Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[rayt]

I need help...

Every friend gives to and takes from a friendship. Benefits most people enjoy____ spending time and doing things together and being praised, appreciated, and listened to.

Could please advise me why "include" is to be filled in the blank.

And why "include" (V.) can go right after another V, i.e. enjoy here.

Thank you.

[IanT]

It's because "most people enjoy" is actually a relative clause with the which/that left out.

So it could just read: "Benefits include..."

"Include" is used instead of, for example, "are" to show that the list of benefits is not complete.

Hope helps,
Ian
_________________
All my answers refer to British English.

www.EnglishSwearing.com - How to use all the bad words! ... and ... www.throdworld.com - Silly verses to make you happy.

You decide the price for both!

[rayt]

Thank you.

As per your explanation
�It's because "most people enjoy" is actually a relative clause with the which/that left out. � Do you mean the original sentence could be like below??
Benefits that most people enjoy include spending time and doing things together and being praised, appreciated, and listened to.

Please help me with 2 more questions:
1. If �that� is left out, no commas should be used like
Benefits, most people enjoy, include spending ��. ??
And why?
2. Why gerunds are used here like spending, doing�. ?

Thank you very much.

[IanT]

Yes,

"Benefits that most people enjoy include spending time and doing things together and being praised, appreciated, and listened to."

would be fine.

And 1. No, you don't need commas. When you put commas (for a "non-defining" relative clause) you include the who or which.

2. Gerunds are used because the verbs are being used like nouns. Each verb is an example of a benefit, which is a thing, basically. In any place where you could put a noun instead of the verb (e.g."benefits include happiness, etc" then the gerund is correct.

Hope helps,
Ian
_________________
All my answers refer to British English.

www.EnglishSwearing.com - How to use all the bad words! ... and ... www.throdworld.com - Silly verses to make you happy.

You decide the price for both!