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Taruns1008 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

"For doing so" and "to do so"

#1 He used rather harsh word in denouncing her but he must have had some very strong reasons for doing so.

Why can't we use "to do so" here?
Can you explain the difference b/w them and their uses?

Thank you
  

Top answer

taruns1008 He used rather harsh wor ds in denouncing her but he must have had some very strong reasons for doing so. taruns1008 Why can't we use "to do so" here? With "reason" you need "for" (not "to"), and "for" requires the -ing form (not the infinitive).

— Teechr

  • taruns1008 He used rather harsh wor ds in denouncing her but he must have had some very strong reasons for doing so.
  • taruns1008 Why can't we use "to do so" here?
  • With "reason" you need "for" (not "to"), and "for" requires the -ing form (not the infinitive).
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7 Answers
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taruns1008He used rather harsh words in denouncing her but he must have had some very strong reasons for doing so.
taruns1008Why can't we use "to do so" here?
With "reason" you need "for" (not "to"), and "for" requires the -ing form (not the infinitive).
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taruns1008He used rather harsh words in denouncing her but he must have had some very strong reasons to do so.
In my opinion the sentence is fine as corrected.

CB
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taruns1008He used rather harsh words in denouncing her but he must have had some very strong reasons for doing so / to do so.
And I see no substantial difference in meaning between the two valid options. The first is just more common, as this N-gram shows:
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I accept the infinitive more readily when there is a sense of futurity. Here, "he" has already "used harsh words" so I prefer the "for doing" pattern.

I may be asked to defend my choice, but I hope I will have no reason to do so.

CJ
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CalifJimI accept the infinitive more readily when there is a sense of futurity. Here, "he" has already "used harsh words" so I prefer the "for doing" pattern.
Is We had every reason to complain acceptable? There is no sense of futurity here.
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AnonymousIs We had every reason to complain acceptable?
It's acceptable to me.
AnonymousThere is no sense of futurity here.
On the contrary, it may be argued that at the time, though we had every reason to complain, i.e., we were (possibly) going to complain, we did not (yet) actually complain.

CJ
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CalifJimAnonymousThere is no sense of futurity here.On the contrary, it may be argued that at the time, though we had every reason to complain, i.e., we were (possibly) going to complain, we did not (yet) actually complain.
Thank you for the reply.
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