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gerunds and infinitives
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:17 pm
by Tara B
I am stumped!
If you use a verb as a gerund, is it still a verb?
What about an infinitive in an interchangeable position? I have a harder time classifying infinitives as nouns, but in many cases they seem to do the same job.
How many verbs are in these sentences?
a) I like walking.
b) I like to walk.
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:41 pm
by fluffyhamster
Don't get too tangled up in the terminology ("classifying infinitives as nouns"!?), all that's important is that the verb 'like' is transitive (and that is the only finite verb in each of your sentences). I don't think you can exactly "use a verb as gerund", a form is either a verb ('I am walking' - active participle) or a gerund ('I like walking') depending on its grammatical role/function in a sentence. BTW, 'I like to walk' sounds a little stramge and "incomplete".
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:13 am
by lolwhites
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 1:06 am
by ssean
If you use a verb as a noun, doesn't it become a gerund, and another term for a gerund is a verbal noun.
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 1:26 am
by fluffyhamster
Hmm...my previous post could probably have been more helpful.
I find the sort of explanation at the following link helpful when trying to figure out how many "verbs" there are in a complex verb phrase:
http://folk.uio.no/hhasselg/terms.html#main_clause
From the 'main clause' entry, go on to the linked 'verb phrase' one.
I've mentioned the above Glossary of grammatical terms before:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 4794#14794
This is kind of related and of potential interest:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 4694#14694