Why no "ing"?

Question

Hi, thanks for reading my question -We say:All we have to do now is "finish the homework", orAll we have to do now is "to finish the homework".It is incorrect to say: All we have to do now is "finishing the homework"...Why is it correct to say: Doing (or to do) homework is important, but not "Do homework is important"?Thx.

Ozzourti · Accepted Answer

Try this:

We have to finish the homework.

All we have to do now is (to) finish the homework.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhy is it correct to say: Doing (or to do) homework is important, but not "Do homework is important"?

The clause regarding "doing homework" is being used as if it were the noun subject of a sentence. The finite form do cannot be used as a subject of a sentence -- for obvious reasons: It would make the sentence begin with a command form, and only later would the listener realize that the speaker did not really mean to issue a command -- if the listener isn't completely confused by then already.

Only a non-finite form [the infinitive (to do) or the gerund (doing)] can serve that subject function.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIt is incorrect to say: All we have to do now is "finishing the homework"...

This is a pseudo-cleft with "do". The complement has -ing only if do has -ing. They have to match.

All we were doing was finishing the homework.
All we will do is finish the homework.

See .

CJ

Why no "ing"?

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