Would you like going...?

lucy lace · Post by **lucy lace** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:46 pm

The circumstances in which "I would like --ing" sounds most natural to me is when the second half of the sentence has a result/subordinate clause introduced by "but" or "if", as in, "I would like going shopping, but the malls are too crowded," or, "I would like swimming in public pools if I could be sure children weren't peeing in them." In these circumstances, the modal "would" is slightly stressed, so as to convey a hypothetical or imaginary situation. The meaning of "I would like TO GO shopping, but the malls are too crowded" seems slightly different from the gerund version: it sounds to me that the infinitive sentence means the malls are too crowded at a specific time or day, whereas the gerund sentence means that in general I find the malls too crowded.

What do you think?

JuanTwoThree · Post by **JuanTwoThree** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:13 pm

Spot on. Especially about the stress.

jillford64 · Post by **jillford64** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:14 am

Stephen Jones, what is a catatenive verb?

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:40 am

Whoops! catenative

A verb that links to another verb as the first verb in these examples
I like playing football
I want to see you later

zorro (3) · Post by **zorro (3)** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:23 pm

mono transitive, di transitive and complex transitive

I'm currently doing an MA in Applied Linguistics (note the capitals Metal...) and have come across these verb types that I previously never knew existed. I was reminded of this point when Stephen Jones mentioned catatnananntnive verbs (sorry, don't know the spelling so I made it up). Will I ever use these terms again? Have you ever taught these differences to your students? Is this level of metalinguistics necessary for teaching people to become fluent in English?

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:09 pm

Have you ever taught these differences to your students? Is this level of metalinguistics necessary for teaching people to become fluent in English?

On my browser these forums are called Teacher Discussion Forums. Are you suggesting that we should't use technical terms on a linguistics forum.

zorro (3) · Post by **zorro (3)** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:37 pm

On my browser you ne ne nenne nenenen ne........

Look past your assumptions and see my question for what it is. Of course I'm not suggesting we shouldn't use technical terms in this forum. Try and read my post again to see if you can understand it.

I'm pretty sure there are no ambiguities. If there are then feel free to expose them for the intrusions into clear English that they are!

jillford64 · Post by **jillford64** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:39 pm

Thanks for explaining, Stephen Jones. Thanks for your help everyone. I should be able to answer my student's question now.

BTW Zorro(3), I am in favor of any technical language when it clarifies something or furthers my education. I am not in favor of it when the poster is just trying to show off, as certain posters tend to do. Would I teach it to my students? NO! I interpreted your post in a similar manner to Stephen Jones, so perhaps your meaning wasn't as clear as you think.

zorro (3) · Post by **zorro (3)** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:24 pm

let me start a new topic then.....