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Ginger25 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

To do vs for doing

Hi! I would be very much obliged if anyone  could help me with one grammar question.Is there a difference between "provides support for classifying" and "provides support to classify"? I can find no rules on using to do vs for doing except for the list of some verbs. Can you help me? Many thanks in advance
  

Top answer

ginger25 "provides support for classifying" and "provides support to classify" Hi, They're both fine. This helps you in classifying X. This helps you to classify X.

— Avangi

  • ginger25 "provides support for classifying" and "provides support to classify" Hi, They're both fine.
  • This helps you in classifying X.
  • This helps you to classify X.
  • I'd say the infinitive focuses more on the action and the gerund focuses more on the process, if that makes any sense.
  • This choice of verbals varies with the verb, as I suspect you realize.
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7 Answers
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ginger25"provides support for classifying" and "provides support to classify"
Hi,

They're both fine.
This helps you in classifying X. This helps you to classify X.

I'd say the infinitive focuses more on the action and the gerund focuses more on the process, if that makes any sense. This choice of verbals varies with the
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It's "support for ( -ing)".

CJ
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Hi, CJ,

Are you advising against the infinitive?

How about, "We need your support to accomplish this task." ?

"We seek your support in accomplishing this task." ?

Regards, - A.
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AvangiAre you advising against the infinitive?
Yes, given the limited amount of data to go by in the question. With more context I might change my mind.

I take the question to be specifically about the grammar of the noun support. The for phrase is meant to modify the noun support. We want to know what kind of support.
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Avangi"We need your support to accomplish this task." ?

"We seek your support in accomplishing this task." ?
They both sound like purposes to me. "in order to accomplish this task". Still, the second one might possibly shade into a description of what kind of support is needed. "task-accomplishment support"??? No, that's not lik
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The English Lover

CJ, your arguments sound...sound. I only have one objection though: in order to be more correct, it would be preferable if we used the Causative Form; that is, 'for having/getting the bridges fixed.' I know I am now shifting the focus of the discussion, but I love details as much as you do.
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1) Eg. He went out to laugh.

He wanted to laugh or he could not help laughing and so he had to go out to do so.

...to do.. generally indicates 'purpose'

2) Eg. He was sent out for laughing (during the class).

He must have laughed while the class was going on and as a punishment, he was sent out for doing so.

...for doing.. generally indicated 'reason'

Some tr

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