Gerunds as objects of a preposition

Question

I recently reviewed gerunds and some questions popped up in my mind: how is the difference between simple present tenses and gerunds(the ones which work as objects of prepositions) stablished? This whole review made me question some of the knowledge which has been taken by me as certain through a long time: is it acceptable to apply simple present verbs as objects in a phrase?Or should gerunds be used instead? Is it correct that, when two or more verbs coexist in the same sentence, one of them should be used as a substantive and, therefore, as a gerund?

In the following sentences, I started to question myself:

1) It is important to understand the human species x It is important understanding the human species

2) I love to go to the mall x I love going to the mall

I already appreciate your help!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Pedro Henrique Dias Oliveiradifference between simple present tenses and gerunds

Gerunds have an -ing ending. The simple present does not.

I don't object to going with them. (gerund)
We go to the movies every Saturday night. (simple present tense)

All verb tenses other than the affirmative simple tenses (simple present, simple past) have an auxiliary verb at the beginning of the verb phrase. Without that auxiliary verb you don't have a verb tense; you have a non-finite construction (a gerund clause; a participle clause; an infinitive clause).

Looking through the telescope, we saw the stars. (Non-finite - participle)
We were looking through the telescope. (Finite - past continuous tense)

Pedro Henrique Dias Oliveira1) It is important to understand the human species x It is important understanding the human species

You can postpose the subject, simultaneously replacing it with the word "it", called "dummy it". "it" is just a place holder.

Two of the usual formulations are these:

1. Gerund subject at the beginning.
Understanding the human species is important.
2. Infinitive subject at the end (postposed).
It is important to understand the human species.

Pedro Henrique Dias Oliveira2) I love to go to the mall x I love going to the mall

This is a different topic from postponing infinitive subjects.

Here we have a catenative construction — two verbs that go together (love; go in this case). There are quite a few verbs in English which can be used as the first of two verbs in a catenative construction. Each of these verbs governs which verb form (or forms) can follow it. These relationships have to be memorized at first. Choosing the right forms will become automatic for you later in your study of English.

One type of catenative structure has no noun phrase (NP) between the two verbs. It's called a simple catenative. (We need to go now. - There is nothing between 'need' and 'to go'.) Another type of catenative has an NP between the verbs. It's a complex catenative. (They expect their sister to arrive late tonight. - The NP "their sister" comes between 'expect' and 'to arrive'.)

For a long list of the simple catenatives, see
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_catenative_verbs

Try researching the topic of catenatives through Google. You may find sites with information that answers many of your questions.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Pedro Henrique Dias Oliveirais it acceptable to apply simple present verbs as objects in a phrase? Or should gerunds be used instead?

If you want to place a verb after a preposition, the verb must be in the -ing form.

This pitcher is used for watering the flowers.

Subjects and objects of sentences which are verbs must also be in the -ing form.

Hunting foxes here is illegal.
This paragraph describes riding a horse.

All of the -ing forms discussed in this post are gerunds.

CJ

Gerunds as objects of a preposition

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