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

gerund or just a plain noun?

Raen — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:28:26 GMT

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

Re: Please help me with infinitive clause

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:52:11 GMT

Grammar is a descriptive process. Linguists look at a language and describe how it works.
However some Linguists describe things differently to others. The end result is usually the same, but the way they organise it, and what all the parts are call varies.
eg some Linguists say pronouns are a type of noun, some treat nouns and pronouns as different parts of speech. But both systems work out the same in the end.
However, having several different grammars is however confusing for all the rest of us!!!

An infinitive clause is the same as an infinitive phrase, however different systems of grammar are being used.
In the first clause contain any type of verb, in the second they contain a finite verb (not infinitive)

Infinitives (clauses or phrases - as you link)
Gerunds (clauses or phrases)
and
participle (clauses or phrases)
are all phrases that contain a verb.
They are clauses in some grammars and not in others.
My personal preference is to regard all phrases with a verb as a clause.
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Gerund phrase Getting the promotion is my only hope.

Infinitive phrase I wanted to leave.

Participle phrase Flying high in the air, the rocket exploded.

1024x768 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 These phrases or clauses as vary depending on whether they are replacing nouns, adjectives or adverbs.
The Infinitive comes in two froms, the to-infinitive shown above and the bare infinitive.
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bare infinitive. All I did was touch it

Re: gerund or verbal noun with an article?

Cool Breeze — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:32:42 GMT

Anonymous

Why do you think RayH seemed to have said this has to be "the fearful wailing"?

1)He heard a fearful wailing of a dog

I think he said it has to be:
2)He heard the fearful wailing of a dog

I think RayH is correct but I also think no. 1 can be correct under a right situation. I think it would have been better if the sentence had a plural noun after "of" like this:
He heard a fearful wailing of dogs

You'll have to wait for RayH's explanation for his preferences. He heard a fearful wailing of a dog is fine grammatically but it does suggest that you may hear different kinds of wailings of a dog and therefore the sentence may sound odd to some. The plural dogs simply indicates that there were at least two dogs, nothing else. No grammatical difference, really.

Grammatical terms cause confusion even among experts, so you have nothing to worry about! This is because not all grammarians and usage experts use them in the same way. There are people who don't use the term "verbal noun" at all. They regard what I consider a verbal noun as a gerund. Examples:

The speaking of English is easy. (A verbal noun and because speaking is a noun, the is posible before it. Even an adjectival attribute can be used: The correct speaking of English is easy.)

Speaking English is easy. (A gerund, which to my mind is neither a verb nor a noun but a little bit of both. The is not possible before a gerund, nor is an adjectival attribute and these two things are a clear sign (to me) that a gerund is not a noun: Correct speaking English is easy. (WRONG!!!)

Because there are hardly any inflections in English, there is bound to be occasional confusion as to the exact meaning of every word ending in ing as your example (beginning) in another post shows.

I can't remember what I have written about these things before but if you are interested, you may wish to read these posts that deal with the gerund, verbal nouns and participles and their differences:

subject of gerund gerund v present participle gerund v verbal noun

Re: participle as a subject

Cool Breeze — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:38:04 GMT

CalifJim
Your question opens up a good many sticky points in the terminology. Do we (Can we) talk about certain structures by naming them without regard to their function in context? Or not? Probably not. Is love a noun or a verb? Only context will tell.

Hmm... this seems to be another case of varying terminology. I have no objection to calling a participle an adjective, I'm just not used to that. Nor am I used to many other grammatical terms used here, like "a noun phrase". Don't get me wrong! I certainly don't mean there's anything wrong with it or that it is worse or better than the terms I am used to. I just had never heard it before I hit these forums. I can guess at the meaning of such expressions, of course.

The terminology must sometimes be confusing to learners whose native languages are so different from English that they don't even have verbs, let alone participles or gerunds! I can't start using terms I am not familiar with and thus I use the terms I learned to use in school ages ago. Hopefully I'll still be of use and assistance to some learners, at least to those who come from European countries. I'm sure I sometimes just confuse native speakers of English.

That tradition is centuries old in Europe. It is probably based on early grammarians' work and analysis of Latin. For example, "my" and its equivalents in all the grammar books that I have read and that deal with Finnish, Swedish, German, English and Latin grammar is invariably called a pronoun. In America, I think it's a called a possessive adjective? Perhaps in Britain too. Of course it isn't used instead of a noun and thus the name is misleading, but grammarians just call it a possessive pronoun anyway. It is a matter of what has been more or less consciously agreed upon. I have seen the term "dependent possessive pronoun" used to refer to "my", and the term "independent possessive pronoun" has been applied to words like "mine" because they don't need a noun after them. Therefore they are "independent". If I began to use such terms here, I'm sure I would confuse people even more!

Yes, context will tell, and I think it is plain to see in all cases. In Finnish, there are no such problems - if that is a problem at all. A noun cannot be mistaken for a verb. Nouns and verbs are always different words.

Cheers, CB

Re: Grammar- is using versus is by using

26TMNTJG2PG — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:58:07 GMT

I have recently found 'by using public transport' in the following sentence is closely connected with the prepositional phrase in LEO. Therefore, it should be a prepositional phrase that followed 'One way of lowering fuel consumption is'.

One way of lowering fuel consumption is by using public transport. - Your above assertion can only be correct if (the preposition) by is necessary. Let us see the functions of a preposition stated below to determine this.

The best time to practice water conservation is before a water shortage. (prepositional phrase = noun functioning as a complement - Besides it also tells us about the time.)

As for the noun phrase 'using public transport', it can also function as a gerund phrase according to the example below shown by LEO - gerund phrase is just a general name. One way of lowering fuel consumption is using public transport.

One of Serena Williams' biggest disappointments after her semifinal defeat was losing her spot for tennis singles in the Olympics. (gerund phrase = complement - Besides it also tells us about the disappointments.)

A preposition shows in what relation one thing stands to another, i.e. what one thing has to do with another in respect of Place, Situation, Circumstance and Time.

Unlike the following sentence which indicates a situation or circumstance, the preposition by is necessary:-

We learn more by not taking answers at face value.

Regards.

Please,help me with my mistakes!

Anonymous — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:08:54 GMT

Hi!

I just need to know if after all the corrections I have done, there still are some mistakes. Please, I really need that someone in this forum helps me because it is a summary of a monograph. Many thanks in advance!

Here is the summary:

This monograph attempts to show the reality of a current and polemical topic in Brazil: infant adoption by homosexual couples. To better understand the topic, first, there is a brief history of the evolution of family patterns and the changes that have taken place in the Brazilian family are discussed, showing the new extant patterns nowadays. In the next chapter, the acceptance (or approval ?) to homosexual union is shown by in the international scene and in Brazilian juridical system, besides there is also a brief study of the prejudice with regard to the homosexual in the course of history, with equality principle prevailing. This chapter discusses the adoption problem in Brazil, as well as its requirements and purpose that is to assure the child and adolescentâs right to the family and community environments.

In the final chapter the core idea of this monograph is reached, adoption by gay couples. First, it addresses the problem that has permeated most of the adoptions by homosexuals in Brazil: when a homosexual couple wants to adopt, one of the partners has to be chosen in order to formalize the petition for adoption (formal petition), but, in practice, both parents raise this child. It becomes evident that the bond between the child and the partner of his adopter doesnât find a proper juridical custody (a proper judicial solution) that preserves the best interests of the minor. Also, the monograph discusses * the legal possibility of homosexual couples adopting jointly, presenting studies about adoptionâs psychological viability by these pairs and giving an account of the first favorable judicial decisions to adoption by them. * Here the verb is in gerund form, so its meaning (considering the gerund form) seems strange to me in the sentence, no? By the way, what would be the correct form ? I don't know if I am right, but I suppose it should be: Also, the monograph discusses the legal possibility of homosexual couples adopt jointly,... Isn't it? Thanks again!!!

Here is the text, Clive (to Clive)

Anonymous — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:33:02 GMT

Hi Clive,

Well, here it is the summary of the monograph I told you. If you could take a look and point out possible mistakes, I'd be vey grateful!

* Here the verb is in gerund form, so its meaning (considering the gerund form) seems strange in the sentence, no? By the way, what would be the correct form ? I don't know if I am right, but I suppose it should be: Also, the monograph discusses the legal possibility of homosexual couples adopt jointly,... Isn't it?

This

to infinitive or to gerund

Nddad — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:53:12 GMT

What do you say to + â¼ ing ?
be opposed to + â¼ ing
object to + â¼ ing
have an objection to + â¼ ing
contribute to + â¼ ing
turn one's attention to + â¼ ing
with a view to + â¼ ing
be equal to + â¼ ing
devote A to + â¼ ing
look forward to + â¼ ing
fall to + â¼ ing

From above, "to" is a preposition, not infinitive.

How do I tell the difference between " to infinitive and to gerund " ??

Pls let me know it.

Thanks & Regards

Terry

Re: newest/latest information

Cool Breeze — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:35:30 GMT

Hi Angliholic

It would be a good idea to use examples taken from texts written by native speakers. Your sentence is ungrammatical. You can use a gerund (reading) as the subject, and a gerund can have an object (newspapers) but myself is impossible in your sentence. You want to say: I can get the latest information from newspapers, or: I can get the latest information by reading newspapers. Don't try to use too fancy language. Use words and expressions you are familiar with. Don't try to outdo yourself.

With regard to the latest, the newest is indeed sometimes used instead of it but I recommend you avoid that usage even though some natives occasionally resort to it. It doesn't always sound very good and natural.

Cheers

difference between " try to " & "try ing"

Nddad — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:36:05 GMT

A: What terrible weather I simply can't get the car __.

B: Why not try __ the engine with hot water?

â starting ; to fill â¡ start ; filling â¢ started ; to fill â£ to start ; filling

Which is correct answer?

What is difference between infinitive and gerund ??

Regards, Terry