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Maripinky Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
grund or infinitive?
Which should I use in this sentence?
I watched the men ...... (CUT DOWN) trees for a while.
According to the rules "cutting down" would imply that I saw the action in progress, whilst "cut down" means I saw the completed action. I have some doubts because of the meaning of this verb, if you cut down a tree, the tree falls on the ground ad that's it, it's a finished action. The "for a while" is a bit tricky because it suggests something unfinished.
Thanks for your comments in advance.
I watched the men ...... (CUT DOWN) trees for a while.
According to the rules "cutting down" would imply that I saw the action in progress, whilst "cut down" means I saw the completed action. I have some doubts because of the meaning of this verb, if you cut down a tree, the tree falls on the ground ad that's it, it's a finished action. The "for a while" is a bit tricky because it suggests something unfinished.
Thanks for your comments in advance.
Top answer
Hi, ... the action in progress .... the completed action.
- Hi, ...
- the action in progress ....
- the completed action.
- I have some doubts because of the meaning of this verb, if you cut down a tree, the tree falls on the ground ad that's it, it's a finished action.
- The "for a while" is a bit tricky because it suggests something unfinished.
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2 Answers
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Hi,
... the action in progress .... the completed action. I have some doubts because of the meaning of this verb, if you cut down a tree, the tree falls on the ground ad that's it, it's a finished action. The "for a while" is a bit tricky because it suggests something unfinished.
You could say either. The action of cutting down tree
... the action in progress .... the completed action. I have some doubts because of the meaning of this verb, if you cut down a tree, the tree falls on the ground ad that's it, it's a finished action. The "for a while" is a bit tricky because it suggests something unfinished.
You could say either. The action of cutting down tree
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Hello MariPinky
Your understanding about <S+V+O+do> and <S+V+O+doing> is correct. But we can parse <S+V+O+doing> as <S+V+(O+doing)>. This means (O+doing) as a whole is the object of V. Some grammarians call it "accusative (or object) with (present) participle".
As to your sentence, how do you feel if it is modified to "I watched the men for a while"? Does
Your understanding about <S+V+O+do> and <S+V+O+doing> is correct. But we can parse <S+V+O+doing> as <S+V+(O+doing)>. This means (O+doing) as a whole is the object of V. Some grammarians call it "accusative (or object) with (present) participle".
As to your sentence, how do you feel if it is modified to "I watched the men for a while"? Does
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