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Taruns1008 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Know + gerund or infinitive
Can we use both gerund and infinitive with Know.
#1 He knows swimming.
#2 He knows to swim.
#3 He knows how to swim.
#4 He doesn't know to swim.
#3 is correct but why Sentence #4 is incorrect? I have doubt about #2 if it's correct or not.
#5 He knew to stay out of sight. (similar to #2)
#6 He knew how to stay out of sight.
What is the difference b/w #5 and #6 in context of meaning?
#1 He knows swimming.
#2 He knows to swim.
#3 He knows how to swim.
#4 He doesn't know to swim.
#3 is correct but why Sentence #4 is incorrect? I have doubt about #2 if it's correct or not.
#5 He knew to stay out of sight. (similar to #2)
#6 He knew how to stay out of sight.
What is the difference b/w #5 and #6 in context of meaning?
Top answer
#1, #2 and #4 are possible, but they mean something different from #3. "He knows swimming" means that he possesses wide general knowledge about the sport or recreation of swimming. It does not simply mean that he can swim himself.
- #1, #2 and #4 are possible, but they mean something different from #3.
- "He knows swimming" means that he possesses wide general knowledge about the sport or recreation of swimming.
- It does not simply mean that he can swim himself.
- "He knows / doesn't know to swim" means that he knows / doesn't know that he ought to swim (in some situation explained by the wider context).
- It would not be a very common thing to say.
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2 Answers
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#1, #2 and #4 are possible, but they mean something different from #3.
"He knows swimming" means that he possesses wide general knowledge about the sport or recreation of swimming. It does not simply mean that he can swim himself.
"He knows / doesn't know to swim" means that he knows / doesn't know that he ought to swim (in some situation explained by the wider context). It would
"He knows swimming" means that he possesses wide general knowledge about the sport or recreation of swimming. It does not simply mean that he can swim himself.
"He knows / doesn't know to swim" means that he knows / doesn't know that he ought to swim (in some situation explained by the wider context). It would
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taruns1008Know1. to know how to ... = to be able to ...
2. to know (enough) to ... = to know that one should ...
3. to know -ing = to be an expert at ...
1. Larry knows how to speak French. / Jane knows how to knit. / Sam knows how to drive a tractor.
2. Sue knows (enough) to remain silent about Mary's divorce. / Frank knows (en
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