[help] mean to do or doing?

Question

"To work in the media world means to accept a great challenge",

In this sentence, one of my friends said " means to accept ..." has been used incorrectly here and he suggested that it should be " means accepting ..." instead.

So pls anyone tell me which expression you think is most appropriate? pls explain.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Infinitive means Infinitive.

This pattern preserves the parallel between infinitives and is fine. I see nothing incorrect here. This is presented as a universal truth of some kind.

Infinitive means Gerund.

This pattern is also grammatical, but the universality is less obvious. The gerund seems to personalize it, as if to say that work in the media requires that [we, people in general, those who work there] accept a great challenge.
Personally, I don't like this one as much; it lacks the parallel structure of the first (and the next).

Gerund means Gerund.

This pattern is also grammatical, makes the expression less universal and lofty-sounding, and has the advantage of parallelism. The 'personalizing' effect can be paraphrased as 'My working in the media world means my accepting a great challenge", (where a variety of possessives can substitute for "my", particularly "one's").

CJ

Sky_meat · Answer

Thank you CJ, You've been very helpful! I've learnt a lot from you.

[help] mean to do or doing?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions