'Real/factual/real events' vs 'abstract events'

Question

As far as I know, ing verbs like a participle, gerund, and present progressive express actualized or real events such as 'I don't mind him staying at my home', here 'staying' express 'real event'.

Similarly 'infinitive' express the 'abstract events' such as 'To err is human'

From the above concept,

If I use 'see verb' with the three forms, respectively with 'the infinitive' 'the gerund' and using 'It' without changing the meaning, then my question is that which one below express the actual/real event and which one express the abstract event because 'the infinitive' carry the abstract events and ing form of verbs may be participle, gerund or present progressive of verbs express the actual event and here I am using both forms ing and infinitive without changing the meaning? I am confused. please explain it.

1. Seeing/to see something pains me
2. It pains me to see something
3. It pains me, seeing something.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

roky0071
As far as I know, ing verbs like a participle, gerund, and present progressive express actualized or real events such as 'I don't mind him staying at my home', here 'staying' express 'real event'.
Similarly 'infinitive' express the 'abstract events' such as 'To err is human'

I don't quite grasp what you are claiming here. It seems to me that any verb form might be regarded as real or abstract depending on how it is used in a given context. Besides, quasi-philosophical questions like this do not provide any help in learning a language. They only impede progress.

roky0071
From the above concept,
If I use 'see verb' with the three forms, respectively with 'the infinitive' 'the gerund' and using 'It' without changing the meaning, then my question is that which one below express the actual/real event and which one express the abstract event because 'the infinitive' carry the abstract events and ing form of verbs may be participle, gerund or present progressive of verbs express the actual event and here I am using both forms ing and infinitive without changing the meaning? I am confused. please explain it.
1. Seeing/to see something pains me
2. It pains me to see something
3. It pains me, seeing something.

This is not a matter of real vs abstract. It's a matter of following the conventions of the English language. (Haven't we been through this before?)

1. Either form is possible, but we prefer the -ing form in the subject position, so at least 90% of the time it will be Seeing (something) pains me.

2. Correct. This starts from the less preferred form To see (something) pains me. Then it replaces to see (something), giving It pains me. Then to see (something) is placed at the end. It pains me to see (something). Now it is in its preferred form.

3. The comma is not really necessary. This sentence is not wrong, but it is less preferred than sentence 2. The meanings of 2 and 3 are the same. Neither one is more or less real than the other. Neither one is more or less abstract than the other.

CJ

'Real/factual/real events' vs 'abstract events'

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