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Jooney Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Gerundial noun

Hi,

Today I have a question about the following sentence:

if I take a few classes in health care administration, I could put myself in the running for a position like that.

I notice that the definite article "the" is placed right in front of "running", which means that the underlined is a noun phrase rather than a gerundive construction.(Here, the "running" is termed as a "gerundial noun" in my grammar book)

I'd like to know why a gerundive construction isn't used here. Wouldn't "running for a position like that" work as well?

if I take a few classes in health care administration, I could put myself in running for a position like that.(?)

I'd appreciate your help.
  

Top answer

No. In the running is a set phrase meaning in contention . Rover

— Rover_KE

  • No.
  • In the running is a set phrase meaning in contention .
  • Rover
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4 Answers
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No.

In the running is a set phrase meaning in contention.

Rover
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Omitting the "the" and saying "...put myself in running for..." might be okay. This would be a little offbeat, since the "the" would be expected ("in the running" is in the nature of an idiom and it's well-established), but it's readily comprehensible. I could see the "the" being omitted if the person was trying to be really cutting-edge and experimental in his speech. If this was spoken, the w
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Thank you Rover and Anon for answering my question.

I didn't think of it as a set phrase. So, I guess it is different from the phrasal verb "run for".
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No - it's connected to the phrasal verb run for.

'He'll be in the running for the presidency next year' and

'He'll run for the presidency next year'

both mean that he'll be in contention for it.

Rover
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