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Northwind Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Difference between gerund and noun
I'm wondering about the difference between gerund and noun.
Wha's the difference between the following sentences?
We did analyzing the terrain.
We did analysis of the terrain.
Wha's the difference between the following sentences?
We did analyzing the terrain.
We did analysis of the terrain.
Top answer
The first sentence is ungrammatical (I suppose it could be coerced to mean, in casual English, "We finished analyzing the terrain", but I don't think that's what you meant). If by any chance you meant "We did analyzing of the terrain", then that's ugly. "We did analysis of the terrain" is OK, though "We analysed the terrain" may be simpler and better.
- The first sentence is ungrammatical (I suppose it could be coerced to mean, in casual English, "We finished analyzing the terrain", but I don't think that's what you meant).
- If by any chance you meant "We did analyzing of the terrain", then that's ugly.
- "We did analysis of the terrain" is OK, though "We analysed the terrain" may be simpler and better.
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6 Answers
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The first sentence is ungrammatical (I suppose it could be coerced to mean, in casual English, "We finished analyzing the terrain", but I don't think that's what you meant). If by any chance you meant "We did analyzing of the terrain", then that's ugly.
"We did analysis of the terrain" is OK, though "We analysed the terrain" may be simpler and better.
"We did analysis of the terrain" is OK, though "We analysed the terrain" may be simpler and better.
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However, there is no real difference in the meanings of the noun and gerund (which is also a noun) in those sentences. Generally, if a good noun exists, it is not natural or good style to use the gerund unless we particularly want to stress the sense of activity that still lingers around the '-ing'.
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Oh, how nice!
Thanks!
Well, can I ask one more?
What's the differemce between the following sentences?
That's his favorite way of explaining.
That's his favorite way of explanation.
Thanks!
Well, can I ask one more?
What's the differemce between the following sentences?
That's his favorite way of explaining.
That's his favorite way of explanation.
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northwindWhat's the differemce between the following sentences?In this case there's not much difference in meaning, but the second sentence seems more unusual and depends on the idiom "way of explanation". You can't combine "way of" with arbitrary nouns; for example, you ca
That's his favorite way of explaining.
That's his favorite way of explanation.
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That was a great explanation thanks.
Sometimes we also need to think of the words that came before and it also suggests are a natural way to explain things.
Why does English have so many ways of explaining things when the best way to explain them does not exist?
Sometimes we also need to think of the words that came before and it also suggests are a natural way to explain things.
Why does English have so many ways of explaining things when the best way to explain them does not exist?
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