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Allthewayanime Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Comings and goings - gerund?

According to my grammar English book the gerund doesn't have the plural form, but I came across this sentence in which 'comings' and 'goings' are used as plural nouns.Could someone give me an explanation regarding this matter,please?

'When Rose questioned her on her late comings and goings she merely replied that life was too short.'

How can I know if it's a noun or a gerund? For instance 'loving' can only be an adjective or a verb, but 'flashing' can be both be an on-going action and a noun( that's why it takes the plural form 'flashings').
  

Top answer

allthewayanime How can I know if it's a noun or a gerund? Hi, Comings and goings functions as an informal idiom. It doesn't have to do with gerunds and infinitives.

  • allthewayanime How can I know if it's a noun or a gerund?
  • Hi, Comings and goings functions as an informal idiom.
  • It doesn't have to do with gerunds and infinitives.
  • Comings and goings - the activity of people arriving at and leaving a specific place.
  • Regards
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2 Answers
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allthewayanimeHow can I know if it's a noun or a gerund?
Hi,

Comings and goings functions as an informal idiom. It doesn't have to do with gerunds and infinitives.

Comings and goings - the activity of people arriving at and leaving a specific place.

Regards
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Got it. But generally speaking how can I know if it's a noun or a gerund? For instance 'loving' can only be an adjective or a verb, but 'flashing' can be both be an on-going action and a noun( that's why it takes the plural form 'flashings').

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