What's the difference between these two sentences?

Question

With me it's usually a matter of committing to speaking engagements I later regret.
With me it's usually a matter of committing to speak engagements I later regret.

I am wondering because "speaking" sounds awkward to me.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

wholegrain"speaking" sounds awkward to me.

Oh, no!!! You're going to have to retrain your ear!

The first one, with "speaking", is fine. It is the second one, with "speak", that is awkward.

CJ

Wholegrain · Answer

Why is that?

I thought a participle is always followed by an infinitive verb.

CalifJim · Answer

With me it's usually a matter of committing to speaking engagements I later regret.

wholegrainI thought a participle is always followed by an infinitive verb.

You are most likely referring to the participle speaking because it's the only participle in this sentence. Participles are not always followed by infinitives. I don't know where you got that idea. Where did you get this infinitive "rule"? It doesn't sound right to me.

If, by chance, you are mistakenly referring to committing as a participle, then note as well that a gerund (which is what committing is) is equally unlikely to be followed by an infinitive.
_________

The participle speaking modifies engagements. It tells what kind of engagements, so speaking engagements is a unit.

... a matter of committing to [ speaking engagements ] (that) I later regret.

to speaking is not a unit. It's not like this:

... a matter of committing [ to speaking ] engagements (that) I later regret.

CJ

Khoff · Answer

"Speaking engagements" are the kind of engagements being discussed.

Wholegrain · Answer

How come committing is not a participle? Doesn't participle imply that the action is not yet completed? And what about committing to speak of engagements?

CalifJim · Answer

wholegrainHow come committing is not a participle?

Because it comes after a preposition (of), just like a noun does. When a verb form with -ing acts like a noun, it's called a gerund.

... a matter of committing ...

wholegrainDoesn't participle imply that the action is not yet completed?

Not necessarily.

wholegrainAnd what about committing to speak of engagements?

How do you mean? Are you asking if it's OK to write "committing to speak of engagements"? If so, then yes, that's OK. But it doesn't mean the same thing as the original form (committing to speaking engagements).

CJ

Wholegrain · Answer

I thought that the object of the word "matter" was "committing to speaking of engagements" as opposed to simply "committing".

Also, isn't the participle here used to describe an action that is in the process of being completed, in the future, present or past?

(Linguistics / Grammar) a participial form of verbs used adjectivally when the action it describes is contemporaneous with that of the main verb of a sentence and also used in the formation of certain compound tenses.

And how can you speak engagements? How can it be a transitive verb? I thought the "of" was left out intentionally.

Wholegrain · Answer

ah "speaking engagements"...

speaking is an adjective, here? ummm

speaking engagements = discussion?

CalifJim · Answer

wholegrainI thought that the object of the word "matter" was "committing to speaking of engagements" as opposed to simply "committing".

No. matter doesn't have an object. It's a noun. Nouns don't have objects. of has the object committing to speaking engagements I later regret. It's not speaking of engagements.

wholegrainisn't the participle here used to describe an action that is in the process of being completed, in the future, present or past?

No. The participle here (speaking) is simply an adjective. It has very little in the way of verbal force.

A speaking engagement is an appointment to appear somewhere and make a speech. A speaking engagement is an appointment to speak in front of a group of people. A speaking engagement is an appointment to do some speaking.

wholegrainAnd how can you speak engagements?

You can't.

wholegrainHow can it be a transitive verb?

Like this. I speak English.

wholegrainI thought the "of" was left out intentionally.

No. Nothing was left out.

CJ

Wholegrain · Answer

I thought "speaking" was a verb. Ok, thank you for clarifying up.

What's the difference between these two sentences?

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