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Riglos Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
to mend / for mending
Hi everybody!
Again, a multiple choice question:
I'll get an electrician _________ the heating.
a) mend b) to mend c) for mending d) mending
The answer key shows b) as the right answer, and I agree. But could you explain to me why not c)?
Would "mending" in c) be a present participle or a gerund?
I usually find "to + inf" constructions very similar to "-ing" constructions, as in these cases:
1a. Sleeping well is very good for your health.
1b. To sleep well is very good for your health.
2a. Controlling applications programs is one of the main functions of an operating system.
2b. To control applications programs is one of the main functions of an operating system.
Could you clarify all these concepts?
Thanks a lot!
Mara.
Again, a multiple choice question:
I'll get an electrician _________ the heating.
a) mend b) to mend c) for mending d) mending
The answer key shows b) as the right answer, and I agree. But could you explain to me why not c)?
Would "mending" in c) be a present participle or a gerund?
I usually find "to + inf" constructions very similar to "-ing" constructions, as in these cases:
1a. Sleeping well is very good for your health.
1b. To sleep well is very good for your health.
2a. Controlling applications programs is one of the main functions of an operating system.
2b. To control applications programs is one of the main functions of an operating system.
Could you clarify all these concepts?
Thanks a lot!
Mara.
Top answer
Your examples 1 & 2, a & b, are examples of the infinitive and the gerund used as nouns; this has no relation to the problem at hand. Get + sth + full infinitive is one of a group of causative verbs that take the ' to ' infinitive (there are other causatives that take the bare infinitive, like have sth do, let sth do . Others in the get group are cause sth to and force sth to.
- Your examples 1 & 2, a & b, are examples of the infinitive and the gerund used as nouns; this has no relation to the problem at hand.
- Get + sth + full infinitive is one of a group of causative verbs that take the ' to ' infinitive (there are other causatives that take the bare infinitive, like have sth do, let sth do .
- Others in the get group are cause sth to and force sth to.
- These causatives are in turn part of a larger group of verbs which take the full infinitive: expect, encourage, feel, help .
- They are all in the form of verb + object + to-infinitive complement .
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1 Answers
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Your examples 1 & 2, a & b, are examples of the infinitive and the gerund used as nouns; this has no relation to the problem at hand.
Get + sth + full infinitive is one of a group of causative verbs that take the 'to' infinitive (there are other causatives that take the bare infinitive, like have sth do, let sth do. Others in the get group are cause sth to
Get + sth + full infinitive is one of a group of causative verbs that take the 'to' infinitive (there are other causatives that take the bare infinitive, like have sth do, let sth do. Others in the get group are cause sth to
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