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rhinocharge64
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
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 Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject: Gerund question |
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Could you answer the following question. Why can we not use the following gerund in this sentence.
Ms. Smith called this morning for conforming that the payment she mailed had been received by friday.
The correct word would be confirmation. Why?
Kind regards |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: Gerund question |
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| rhinocharge64 wrote: |
Could you answer the following question. Why can we not use the following gerund in this sentence.
Ms. Smith called this morning for conforming that the payment she mailed had been received by friday.
The correct word would be confirmation. Why?
Kind regards |
I can't help you with your grammar question, sorry, but you could also say : Ms Smith called this morning to confirm that the payment she mailed ....
ilovebdt |
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faster
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah, the vagaries of English preposition/noun & prep/verb combinations. |
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chaz47
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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ding ding ding
that's why I vote for the lexical approach, especially for most of us here in the EFL/ESL environment with little or no prior training...
my gut reaction was to use the same phrasing as ilovebdt:
"Ms Smith called this morning to confirm that the payment she mailed .... " |
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Kyrei
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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call for + [noun]
call to + [verb] |
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icnelly
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:32 am Post subject: Re: Gerund question |
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| rhinocharge64 wrote: |
Could you answer the following question. Why can we not use the following gerund in this sentence.
Ms. Smith called this morning for conforming that the payment she mailed had been received by friday.
The correct word would be confirmation. Why?
Kind regards |
I think it falls into the difference between the two nouns, especially since the word 'confirming' is only a gerund when it is used like a noun. It can also be an adjective/verb. So, what is the difference between confirming, and confirmation? I think the meaning is very similar, but perhaps 'confirming' as a gerund connotes the action, and 'confirmation' the thing.
Plus you can look at the parts of your sentence:
Basic sentence: Mrs. Smith called.
Addition 1: Mrs. Smith called this morning.
Addition 2: Mrs. Smith called this morning for confirmation.
Addition 3: Mrs. Smith called this morning for confirmation that the payment she mailed had been received by Friday.
You could break addition 3 down further, but addition 2 tells us that 'confirm' is part of a prepositional phrase, and that may have some play in what noun forms can be used.
Can anyone think of some sentences similar to the OP's with gerunds serving as objects of a preposition?
Just throwing out ideas, don't take my words on it.
EDIT: meaning |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:13 am Post subject: Re: Gerund question |
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| rhinocharge64 wrote: |
Could you answer the following question. Why can we not use the following gerund in this sentence.
Ms. Smith called this morning for conforming that the payment she mailed had been received by friday.
The correct word would be confirmation. Why?
Kind regards |
ummm
conforming: 1. To correspond in form or character; be similar.
confirming 1. The act of confirming - something that confirms; verification. confirmation.
different meanings? |
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VirginIslander
Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:47 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
ummm
conforming: 1. To correspond in form or character; be similar.
confirming 1. The act of confirming - something that confirms; verification. confirmation.
different meanings? |
Come on man. That was too easy on your part. An obvious spelling error on his part. He's asking a question.
Lets bring insight...not insults...to this particular forum on Daves.
VI |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:31 am Post subject: |
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| VirginIslander wrote: |
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ummm
conforming: 1. To correspond in form or character; be similar.
confirming 1. The act of confirming - something that confirms; verification. confirmation.
different meanings? |
Come on man. That was too easy on your part. An obvious spelling error on his part. He's asking a question.
Lets bring insight...not insults...to this particular forum on Daves.
VI |
That was NOT meant as an insult or cheap shot to the OP and anyone who has read any of my posts over the last few years would know that.
I have seen this type of thing (spelling and not necessarily grammar) from MANY of my Korean counterparts over the years and simply offered what to me appeared obvious - word confusion and not a correctly spelled typo.
. |
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Grimalkin
Joined: 22 May 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:08 am Post subject: |
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When we talk about our reason for doing something we use
to + base form of verb
I went to the ATM machine to withdraw money.
When we explain the function of something we use
for + gerund or to + infinitive
An ATM machine is used for withdrawing/to withdraw money.
Koreans often confuse purpose/reason for doing something with purpose/function of something.
(VirginIslander you're misjudging ttompatz!) |
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VirginIslander
Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:26 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, and I agree with you. After five consecutive beginner 1 elementary classes, I was l still in hyper sensitive play fair mode.
Keep those posts coming. |
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BS.Dos.
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:48 am Post subject: |
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Conformed?
Don't you mean confirmed.
EDIT
^Sorry, obviously a typo. |
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rhinocharge64
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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Not insulted by ttomptz or last poster, and I would like to say a big thanks to all who responded. Nice to know you can get get some great advice on this board, and given in the nicest possible way.
Cheers- a great lift for those monday morning blues.
The Charge |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure if this helps but...
What did she do? She called.
Why did she call? To confirm.
Or
For confirmation.
Confirming doesn't sound right, but I can't explain the grammar of why.
I believe you could use confirming without "to" or "for", but the meaning is slightly different.
Mrs._________ called this morning confirming that ________was ____________. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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You need Woland.
He will probably be able to write 3000 on the use of Gerund for you off the top of his head!! |
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