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Cup cake Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Present participle versus infinitive: finding vs find

Hi Everyone,

I created a worksheet and a PPT for my class, which I delivered today.

The class had to correct a sentence on the PPT to which I helped them. Here is the sentence:

'As science gets closer to finding a solution, so too are we able to get a better understand of the whole issue.'


Later on, they did a worksheet; again, having to correct short phrases.

Here is one phrase after correction:

'This study is an attempt to find a solution.'


The problem I have is having to explain the difference between 'to finding', in the first sentence, and 'to find' in the second sentence.


I talked through my version of why we use the present participle in the first sentence, and why we use the infinitive - to find - in the second.


What is the best explanation for this difference? I told them that the first sentence relates to an ongoing process, and the second sentence emphasises the verb 'attempt'. Thus, there is no process. Is this correct?

Thanks

CC. Emotion: it wasnt me


  

Top answer

[1] As science gets closer to finding a solution , so too are we able to get a better understanding of the whole issue. [2] This study is an attempt to find a solution . In [1], the underlined gerund-participial clause functions as complement of the preposition “to”.

— BillJ

  • [1] As science gets closer to finding a solution , so too are we able to get a better understanding of the whole issue.
  • [2] This study is an attempt to find a solution .
  • In [1], the underlined gerund-participial clause functions as complement of the preposition “to”.
  • Non-interrogative infinitivals occur with “in order” and “so as”, but not normally with “to”, meaning that a clausal complement can only be a gerund-participial, as in your example.
  • In [2], the infinitival clause functions as complement of the noun “attempt”.
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2 Answers
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[1] As science gets closer to finding a solution, so too are we able to get a better understanding of the whole issue.

[2] This study is an attempt to find a solution.


In [1], the underlined gerund-participial clause functions as complement of the preposition “to”. Non-interrogative infinitivals occur with “in order” and “so as”, but not normally

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Cup cake why we use the present participle in the first sentence

Because "to" is a preposition. A bare infinitive cannot be the complement, but the present participle, as a gerund, can. Use these as model sentences.

When I got close to the school, I took off my backpack. (noun complement)
When the train gets close to the station, i
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