may differ from mine.

You'll have to decide for yourself what you have in mind when you say the speaking of English. I never think of things that are not required to understand the simple grammar of English! Why make it more complicated than it is?

Re: Some Grammar Questions

Clive — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:13:23 GMT

Hi,

Sentence: You never know what is going to happen to you, do you?

Begin the sentence with: "One"

One never knows what is going to happen to him/her, does one?

[What is wrong with this sentence? Is the usage of "him/her" correct. I think it is.]

No, be consistent. One never knows what is going to happen to one, does one?

Prepositions:

I hope you will advise Ben over his legal rights.

Is it correct?Say 'about' or 'of' or 'on'.

Tenses:

1. Two months from now she will be taking her final examination. OK

2. Completing the assignment, the students left the school. [Is this called a gerund ?]
No. A gerund is like a noun,
eg Swimming is fun.
eg Completing the assignment was difficult.

Best wishes, Clive

Some Grammar Questions

Ritwik06 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:40:08 GMT

Sentence: You never know what is going to happen to you, do you?

Begin the sentence with: "One"

One never knows what is going to happen to him/her, does one?

[What is wrong with this sentence? Is the usage of "him/her" correct. I think it is.]

Prepositions:

I hope you will advise Ben over his legal rights.

Is it correct?

Tenses:

1. Two months from now she will be taking her final examination.

2. Completing the assignment, the students left the school. [Is this called a gerund ?]

Are these correct?

Re: gerund or verbal noun with an article?

Crokey — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:44:28 GMT

Hi CB,
thanks so much for your reply(i was the one who asked about the differences between verbal nouns and gerunds). i agree that there seems to be discrepancies between one grammarians usage and another's. I certainly like your definition of gerunds, in so far as they are unable to take the definite article, however: "the gerund expresses action [and] it is often preceded by the definite article" e.g.(given) "Our culture therefore must not omit the arming of the man." from An English Grammar by W. M. Baskervill & J. W. Sewell.
Perhaps your example might be used to illustrate the conundrum further: "The speech of the english language is beautiful". speech is surely a verbal noun, derived from the verb speak but there is no action being performed, i am merely naming an action. When i say "The speaking of the english language is easy", am I naming an action or am I implying that an action may be performed that is difficult. If I had never read the section in An English Grammar(reproduced in a variety of other articles i have ventured across during this travail) and a spectacular panoply of inconcise readings of the matter, then i would be quiet content to adopt your comfortable definition.
thanks again cb for taking the time to look at this and all the other posts...especially the ones that are pure academic tomfoolery!

Re: gerund or verbal noun with an article?

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:36:08 GMT

hi,
i've been struggling with coming to grips with the differences between verbal nouns and gerunds.
e.g. John's singing the national anthem bothered me. or John's singing of the national anthem bothered me.
which is correct, and in the second case is 'singing' a gerund or verbal noun?

The beginning of the book is better than the middle or end sections.
The beginning of a new book is always the most rewarding part. (beginning here meaning starting to read)
the first case is rather clear, i am not speaking of an action and it must be a verbal noun, but you can see where the problem lies.

The writing of a book is always an ambitious undertaking. (writing is the verbal noun)

from an article on verbal nouns on wikipedia,

The gerund is like the participle ..frequently modified by a possessive noun or pronoun.

taken from An English Grammar by W. M. Baskervill & J. W. Sewell

i am really confused as to what makes a gerund a gerund, and when a verbal noun is a verbal noun. any help in this matter would be really appreciated.

Re: appreciate + Ving

Cool Breeze — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:34:13 GMT

Clive
A gerund is a noun form of a verb, thus we can say
I appreciate your making the effort to come.

Hi Clive

So, a noun can have an object in American/Canadian grammar?

Cheers, CB

PS Something Canadian in going to happen in Helsinki! Leonard Cohen will give a concert to an audience of about 11,000 people on October 10. The concert was sold out weeks ago. (I'll be there!)

Re: appreciate + Ving

Clive — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:35:06 GMT

Hi,
can anyone help explain the grammatical point for the following sentence?

I appreciate your making the effort to come.

Why does it use "appreciate"+"your (possessive)"+"making (gerund)" + effort (noun)"? What grammatical point is it? Are there other similar examples?

The grammar structure is someone appreciates a noun form (ie something/somebody). eg
Tom appreciates the gift.
Tom appreciates Mary's gift.

A gerund is a noun form of a verb, thus we can say
Tom appreciates Mary's giving him a gift.
I appreciate your making the effort to come.

Note that, in everyday casual English, we often omit the possessive form and simply say
Tom appreciates Mary giving him a gift.
I appreciate you making the effort to come.

Do you have any more questions about this?
Best wishes, Clive

dislike and dread

Tuongvan — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:33:19 GMT

Hi teachers,

Many grammar books say: "dislike/dread + v-ing" except "dread to think",but in my Mastering American English grammar book it says "dislike" and "dread" can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund:

. I dread to think about that / I dread thinking about that.

. He dislikes to play bridge / He dislikes playing bridge .

Is there any change in meaning between:
" I dread to think about that " and "I dread thinking about that"
"He dislikes to play bridge" and "He dislikes playing bridge " ?

Thank you in advance