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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

A stand-alone gerund use?

Hi,
I think one can make a word saying like "one should talk the talk," although meaning is elusive. Can I use a gerund form like "talking" and "walking" in replacement of their nouns forms (I am sure they are noun forms) "talk" and "walk" and make a phrase like this?

Talking is free, whereas working is not.

I used the construction like "Talking gibberish is free" or Talking of gibberish stuff is free" but I am sure of the validity (correctness) of using a stand-alone gerund. I think a stand-alone gerund use is OK as long as done case by case and not all use of this sort of gerund use is correct.
  

Top answer

If a specific noun form exists and is in general use, then it is usually the preferred. I also agree with this statement: a stand-alone gerund use is generally OK-- as long as it is done case by case-- and not all uses of this sort of gerund use are correct.

  • If a specific noun form exists and is in general use, then it is usually the preferred.
  • I also agree with this statement: a stand-alone gerund use is generally OK-- as long as it is done case by case-- and not all uses of this sort of gerund use are correct.
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1 Answers
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If a specific noun form exists and is in general use, then it is usually the preferred. I also agree with this statement: a stand-alone gerund use is generally OK-- as long as it is done case by case-- and not all uses of this sort of gerund use are correct.
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