0
Viceidol Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

All you can do is study/studying hard.

All you can do is study hard.

All you can do is studying hard.

Is the second one corect in using the gerund?

Thank you for your answer!
  

Top answer

The gerund is wrong here but to is optional in the first sentence: All you can do is [to] study hard. CB

  • The gerund is wrong here but to is optional in the first sentence: All you can do is [to] study hard.
  • CB
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

10 Answers
0
The gerund is wrong here but to is optional in the first sentence: All you can do is [to] study hard.

CB
0
Cool Breeze
The gerund is wrong here but to is optional in the first sentence: All you can do is [to] study hard.

May I ask why using gerund is considered wrong in this case? Thank you!
0
Both gerund and "to do" can be predicative. The differentces are:
1. If the action will be done in the future, "to do " is better.
Example: What I suggest is to start to work at once. (It is similar to yours: all you can do it to study hard)
2. If the subject is " to do", we will use "to do" as its predicative.
Example: To see is to believe.

I don't know how to say whe
0
Viceidol
May I ask why using gerund is considered wrong in this case? Thank you!

With the "do" you need the infinitive form.

I've tried to come up with examples, but it's harder than I though. You can flip the sentence: Studying hard is all you can do.
0
Viceidol
Cool Breeze
The gerund is wrong here but to is optional in the first sentence: All you can do is [to] study hard.

May I ask why using gerund is considered wrong in this case? Thank you!

It just isn't used in sentences in which all occurs as the antecedent of a
0
CB, is it the "all" or is it the "do"?

Because you can say "All you are doing is making me more angry by the second!" At least, I think we can. But that's "you are making" as present continuous, and not a gerund! Argh! I get so confused myself at times!
0
I guess it's the "do" in certain structures.
What I did was open the window and throw it out.
Or maybe it's actually the verb form... because GG is right, if I change it to a continuous form, I have:
What I was doing was trying to find my keys in the backyard.

Yeah, I guess it's the verb form.
0
All you can do is study hard.

You have here a modified pseudo-cleft with do.

Follow the links from here:

What is the usual beginning for a pseudo-cleft, but you can modify that with All (that), The first time (that), and various similar structures. You have used All in place of What.

CJ
0
Thank you! Now I know why the do is used. Thanks all of you!
0
ViceidolThanks to all of you!
Or: Thank you all.

Related Questions