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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > WHY? Grammar question for the Grammar gurus please....
WHY? Grammar question for the Grammar gurus please....
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mariamit
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You �re right that is the explanation. But gee, Cheezels, I see you must really love corrrecting. |
15 Mar 2009
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eurirod
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Hi, Cheezels! I also explain it this way ... but I �m not English! As I live in the Canary Islands and many English people live here in my groups there are some native speakers and they have never said the opposite...so, I suppose we can sleep without worrying about that. Nice sunday for everybody  |
15 Mar 2009
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cheezels
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HAHA I HATE correcting!!!!!!!
It is just that the correcting I do needs to be absolutely correct with the reasoning behind the correction.....
I tell you my brain has completely melted from these last few days!!! I told myself I was NOT going to do any more this weekend... but here I am.....marking again.... sigh......
Thanks everyone for your help! It is good to know I am on the right track at least!!!!
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15 Mar 2009
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Amanda W
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Dear Cheezels, I �ve been through this too. Being English, there are things that sound right, you know are right but don �t know rules to support your decision. There �s just a big blank!! I �m having to learn about grammar constantly. When I learn something new I realize I �ve come a step further but the English language never ceases to surprise me and there �s still so much to master. So, Cheezels, I wish you all the patience in the world for your journey. We �re bound to meet on the way at some stage as I �m on the same road. Hope we get there one day! Night, night, Mandy
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15 Mar 2009
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carinaluc
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Dear Cheezels,
I give my students the same explanation. They don �t have any trouble understanding why �to � is used as a preposition here, though of course they don �t always remember it when writing or speaking... But that �s a different kettle of fish!!!
Regards from Buenos Aires
Carina |
15 Mar 2009
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HARIM
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Hi everyone,
The only plausible explanation I give to my students is that after prepositions we should put the verb in the -ing form
Cheers |
15 Mar 2009
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Ivona
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I rarely tell them it is a preposition. Because they don �t understand it.
I just say they should use a noun, which is a verbal noun, because made of a verb by adding -ing to it. So if it �s I look forward to THIS then it �s I look forward to COOKING tonight.
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15 Mar 2009
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zoemorosini
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Dearest Cheezels:
Sorry your brain is melting. At least you have a brain to melt--mine evaporated years ago!!!! 
Let me take a stab at your question:
"Looking forward to hear from you". IS WRONG
It should be "Looking forward to hearing from you".
1. First, gerunds are verbs that have been "dressed up" as nouns (that �s why the
"-ing" is added, to distinguish them from other verb tenses--that �s also why the verb "to be" is not used in front, so gerunds aren �t confused with present continuous, etc). They are designed to BE a noun in the sentence. They follow the rules of all other nouns in terms of word order.
2. Second, prepositions are followed by nouns. Thus, prepositions can be followed by a gerund, because a gerund IS A NOUN due to its "-ing" ending.
3. Hence, in a phrase containing a preposition, if the IDEA of the verb (the ACTIVITY --or WHAT--itself) is used after the preposition, you need the gerund form, to "dress up" the verb and give it permission to ACT like a noun.
Hope this helps!
Your American friend |
15 Mar 2009
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cheezels
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Thanks :-)
I need to be more confident I think... I knew the reason but doubted myself... also I am still at the "clumsy" stage of explaining something... I know this area will get better with time and experience!
Thank you everyone for your help
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15 Mar 2009
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