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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

VERBS and other parts of speech

"I don't like doing homework."

Is the verb in this sentence, 'don't like' or just 'like'? What part of speech is 'not'?
'Doing' is a gerund and forms part of the phrase 'doing homework'. What is the syntax of 'doing' and 'homework'? Is it an object or complement?

Many thanks
Annette
  

Top answer

Not is an adverb. What is the syntax of 'doing' and 'homework'? Is it an object or complement?

— AlpheccaStars

  • Not is an adverb.
  • What is the syntax of 'doing' and 'homework'?
  • Is it an object or complement?
  • " doing homework " is the direct object.
  • "
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7 Answers
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Not is an adverb.
. What is the syntax of 'doing' and 'homework'? Is it an object or complement? "doing homework" is the direct object. Compare with "I don't like turnips."
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AnonymousIs it an object or complement?
As far as I know, objects are complements.

CJ
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Traditionally, "don't" is seen as a contraction of "do"+"not", where "do" is an auxiliary verb, and "not" an adverb modifying it. But, "don't" is best seen as a single grammatical word (a negative present tense verb), so 'the verb' would be "don't like".

"Doing" is indeed a gerund; it heads the gerund clause (not phrase) "Doing homework" which (in trad grammar), is considered to
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Thanks BillJ...wonderful explanation.
Annette
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BillJBut, "don't" is best seen as a single grammatical word (a negative present tense verb), so 'the verb' would be "don't like"
Are all contractions "single grammatical words?" What about they're, he'd, etc.?
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AlpheccaStarsAre all contractions "single grammatical words?" What about they're, he'd, etc.?
No. they’re and he’d are contractions, not single words. With they’re, for example, ’re is a reduced form of are that is joined to the pronoun they (they being an independent word called the host).

There are
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Very interesting, thanks. I think most native speakers take their own language for granted. It has so many little (illogical) intricacies that no wonder that the learners are sometimes baffled.
A-
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