|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Gerund or infinitive?
Gerund or infinitive?
|
mailis
|
Gerund or infinitive?
|
Dear All,
I am teaching �gerund or infinitive � and i have a question. After "would" should we always use infinitive? For example the verb "like" is followed by gerund or infinitive without changing the meaning of the sentence. However, in the following sentence:
"I wouldn �t like to lose my job" is correct rather than "I wouldn �t like losing my job" because of "would"
...correct me if I �m wrong
thank you in advance for your help!
|
23 Jan 2010
|
|
|
|
serene
|
|
Would and should are always followed by a bare infinitive (without to). In your sentence e.g. wouldn �t is followed by like (bare infinitive).
The expression would like (want to) is followed by the infinitive. |
23 Jan 2010
|
|
|
PhilipR
|
|
Both are possible according to me. Instead of Swan, let me refer to the highly accurate and scientific Googlefight...
|
23 Jan 2010
|
|
|
volga
|
I agree with Philip. I would even say that to me -ing form sounds better here, i.e. that �s what I would use.
Oh, well, according to Googlefight, I would lose. But I would also lose if I said �my friend and I � instead of �me and my friend �. All this proves is that people don �t speak in accordance with prescribed grammars.
The language shapes us and we shape the language we use.
Cheers!
|
23 Jan 2010
|
|
|
anitarobi
|
|
I wouldn �t like to lose my job... - is a prospect in the future, whereas I like swimming... is a completely different type of statement (likes and dislikes in everyday life). In this second case you can practically also say I like to swim. without changing the meaning. The first sentence, the job one, is conditioned by would, as Serene says. So the rule you mention
For example the verb "like" is followed by gerund or infinitive without changing the meaning of the sentence., like all rules, depends on the situation. (I even had a professor at the university who taught us that I like swimming. refers to the joy of swimming, whereas we should use I like to swim. as in I think it wise/healthier etc. to swim (than to e. g. play tennis). |
23 Jan 2010
|
|
|
