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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Gerunds as subject + Definite article

I have questions regarding the subject of this sentence:

Recasting of the sentence is needed. (gerund + adjectival prep. phrase)

The recasting of the sentence is needed. (same as above). Is the article allowed? Why?

Recasting the sentence is needed (gerund + object). What is the difference between this and the sentences using the prep. phrase?

The recasting the sentence is needed. (gerund + object). Why doesn't the article work here?





Thank you
  

Top answer

Where do you come up with this stuff?? I think "recasting the sentence" is a participial phrase acting as a noun phrase (subject). P to become a gerund, and the "of" is then needed.

— Avangi

  • Where do you come up with this stuff??
  • I think "recasting the sentence" is a participial phrase acting as a noun phrase (subject).
  • P to become a gerund, and the "of" is then needed.
  • You wanna know why the "of" is needed?
  • I'll tell you: I don't know.
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39 Answers
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Where do you come up with this stuff?? Emotion: big smile

I think "recasting the sentence" is a participial phrase acting as a noun phra
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AvangiWhere do you come up with this stuff??
Good question. I'll tell you:

I don't know.
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Oh, sigh! We've been through this before with a prepositional phrase. The participle is not nominal, the phrase is.
Sometimes we name a phrase for the type of word which heads it; sometimes we name it for the way it functions.

I believe you have the count/non-count backward.

I'm saying you can omit the article if you choose: sea, sand, people.

I can'
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AvangiThe participle is not nominal, the phrase is.

Sorry, I just forget to say phrase...everytime...Fast learner, I know!
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Avangi
I believe you have the count/non-count backward.

I'm saying you can omit the article if you choose: sea, sand, people.

I can't afford a/the recasting. (gerund - countable)

I can't afford recasting. (gerund - uncountable)


I think I understand you now. The definite article can be omitted with plural countable
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Right. I think that fits into the problem you posed.

Hey, wait a minute!

I'm thinking singular (article), uncountable (no article), Not countable plural -
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English 1b3The recasting the sentence is needed. (gerund + object). Why doesn't the article work here?
No "of". I'd say

A recasting of the sentence is needed.

CJ
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A recasting of X (gerund - countable)

Recasting of X (gerund - uncountable)

A recasting X (doesn't work) "A" makes it a gerund, so it requires "of."

Recasting X (participle - "of" not required)
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English 1b3 My mind just formulates structures of which I question the correctness, lucidity etc. Weird, I know.
Not weird at all. The question "If that works, then why doesn't this?" is a very useful tool.
Unfortunately, in English grammar, the answer sometimes doesn't exist.
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AvangiRecasting X (participle - "of" not required)
No. They are all gerunds in contexts where they are used as subjects. Only a noun phrase can be a subject of a sentence, and "participle" is never the term used for anything that functions like a noun.

CJ
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