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Avangi Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Object of the preposition?

Hi,

He checks his laundry by smelling of it.

Is "smelling" a gerund here?

Thanks, - A.
  

Top answer

Hi, He checks his laundry by smelling of it. Is "smelling" a gerund here? Yes.

— Clive

  • Hi, He checks his laundry by smelling of it.
  • Is "smelling" a gerund here?
  • Yes.
  • Consider you could also say He checks his laundry by the smell (of it).
  • 'Of' seems to me unnatural in your original.
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2 Answers
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Hi,
He checks his laundry by smelling of it.

Is "smelling" a gerund here?

Yes. Consider you could also say

He checks his laundry by the smell (of it).



'Of' seems to me unnatural in your original.


Clive
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Many thanks, Clive.
I agree with your improvement, but my purpose was to offer a poster some variety of examples of "smelling" as a noun/gerund.

Best regards, - A.
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