Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Swampfox10mm]

How would you complete the following blanks using the verb provided, and why?

He tried (ask) _____ their parents for help, and his mother-in-law suggested that he try (save) _________ money in the bank.


Gerund? Infinitive? Why?


Interested in all comments. Thanks.

[newb]

My answer: to ask and saving.

[Swampfox10mm]

I'm lost on these. I am getting different answers from different places.

Here is something that I found on the web, but I'm not sure if it applies in all cases:

"Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or experiences."


So, in that case (ask) is a "real" activity, and would require a Gerund, correct? Also, (save) is a potential/possible, so it would be infinitive?

The problem is, I found another piece on the web (sorry) that seemed to suggest the infinitive should be used with ask, and the answers provided with the exercise also said the answer is "to ask."

??????????????????

[YTMND]

"I tried VERB +ing ___" gives the impression you accomplished something but didn't solve the problem ("I tried pushing the piano, but it wouldn't move.")

"I tried to VERB ___" gives the impression you weren't able to do what you wanted to try in order to solve the problem ("I tried to push the piano, but my arm is still in bad shape. Can you try pushing it?")

I don't think in conversation we make the distinction.

I just looked and see a more detailed explanation http://www.englishforums.com/English/TryToDoAndTryDoing/hjbkr/post.htm

[Swampfox10mm]

So YTMD, you're saying that it doesn't matter either way in conversation, correct? It's a written question, though.

I'm wondering if Americans, such as myself, don't make the distinction, yet Brits do? It seems as if Brits are more anal on the usage of specific gerunds, from what I gather.

[YTMND]

I don't think Brits or Americans would worry if it was in conversation.

However, one comes to mind, "drink and drive" vs. "Drink driving". As an American, it sounds strange to the ear to hear "drink drinking".

And another thing, maybe being negative is a part of this.

Don't drink and drive.

How do you easily negate "drink driving"? (not drink driving?)

[Swampfox10mm]

Here's another one, from a British Council activity:

So he went to the local shop and tried (buy) ______ a gun. But he didn't have any identification so he couldn't buy one.

Their answer: to buy - he tries buying would indicate that he encountered no problems in the purchase of the gun, but the context makes clear that he wasn�t able to complete the transaction because he had no identification, so we must use the infinitive.


I guess I'm lost as to the reasoning? It conflicts with the information I posted earlier:

"Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or experiences."

Buying a gun (or attempting to) is a real activity, is it not?

[YTMND]

Think of it as a method or approach.

A: "I can't open this jar."

B: "Try using a towel."

A: "I already tried to open it using a towel." / "I already tried that approach."

B: "Then try hitting it gently with the palm of your hand from under the jar."

A: "Thanks, it worked. So if you try to open the jar with oily hands or a towel, it might not work, but when you try hitting it you have more success."

Maybe it would work if you said, "He tried buying the gun with pennies, but they wouldn't accept."

I think there is gray area when you throw in exceptions to a general rule. The black and white of it is that the guy either could buy it or he couldn't. The point is not to illustrate a method of payment.

[JustinC]

[CentralCali]

[newb]

[T-J]

It is simply dependant on the main verb of the sentence.

Some verbs take one, some the other, and some both.

In the OP's example, try can take either the gerund or the infinitive form.

Play with the verbs consider and want.

Consider will always take the gerund and want the infinitive forms.

Some good information here:

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/english-as-a-second-language/gerunds

[whymany]

They are adverbial phrases either way you take them, as gerunds or infinitives. They are interchangeable, the meaning remains the same.

[The Cosmic Hum]

[sligo]

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/gerinf.htm