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Teo Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
set one's mind to V/Ving
Someone says, 'I don't think it really matters whether we use“to V” or “to V-ing”. I think it may just be a matter of personal preference. I did a Google search to check the usage frequency of the two forms, using the verb “win” as the example, and I found some interesting results. When using the second person (set your mind), I found that “set your mind to win” was used in 602 pages, but “set your mind to winning” was never used. However, when I changed the sentence to the third person (set his mind to), I found the opposite. “Set his mind to win” was only used in 6 pages, but “set his mind to winning” was used in 55 pages! Strange indeed.'
Do you agree that it is just a matter of personal preference?
Do you agree that it is just a matter of personal preference?
Top answer
In certain instances, doing a Google search helps a lot to determine which sentences or phrases are most commonly used. But in this case, I don't think it's such an accurate indicator. A lot depend on the phrase you select.
- In certain instances, doing a Google search helps a lot to determine which sentences or phrases are most commonly used.
- But in this case, I don't think it's such an accurate indicator.
- A lot depend on the phrase you select.
- Simply put, you can compare: -I like to read -I like reading -She likes to swim -She likes swimming and be assured that they mean the same.
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5 Answers
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In certain instances, doing a Google search helps a lot to determine which sentences or phrases are most commonly used. But in this case, I don't think it's such an accurate indicator. A lot depend on the phrase you select.
Simply put, you can compare:
-I like to read
-I like reading
-She likes to swim
-She likes swimming
and be assured
Simply put, you can compare:
-I like to read
-I like reading
-She likes to swim
-She likes swimming
and be assured
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I set my mind to __ hard. (A) study (B) studying
Which do you think is correct?
Which do you think is correct?
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Hello Teo
I don't like to offend you. But I think both of "set one's mind to do" and "set one's mind to/on doing" belong to obsolete or very rare usage. I know they mean something like "be determined to do". But please compare the frequencies of their uses on Google.
"set(s) one's mind to learn" : 220 pages
"set(s) one's mind to learning": 383 pages
"am/is/a
I don't like to offend you. But I think both of "set one's mind to do" and "set one's mind to/on doing" belong to obsolete or very rare usage. I know they mean something like "be determined to do". But please compare the frequencies of their uses on Google.
"set(s) one's mind to learn" : 220 pages
"set(s) one's mind to learning": 383 pages
"am/is/a
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I set my mind to studying hard.
I always use the -ing form in this construction. I had no idea anyone ever used the infinitive.
"set one's mind" was commonly used in the household where I grew up, although usually with just "it" as the prepositional object: You just have to set your mind to it!
CJ
I always use the -ing form in this construction. I had no idea anyone ever used the infinitive.
"set one's mind" was commonly used in the household where I grew up, although usually with just "it" as the prepositional object: You just have to set your mind to it!
CJ
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