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Cho7712 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
dummy it gerund object
When the postponed object takes the form of to-infinitive or that-clause, dummy 'it' must be required in such case as the main verb being 'find'.
ex. He found it difficult to get along with her. (O)
He found to get along with her difficult. (X)
Unlike the case of to-infinitive and that-clause, gerundive object seems to be loosely constrained about where to appear.
ex. Don't you find it unpleasant walking in the rain?
He found living here pleasant.
Then, what is the governing rule for this seemingly arbitrary pattern of gerundive object?
ex. He found it difficult to get along with her. (O)
He found to get along with her difficult. (X)
Unlike the case of to-infinitive and that-clause, gerundive object seems to be loosely constrained about where to appear.
ex. Don't you find it unpleasant walking in the rain?
He found living here pleasant.
Then, what is the governing rule for this seemingly arbitrary pattern of gerundive object?
Top answer
cho7712 Then, what is the governing rule for this seemingly arbitrary pattern of gerundive object? I suspect you've taken this passage the wrong way. It's saying that there is a "governing rule" in the case of the infinitive, but not in the case of the gerundive.
- cho7712 Then, what is the governing rule for this seemingly arbitrary pattern of gerundive object?
- I suspect you've taken this passage the wrong way.
- It's saying that there is a "governing rule" in the case of the infinitive, but not in the case of the gerundive.
- In other words, with the infinitive you have no choice about how to order the elements of the sentence.
- With the gerundive you do.
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2 Answers
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cho7712Then, what is the governing rule for this seemingly arbitrary pattern of gerundive object?I suspect you've taken this passage the wrong way. It's saying that there is a "governing rule" in the case of the infinitive, but not in the case of the gerundive. In other words, with the infinitive you have no choice about how to order the elements of the se
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Thank you for the answer!
CalifJimSo with the gerundive, your choice of one position or the other is stylistic decision, not a grammatical one.
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