A noun formed from a verb by the addition of -ing.
2
votes
1answer
150 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
4answers
431 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
2answers
89 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
2answers
134 views
Which tense should I use in this situation? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using the gerund two times in a row
Here is the sentence:
Just as on smoking, voices now come from many quarters (insisting
or insist) that the science about ...
2
votes
3answers
452 views
Proper Usage of gerund form of the verb
So, I want to title a talk.
Which of these is the right usage and why?
"Web Development Paradigms and Djangoic approach to solve them"
OR
"Web Development Paradigms and Djangoic approach to ...
2
votes
3answers
271 views
Noun or non-finite subordinate clause?
Consider the following sentence:
The government wants to encourage understanding of science.
Now, "to encourage understanding of science" is a non-finite subordinate clause functioning as an ...
2
votes
1answer
352 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."
2
votes
4answers
392 views
What is the “, gerund” sentence called, and how can I improve it?
I'm proofreading a friend's paper, and she often creates sentences of the form:
Sentence, gerund-phrase
Examples:
Consumers may question the legitimacy of producer actions, determining
their ...
2
votes
2answers
152 views
Are expressions like “When studying, When playing, …” just expressions or something more?
My first question here.
I am wondering whether expressions like the ones in the tittle are just expressions or represent another thing in the english language.
I will give you some more examples so ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
122 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
157 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.
1
vote
2answers
92 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
3answers
254 views
“A smile cures the wounding of a frown”
I found the following on a poster of a professional photographer:
A smile cures the wounding of a frown
The sentence seems awkward and wrong to me. I think something can cure a disease and heal ...
1
vote
2answers
131 views
“He remembered seeing a pocket compass […] and marveling/marveled”
Albert Einstein talked about what influenced his life as a scientist.
He remembered seeing a pocket compass when he was five years old and
(marveling/marveled) that the needle always pointed ...
1
vote
1answer
175 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, ...
1
vote
2answers
103 views
Is “solutioning” a correct word in a technical context? [closed]
I'm a translator from English into Italian language. While translating a British patent I found the following sentence:
The large heat treatment window seen in the ThermoCalc simulation also ...
1
vote
2answers
445 views
To use “to” or not to? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Gerund or infinitive: When to use which?
You like to read books.
You like reading books.
The second second sentence seems to be better than the first. Why is ...
1
vote
2answers
657 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 ...
1
vote
5answers
98 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
145 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
301 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
178 views
“What led to you doing this thing” grammar?
I'm current curious about this sentence's grammar:
What led to you doing this thing?
It sounds like "you doing this thing" is noun. What is this grammar?
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Expect +to VS expect + ing
I know that expect is used this way:
I expect you to do that.
But I have also seen examples like with verb in its "ing" form:
> What to expect working at...
> I will expect you doing ...
1
vote
1answer
49 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
143 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
435 views
“Ambitious to [infinitive]” vs. “ambitious about [gerund]”
What is the correct preposition to use with ambitious?
I am ambitious to achieve success.
I am ambitious about achieving success.
1
vote
2answers
105 views
“by winning” vs “by her winning” or “of her win”
I have a dilema, here's a little excerpt:
Anna, an accomplished classical musician, was encouraged by her
winning the prestigious award .... plans to launch a new album.
Sounds really wrong. ...
1
vote
2answers
322 views
Should there a gerund or a noun in front of the preposition?
(a) The rise of price of goods burdens the people.
(b) The rising of price of goods burdens the people.
(c) The ban of plastic bags is a good way to reduce environmental problems.
...
1
vote
1answer
554 views
Why is “doing” used here instead of “to do”?
I have read this question: “I like to do (be) something” vs “I like doing (being) something” and I get (although the answer could not be applied to my example) that using "to do" means in general I ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
“Thank you for your coming” and “Thank you for your understanding” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Thank you for coming” and “Thank you for your coming”
The first one seems ungrammatical, as pointed by some of native speakers. But the latter ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
“Canceling” or “cancelling” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is “L” doubled?
I'm confused about the two spellings. In which contexts do I have to use canceling or cancelling?
Google returns 15.6 million results ...
0
votes
2answers
668 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?
"In ...
0
votes
2answers
96 views
“To know X is all I need” vs. “knowing X is all I need” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How does one know when to use a gerund or a infinitive?
Which of the following is the correct form?
To know you're interested in my book is all I need to go on ...
0
votes
4answers
1k views
Is “Forgive my being late” grammatical?
Is it grammatically correct to write "forgive my being late to this discussion" as an alternative to "sorry that I'm late to this discussion"?
0
votes
3answers
179 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 ...
0
votes
3answers
407 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
328 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? ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
“Thank you for coming” and “Thank you for your coming”
Consider "Thank you for coming" and "Thank you for your coming".
Would the latter one be grammatical? Why? Is it possible to recognize latter "coming" as noun? Some say you need no pronoun because it ...
0
votes
3answers
59 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
1answer
72 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
577 views
Correct use of “wanting” [closed]
To begin with a clarification: I'm not speaking of "wanting" as in "lacking" (e.g. a box wanting its lid.) Rather, it's about uses like this one:
Person A: I want to go with you.
Person B: ...
0
votes
2answers
556 views
“Was talking” vs. “Has been talking”
An online instructor was asked by a student at the end of their conversation:
Which of the following is correct and why?
It was nice talking to you.
It has been nice talking to you.
Is talking a ...
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
2answers
59 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].
...
0
votes
0answers
37 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 ...
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
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]
...
0
votes
5answers
50 views
Is using “get on developing” correct in this phrase?
You could get on developing this project and help me to add more features to that.
0
votes
0answers
138 views
Function of -ing verbal form [closed]
What function do the -ing verbal forms play in the following sentence?
He sat down calmly, shutting his eyes, thinking.
Are shutting and thinking gerunds? I don't think so, despite the -ing ...
