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Seyfihoca Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Gerund=past vs Infinitive=present or future
Hello
When we decide whether a verb takes a gerund or infinitive, can we quess what it takes by thing whether the verb precedes the verbal or not?
I mean
-"regret" is the second action, whereas "leaving the school" is the first action. So "regret" takes a gerund.
On the other hand
-"plan" is the first action, whereas "leaving the school" is the first action. So "plan" takes an infinitive.
To what extent can we generalize this would-be rule?
Do I make myself clear?
Thank you.
When we decide whether a verb takes a gerund or infinitive, can we quess what it takes by thing whether the verb precedes the verbal or not?
I mean
-"regret" is the second action, whereas "leaving the school" is the first action. So "regret" takes a gerund.
On the other hand
-"plan" is the first action, whereas "leaving the school" is the first action. So "plan" takes an infinitive.
To what extent can we generalize this would-be rule?
Do I make myself clear?
Thank you.
Top answer
I understand the question. ). There are, of course, many more verbs which can take either gerund or infinitive, but for which the rule is irrelevant: I saw him come/ I saw him coming I continued to tapdance/ I continued tapdancing I tried to email you/ I tried emailing you I like skydiving/ I like to skydive etc.
- I understand the question.
- ).
- There are, of course, many more verbs which can take either gerund or infinitive, but for which the rule is irrelevant: I saw him come/ I saw him coming I continued to tapdance/ I continued tapdancing I tried to email you/ I tried emailing you I like skydiving/ I like to skydive etc.
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18 Answers
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I understand the question.
I regret leaving the school = I left ( I left and then I regretted)
I regret to leave the school (a little strange-sounding) = I will leave (I regret now, before I leave)
I remembered giving my wife some roses = (I gave and then I remembered)
I remembered to give my wife some roses = (I remembered and then I gave)
For this sort of
I regret leaving the school = I left ( I left and then I regretted)
I regret to leave the school (a little strange-sounding) = I will leave (I regret now, before I leave)
I remembered giving my wife some roses = (I gave and then I remembered)
I remembered to give my wife some roses = (I remembered and then I gave)
For this sort of
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Do I make myself clear?
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Using the present tense form 'do' makes you sound, at the least, a bit strident, Seyfihoca. This is something a mother would say to a child she's reprimanding; a Principal admonishing a student, or the like.
What you want here is, "Have I made myself clear?
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Using the present tense form 'do' makes you sound, at the least, a bit strident, Seyfihoca. This is something a mother would say to a child she's reprimanding; a Principal admonishing a student, or the like.
What you want here is, "Have I made myself clear?
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JtT
I am really embarassed of what I said. But this is what a Turkish learner/teacher can say with his humble knowledge. Thank you for correcting me.
I am really embarassed of what I said. But this is what a Turkish learner/teacher can say with his humble knowledge. Thank you for correcting me.
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Thank you for ypur explanations.
Of course there are exceptions.
As a learner of English, I have always thought that a grammatical usage in English can not be without an explicable reason. So there must be a reason for the usages of gerund and infinitive after certain verbs/nouns/adjective and certain expression.
So there must be a reaspn as to why "appreciate" take
Of course there are exceptions.
As a learner of English, I have always thought that a grammatical usage in English can not be without an explicable reason. So there must be a reason for the usages of gerund and infinitive after certain verbs/nouns/adjective and certain expression.
So there must be a reaspn as to why "appreciate" take
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I don't believe so, Seyf. In some subgroups we can discern patterns (as with the remember/regret group we just looked at). Overall, though, I would think it is historical accident in the development of, especially, phrasal verbs and collocations.
You have noticed, I am sure, that most grammar books have lists of the commoner verbs that take gerunds and/or infinitives-- this would not b
You have noticed, I am sure, that most grammar books have lists of the commoner verbs that take gerunds and/or infinitives-- this would not b
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Mr M:
You have noticed, I am sure, that most grammar books have lists of the commoner verbs that take gerunds and/or infinitives-- this would not be the case if there were a neat overriding rule or two.
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My 'sentenaments', exactly, Mr M. But I have to allow that Seyfihoca may have a point; there may well be some larger pattern that has so far elud
You have noticed, I am sure, that most grammar books have lists of the commoner verbs that take gerunds and/or infinitives-- this would not be the case if there were a neat overriding rule or two.
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My 'sentenaments', exactly, Mr M. But I have to allow that Seyfihoca may have a point; there may well be some larger pattern that has so far elud
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Well, if you say "I appreciated talking with you", the talking occured before, so that you could appreciate it, hence a gerund, and in " I promised to be there", you promised first, hence infinitive in "to be".
Your rule seems to be ok there too
Your rule seems to be ok there too
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Hi, JT.
I can see you don't like rules much and I agree with you. Rules are too restrictive, hamper one's "feeling" the language and deprive him/her of the pleasure of speaking the language. That is a major problem with English learners in my country - they can recite mile-long lists of rules but they simply cannot speak. That's because they start thinking of rules whenever they try to say s
I can see you don't like rules much and I agree with you. Rules are too restrictive, hamper one's "feeling" the language and deprive him/her of the pleasure of speaking the language. That is a major problem with English learners in my country - they can recite mile-long lists of rules but they simply cannot speak. That's because they start thinking of rules whenever they try to say s
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I stopped to smell the roses.
I stopped smelling the roses.
But same basic meaning expressed with different grammatical devices:
He never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of music.
He keeps amazing me with his knowledge of music.
Somewhat similar meaning:
Henry avoided [telling / *to tell] us what had happened.
Henry hesitated [to tell /
I stopped smelling the roses.
But same basic meaning expressed with different grammatical devices:
He never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of music.
He keeps amazing me with his knowledge of music.
Somewhat similar meaning:
Henry avoided [telling / *to tell] us what had happened.
Henry hesitated [to tell /
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Verbs like regret, remember, forget, and recall fit in nicely, but delay, mind, risk don't seem to. So, I don't think there would be a generalized rule for this matter. It's an interesting idea, though.
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