Gerunds As Subject + Definite Article?

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I have questions regarding the subject of this sentence:

Recasting of the sentence is needed. (gerund + adjectival prep. phrase)

The recasting of the sentence is needed. (same as above). Is the article allowed? Why?

Recasting the sentence is needed (gerund + object). What is the difference between this and the sentences using the prep. phrase?

The recasting the sentence is needed. (gerund + object). Why doesn't the article work here?

Thank you
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Where do you come up with this stuff?? Emotion: big smile

I think "recasting the sentence" is a participial phrase acting as a noun phrase (subject).

(Just a guess!)

When you add the article, you force the P.P to become a gerund, and the "of" is then needed.
You wanna know why the "of" is needed? I'll tell you:
I don't know.

When "recasting" is a gerund, the article is optional, because "recasting" may be countable or uncountable.
The preposition, however, is not.
AvangiWhere do you come up with this stuff??
Good question. I'll tell you:

I don't know. Emotion: smile My mind just formulates structures of which I question the correctness, lucidity etc. Weird, I know.

Alas, you and I are using different terminology. To me, a participial is adjectival or adverbial, never nominal. An ing word functioning as the subject, object, complement etc is always a gerund.
Avangi
When "recasting" is a gerund, the article is optional, because "recasting" may be countable or uncountable.

The preposition, however, is not.

That's interesting... I didn't think whether a noun was countable or not had any bearing on the use of the definite article: the sea, the sand, the people

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Oh, sigh! We've been through this before with a prepositional phrase. The participle is not nominal, the phrase is.
Sometimes we name a phrase for the type of word which heads it; sometimes we name it for the way it functions.

I believe you have the count/non-count backward.

I'm saying you can omit the article if you choose: sea, sand, people.

I can't afford a/the recasting. (gerund - countable)

I can't afford recasting. (gerund - uncountable)
AvangiThe participle is not nominal, the phrase is.

Sorry, I just forget to say phrase...everytime...Fast learner, I know!
Avangi
I believe you have the count/non-count backward.

I'm saying you can omit the article if you choose: sea, sand, people.

I can't afford a/the recasting. (gerund - countable)

I can't afford recasting. (gerund - uncountable)


I think I understand you now. The definite article can be omitted with plural countable nouns. And recasting can be seen as such or it can be seen as a singular noun, which would require the require the 'the.'
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Right. I think that fits into the problem you posed.

Hey, wait a minute!

I'm thinking singular (article), uncountable (no article), Not countable plural - Emotion: rolleyes

So if you omit the "the," it can be a participle or a gerund.
If you include the "the," it can only be a gerund.
If it's a participle, you may not use the "of."
If it's a gerund, you must use the "of."
English 1b3The recasting the sentence is needed. (gerund + object). Why doesn't the article work here?
No "of". I'd say

A recasting of the sentence is needed.

CJ
A recasting of X (gerund - countable)

Recasting of X (gerund - uncountable)

A recasting X (doesn't work) "A" makes it a gerund, so it requires "of."

Recasting X (participle - "of" not required)
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