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Zybastek Posted 4 years ago
Grammar

Multiple Gerund questions

Apologies up front for a long post, but I am trying to improve my gerund knowledge and I need some guidance please.


Part 1 - Can you please confirm if these sentences are correct and their meaning:

  1. I enjoy flying to see my mother. - A simple statement saying that I enjoy traveling via plane/helicopter to see my mother rather than for example doing a "driving" activity.

  2. I am happy to fly to see my mother. - A confirmation statement confirming that I am happy to fly to see my mother.

  3. I am happy about having flown to see my mother. - A statement describing an action that happened in the past that relates to now.

  4. I am happy to have flown to see my mother. - Same meaning as #3?

  5. I am happy to have been flown to see my mother. - A statement stating that someone one or/and a thing did the action by flying me to see my mother.


Part 2 - What is the difference between these three examples (specifically with gerund and prepositions):

  1. She enjoys learning English. - A general statement about an action that is happening in the current time. it's unclear if it's happening at exact moment thought.

  2. She enjoys having learned English. - Something happened before now.

  3. She enjoys having been taught English. - She enjoys that someone taught her English in the past.

  4. She is happy about learning English. - Similar to #1? If so, what is the difference?

  5. She is happy about having learned English. - Similar to #2? If so, what is the difference?

  6. She is happy about having been taught English. - Similar to #3? If so, what is the difference?

  7. She is enjoying learning English. - Similar to #1? If so, what is the difference?

  8. She enjoyed having learned English. - Does it mean that she is no longer alive? Or does it mean both actions completed in the past?

  9. She enjoyed being taught English. - Similar to #8 but someone taught her in the past.

Cheers

  

Top answer

Zybastek I enjoy flying to see my mother. It is not very idiomatic. I enjoy taking a flight to see my mother.

  • Zybastek I enjoy flying to see my mother.
  • It is not very idiomatic.
  • I enjoy taking a flight to see my mother.
  • - You enjoy the experience of being in an airplane.
  • There is not an implication of a comparison to other modes of transport.
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2 Answers
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ZybastekI enjoy flying to see my mother.

It is not very idiomatic.

I enjoy taking a flight to see my mother. - You enjoy the experience of being in an airplane. There is not an implication of a comparison to other modes of transport.

I prefer flying to driving when I travel to my mother's house. - You would rather travel by air.

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ZybastekShe enjoys learning English.

It is not time specific. It is just something she enjoys doing.

I enjoy taking exotic trips to foreign lands.

I enjoy watching tennis matches.

If you want the present time, use the progressive:

She is enjoying learning English. (She is taking classes now and so far, the experience has been good.)

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