A noun formed from a verb by the addition of -ing.
1
vote
2answers
781 views
Grammatical complements for “allow”
Are any of these verb phrases grammatical?
allows the user of modeling and resolving
allows the user to model and resolve
Which version of the following sentence is correct/better?
...
5
votes
1answer
123 views
Appositive phrase, participle phrase, gerund phrase and noun phrase. English is confusing
"Every English-speaking country is extremely sheepish towards
mega-corporations and their puppet-governments. In continental Europe,
France being an example, people stand up for their rights ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
“Developed to [infinitive]” vs. “developed for [gerund]” [duplicate]
I am confused about when to use "to verb" and when to use "for verb+ing" constructs.
For example what would be the proper construct for the following sentences extracted from scientific journals:
...
0
votes
2answers
58 views
Singular vs. Plural with Multiple Gerunds as Subject (IE: [Gerund] and [Gerund] are/is [something].)
I'm trying to find out whether I should use a singular or plural verb when there are multiple gerunds as the subject of the sentence.
For example:
Running the correct course and keeping a steady ...
0
votes
2answers
77 views
“Committed to supporting X” vs. “committed to support X”
I'm trying to edit a speech and found a commonly used phase which I'm not sure if I should amend it or not. The sentence goes like this:
[a subject] is committed to supporting [a project].
...
18
votes
6answers
1k views
When can the -ing form of a verb be placed before a noun?
My native-speaker's grammatical intuition tells me that:
There is a sleeping man under the tree.
is fine but
There is a fishing man by the river bank.
is wrong. Why?
I've thought about ...
2
votes
3answers
80 views
“Plan to do” vs. “plan on doing”
What are the differences between the following?
He is planning to do something.
He is planning on doing something.
When to use each?
2
votes
1answer
86 views
How to form a gerund from “practise”?
I (think) I know the difference between practise (verb) and practice (non-verb).
However, I am not sure which form I should use in cases like the following ones:
I love practising the guitar.
...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
“A tool to do” vs. “a tool that does” vs. “a tool for doing”
I'm the curator of the Open Web Platform Daily Digest link. In the "Tools" section of each daily I write entries in this format:
tool_name, tool_description
For example:
hapi, a server framework ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Gerund preceded by a genitive?
Is this sentence actually grammatical?
You know your having a rough day when kittens don't even make you smile.
The writer of this sentence may intend to mean you're instead of your but I'm just ...
0
votes
1answer
119 views
two nouns together
In every case where we find the word anointing(KJV) in the Old Testament it is from a Hebrew word that is a noun. Most of the time it is coupled with the word oil as in anointing oil. If I was ...
1
vote
5answers
130 views
“stop to do something” vs. “continue to do something”
A transcript of a recent speech by Barack Obama contains the following sentence:
Boston police, firefighters, and first responders as well as the National Guard responded heroically, and continue ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Is the noun “well-ordering” grammatical? [closed]
In mathematics, the noun phrase "well-ordering" is used, as in "this ordering is a well-ordering of the set". I think the mathematical meaning has no bearing on my question, which is: is this phrase a ...
3
votes
3answers
154 views
Is “to practice volleyball requires stamina” grammatical?
Is the sentence "to practice volleyball requires stamina" grammatically correct? As opposed to the sentence "practicing volleyball requires stamina"?
Another example:
To ensure safety ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
Why is it “objections to moving”, not “objections to move”? [closed]
I got this sentence from the Economist:
There are two primary objections to moving to the chained CPI.
My question is, why have they used moving instead of move after objections to?
2
votes
1answer
183 views
Use of gerund without preposition “to”
Can I use gerunds with the word "concede" without using preposition "to" as in the sentence below?
He concedes killing his wife.
2
votes
2answers
151 views
Is there a single-word noun for an overwhelming feeling that uses “overwhelm” as its root?
Is there a single-word noun for an overwhelming feeling that uses overwhelm as its root?
My first thought was to make a gerund, that is, overwhelming. Although overwhelming is normally used as an ...
1
vote
1answer
204 views
“Heard me [infinitive]” vs. “heard me [gerund]”
"Heard me [infinitive]" vs. "heard me [gerund]"
At that time, you wouldn't have heard me talk about it.
At that time, you wouldn't have heard me talking about it.
At that time, ...
7
votes
3answers
472 views
Is there the gerund of the verb “can”?
I would like translate a Portuguese phrase into English:
Esta técnica é bem poderosa, podendo ser extendida para várias outras questões.
In English I got:
This technique is very powerful and ...
-2
votes
1answer
167 views
When do we use “to” as an infinitive marker? [closed]
In these two sentences:
I look forward to get.
I look forward to getting it.
Why is the first sentence incorrect? When do we use to as an infinitive marker?
13
votes
1answer
2k views
When should a verb be followed by a gerund instead of an infinitive?
Some verbs are followed by ing, e.g. I enjoy swimming. We can't say I enjoy to swim. Likewise, some verbs are followed by to, e.g. I decided to make a plan.
Which particular verbs are followed by ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
“need to be washed”, “need washing”, or “need washed”? [duplicate]
The car needs to be washed.
The car needs washing.
The car needs washed.
What's the subtle differences between them?
0
votes
3answers
219 views
Why is a gerund used after the verb “confess to”
A simple form of the verb is often used after to, but sometimes the simple form is replaced by a gerund. For example:
He confessed to having a secret admiration for his opponent.
Edwards ...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
Does a gerund always end with -ing? If so, why?
After asking what the difference is between a gerund and a participle, I began to wonder if all gerunds end with -ing, since I couldn't think of any that didn't. If they do, why?
1
vote
2answers
155 views
Noun phrase after “show”
The following sentences all involve the verb "show" followed by a noun phrase. Number 6 sounds a bit weird, and the last one is just wrong — but why is that?
The video shows the ...
3
votes
5answers
354 views
Infinitive vs. present participle (time relations)
I was told that one of the following refers to the past and the other to the future. I cannot decide which is which and would appreciate it if someone could explain the difference between these ...
21
votes
3answers
6k views
What's the difference between a gerund and a participle?
What is the difference between a gerund and a participle?
0
votes
3answers
68 views
“Attempts to acquaint” vs. “attempts at acquainting”
The research study is an eye-opener and attempts to
acquaint/attempts at acquainting us with the problems of poor
nations.
For me, attempts to acquaint sounds more apt. But I am not sure ...
0
votes
3answers
436 views
Verb after preposition
Is it correct to write this: "... rely on emulating techniques"? I must write the emulate verb in gerund because it is preceded by an preposition, right?
The whole sentence is:
These systems ...
3
votes
2answers
220 views
“To handle certificates is…” vs. “handling certificates is…”
I have two equivalent sentences, intended for a brochure for a computer program. Which one is better?
To handle certificates manually is time consuming and expensive.
Handling certificates ...
-1
votes
1answer
219 views
“Feel committed to [gerund/infinitive]”
Does "feel committed to" require an infinitive or gerund complement?
For example, which of the following is grammatical?
I feel committed to following up on that.
I feel committed to follow ...
1
vote
2answers
665 views
Bare infinitive and gerund participle
I saw him kick the stone.
According to my reference book this sentence is grammatically correct even though the verb 'kick' is in present tense while the action has already happened.
If I write ...
2
votes
2answers
110 views
“Weeks of rain/raining”? “Weeks of fight/fighting”? Is there a rule to use the gerund in those examples?
It’s common and correct to use both after two weeks of rain and after two weeks of fighting. But since fight is also a noun, couldn’t it be used instead of fighting?
Also, why rain and not raining? ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
The correct use of “sundering”
I'm writing a book in which one of the major events is a day that separates two major forces in the world.
It's meant to be a punishment from a high power, so at first I wanted to call it The Day of ...
1
vote
1answer
179 views
Is it necessary to use “the” before using verb+“ing” in specific contexts?
I am confused with whether it is necessary to use the before verbs in certain contexts. Like:
The milking of a cow is not a painful process at all like you think.
I am afraid it has never been ...
4
votes
1answer
104 views
“Work” vs. “working” (noun)
What are the differences between work and working when used as nouns?
For example:
Advocates claim that work/working brings a lot of benefits for young people.
Which one is correct? I have ...
0
votes
2answers
2k views
Which is correct, “summiting” or “summitting”?
This form of the word is not very common but does see some use as the present participle/gerund of "to summit" as in "Upon summit(t)ing the mountain we took photos but had to begin our descent ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
possessive adjective + gerund vs. object pronoun + gerund [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is a gerund supposed to be preceded by a possessive pronoun?
What is the difference between:
[possessive adjective + gerund] and
[object pronoun + gerund]
...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
Correct usage of infinitives
I am not sure about the usage of infinitives in this sentence:
Finally, one of the accused confessed to have forged the director's
signature on the report.
Could anyone explain correct usage?
...
2
votes
1answer
363 views
in order to [gerund] or [infinitive]?
There are few questions and answer on the choice of gerund versus infinitive.
From what I understand, when conveying a purpose the infinitive should be used:
I use my key in order to open the ...
-1
votes
1answer
427 views
Past Perfect and gerund vs. Past Perfect and Simple Past [closed]
When using the past perfect tense to say something happened before something else, is it correct to use the gerund form (as opposed to the past tense) to express the latter event? For example, is it ...
5
votes
3answers
226 views
Ambiguity of “to be” + gerund
I would like to ask about a basic sentence that really confuses me.
My favorite sport is swimming.
I think it is strange. "Swimming" can be interpreted as a gerund ("I like to swim; it is my ...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
“Drag & dropping” or “Dragging & dropping”
"Drag & dropping" sounds better to me, but "Dragging & dropping" has more Google results...
Which one is correct and why?
1
vote
2answers
338 views
Infinitive or Gerund for celebration of an event?
Which of the following sentences would be correct in a baby shower invitation.
My grandparents are looking forward to celebrate my arrival in February.
My grandparents are looking forward to ...
0
votes
2answers
354 views
Is this present participle or gerund? [closed]
Given the sentence:
Most people who live and work near Washington, DC, would have trouble
imagining dinosaurs walking around the area.
Grammatically, what do they call it, ‘imaging’ in this case? ...
3
votes
3answers
254 views
Using the gerund “Starting”
Does the gerund clause Starting in imply the future tense? For example, is this correct?
Starting in January, 2012, we will use public transportation.
Or is it proper to use the following:
...
5
votes
3answers
534 views
Usage of the gerund preceded by the possessive pronoun
I read this thread on the usage of the gerund preceded by the possessive pronoun with much interest.
I have another question about the usage of the gerund preceded by the possessive pronoun.
In a ...
2
votes
4answers
490 views
What is the difference between “dewatering” and “unwatering”
This report on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy refers to the process of removing water as unwatering. However, I always thought that this process was called dewatering. What, if any, is the ...
2
votes
1answer
376 views
On or upon + gerund
Which preposition are we supposed to use - on or upon.
i.e. "On/upon closing the door, set the alarm on."
4
votes
3answers
112 views
“Spell check” vs. “spelling check”
I can't remember the exact place I saw this (but I believe it was on another StackExchange site), but when someone was commenting on a software's "spell check" function, they said something to the ...
