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Contraposition Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
dread : +gerund or +infinitive?
What is the difference between 'dread+ing' and 'dread+inf'?
I dread to think what would happen if there really was a fire here.
She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father.
I dread to think what would happen if there really was a fire here.
She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father.
Top answer
I believe 'dread+ing' is the norm. "I dread to think" seems to me to be an exception. CJ
- I believe 'dread+ing' is the norm.
- "I dread to think" seems to me to be an exception.
- CJ
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3 Answers
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I believe 'dread+ing' is the norm. "I dread to think" seems to me to be an exception.
CJ
CJ
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The infinitive is 'to dread'
Hence, "I dread to think..." (Present Tense)
In your second sentence, 'dreading' is not a gerund, it is the participle as used in the Continuous form:
"I am dreading going to this meeting with..." (Present Continuous)
"I was dreading having to broach the subject..." (Past Continuous
Hence, "I dread to think..." (Present Tense)
In your second sentence, 'dreading' is not a gerund, it is the participle as used in the Continuous form:
"I am dreading going to this meeting with..." (Present Continuous)
"I was dreading having to broach the subject..." (Past Continuous
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