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Imantaghavi Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Try

Hi,
What's the answers to the following sentences? Would you please justify each?
1. He tried to write his essay in half an hour
2. He tried writing his essay in half an hour

a) but he couldn't do it
b) and he got a bad mark for it

The book has said that we use "try+ing"  to do an experiment- doing the action may not be successful;+ infinitive means make an effort- the action may be difficult or impossible to do

Thank you in advance,

Iman
  

Top answer

1a and 2b. Try expresses an experience, whether or not completed successfully . Try + infinitive expresses an attempt not necessarily completed at all .

— Mister Micawber

  • 1a and 2b.
  • Try expresses an experience, whether or not completed successfully .
  • Try + infinitive expresses an attempt not necessarily completed at all .
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3 Answers
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1a and 2b.

Try expresses an experience, whether or not completed successfully.
Try + infinitive expresses an attempt not necessarily completed at all.
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Thank you Mistre Micawbre very much.

So, what you mean is that in using "try+ing" the action is done but not necessarily successful, whereas in "try+infinitive" even the action has not been completed. Am i right?

Thanks a lot,

Iman
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imantaghavi in "try+infinitive" even the action has not been completed.
It does not tell us whether it is completed or not; it says nothing about the result. Further text, of course, does.
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