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Anglista2008 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Loved doing / to do

Howdy,

Today my befriended native spekaer told me that he'd say:
  • I loved spending time with her.
rather than:
  • I loved to spend time with her.
He couldn't explain me why, though. Any ideas on the matter? It always makes me wonder, I can't figure out the difference between these two patterns.

Thanks in advance,

PS. Can I actually say "befriended" ?
  

Top answer

anglista2008 Today my befriended a native spekaer speaker I had befriended told me that he'd say: * I loved spending time with her. rather than: * I loved to spend time with her. Only the first would be used to say that he spent time with her on one particular occasion and loved it.

— CalifJim

  • anglista2008 Today my befriended a native spekaer speaker I had befriended told me that he'd say: * I loved spending time with her.
  • rather than: * I loved to spend time with her.
  • Only the first would be used to say that he spent time with her on one particular occasion and loved it.
  • The second seems to me to emphasize the idea that he looked forward to spending time with her on each of various occasions when he spent time with her.
  • This "looking forward" feeling is typical of the infinitive construction.
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2 Answers
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anglista2008Today my befriended a native spekaer speaker I had befriended told me that he'd say:

* I loved spending time with her.

rather than:
* I
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I think that either one is fine.
No, "befriended" is not the right word to use. "Befriended" is a verb; you are using it as an adjective. A friend is someone who befriends you.
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