0
Laborious Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Q4: 'X doesn't know how to do something' OR 'X doesn't know doing something'

Hello teachers, 

Is it correct English to say "X doesn't know + (verb + ing)"? For example, She doesn't know swimming or He doesn't know skiing. I have always used / said She doesn't know how to swim or He doesn't know how to ski, but I am not sure if we could also use a noun (in the 'ing' form) when saying somebody doesn't know how to do something. 

Thank you. 
  

Top answer

I wouldn't say that 'She doesn't know swimming' is wrong, but 'She doesn't know how to swim' is the common and idiomatic form.

— Clive

  • I wouldn't say that 'She doesn't know swimming' is wrong, but 'She doesn't know how to swim' is the common and idiomatic form.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
I wouldn't say that 'She doesn't know swimming' is wrong, but 'She doesn't know how to swim' is the common and idiomatic form.
0
0
Thanks a lot to you for replying, Clive. Emotion: smile

What do you think of "She doesn't know playing cards" or "That kid do
0
0
LaboriousIs it correct English to say "X doesn't know + (verb + ing)"?
No, know + gerund-participial clause complement is not correct English. But know + gerundial noun is possible, as in He doesn’t know gambling, which means that he’s not experienced at it (not that he doesn’t know how to gamble). Swimming can be a noun, of
0
0
LaboriousIs it correct English to say "X doesn't know + (verb + ing)"? For example, She doesn't know swimming or He doesn't know skiing.
Here's my advice. Put this out of your mind as an alternate way of saying X doesn't know how to. When it works grammatically, which is rare, it doesn't have that meaning. Use these:

X doesn't know how to
0
0
Dear Clive, fivejedjon, AG .... Emotion: smile , and CalifJim, thanks a lot to all of you for your informative replies. I'm obliged to you for tha
0

Related Questions