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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

The difference between gerund and verb?

Hi, guys, I need your helps.
I am confused with gerund and verb. I know gerund is noun, but in many cases, verb itself also has a meaning of noun. For example, "view" is a verb, but it's also a noun. For example, "She http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/turn a http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/corner and http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/disappear from view". Here, I have a sentence:

When the company invited local reporters for a viewing, none had trouble getting the significance. I don't understand why it uses viewing instead of view. And what is the difference of using between view and viewing? Thanks. Emotion: heart
  

Top answer

There is no general rule for this. You have to know the conventional gerund and noun usages for the word in question. com/dictionary/american/viewing ).

— GPY

  • There is no general rule for this.
  • You have to know the conventional gerund and noun usages for the word in question.
  • com/dictionary/american/viewing ).
  • "view" does not have quite the right meaning.
  • This is something you just have to know.
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7 Answers
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There is no general rule for this. You have to know the conventional gerund and noun usages for the word in question. In this case, "viewing" means "an occasion on which people are invited to go and look at something" (as far as I can tell) (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american
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Anonymousviewing instead of view
The addition of -ing makes it an activity. A view is like a photo. No motion. You can take a photo of a view.
A viewing is like a video. Motion is involved. You can't take a photo of a viewing. A video would be more appropriate.

CJ
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CalifJimThe addition of -ing makes it an activity.
In this example maybe, but in case you meant it as a general rule (I'm not sure you did), I doubt that it works reliably. For example, a run is an activity, while a building is not an activity. As I say, I think you have to know the individual meanings.
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GPYIn this example
Yes, and the principle might work for a few others, but certainly not in every case.

CJ
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I agree with CJ's comments. "Viewing" has got that dynamic notion whereas "view" is static. "Viewing" needs an activity of the viewer; "view" is a scene which not necessarily has to be actively seen or watched at the moment.
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CalifJimYes, and the principle might work for a few others, but certainly not in every case.
Oh, OK, I may have misunderstood what you were suggesting.
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Anonymous "Viewing" has got that dynamic notion whereas "view" is static.
Yes, but remember here it is "a viewing", not "viewing". This makes a difference.
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