Use of Gerunds
Hello friends,
I have a quick question about the use of gerunds in a sentence. Which of the following sentence(s) is/are grammatical?
1. I don't feel like going out but lying in bed doing nothing. (doing)
2. I don't feel like going out but lying in bed and do nothing. (and + do)
3. I don't feel like going out but lying in bed and doing nothing. (and + doing)
4. I don't feel like going out but lying in bed, doing nothing. (comma + doing)
To me, sentence 3 sounds correct because both "lying in bed" and "doing nothing" are gerund phrases and are connected by the word "and".
Sentence 1 is similar to sentence 3 but somehow I don't think it's correct.
Can you guys please give me some advice or insights? Thanks!
Top answer
The 'but lying' does not work in any of those examples. You need to repeat more from the first clause, to enable the reader to follow your meaning.. What you mean is this.
- The 'but lying' does not work in any of those examples.
- You need to repeat more from the first clause, to enable the reader to follow your meaning..
- What you mean is this.
- You can omit the words in brackets.
- I don't feel like going out but (I feel) like lying in bed doing nothing.
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The 'but lying' does not work in any of those examples. You need to repeat more from the first clause, to enable the reader to follow your meaning..
What you mean is this. You can omit the words in brackets.
I don't feel like going out but (I feel) like lying in bed doing nothing.
Sentences 1/3/4 are OK. #1 is perhaps more common in speech.
Instead of j
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