English Grammar

to + gerund

User since 2006
Posts: 2715

12 May 2009

Here is guide to fixing your finance.
We are available 24 hours a day to chatting with you.

Who would be so kind as to explain me the rules that govern this link [to + gerung]?

I'm looking forward to reading your opinion.

3 comments

Todjo Julien Houndolo
User since 2008
Posts: 1
12 May 2009

From Gee:
Here is guide to fixing your finance.
We are available 24 hours a day to chatting with you.

Who would be so kind as to explain me the rules that govern this link [to + gerung]?

I'm looking forward to reading your opinion.

[blockquote]From Gee: Here is guide to fixing your finance. We are available 24 hours a day to chatting with you. Who would be so kind as to explain me the rules that govern this link [to + gerung]? I'm looking forward to reading your opinion.[/blockquote]
Fugendichter
User since 2008
Posts: 588
14 May 2009

Hello Gee,

in my humble opinion:

1. a guide needs that "to", e.g. a Guide to Family Health.
The gerund is ambiguous in its functions, it has the qualities
of a noun and a verb together.
2. "to" can be part of an infinitive (to do), but it is also a
a preposition. When "to" as a preposition is followed by a verb
you must use the ing-form: a guide to fixing your finance,
available to chatting with you.

I hope you are fine after that 24 hours marathon chat.

(CW)
Hello Gee, in my humble opinion: 1. a guide needs that "to", e.g. a Guide to Family Health. The gerund is ambiguous in its functions, it has the qualities of a noun and a verb together. 2. "to" can be part of an infinitive (to do), but it is also a a preposition. When "to" as a preposition is followed by a verb you must use the ing-form: a guide to fixing your finance, available to chatting with you. I hope you are fine after that 24 hours marathon chat. (CW)
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
15 May 2009

Be you thanked, Gwendo, you're always at the ready to help! I couldn't manage to have a marathon chat so far, as you are the one and only replying to my call.

Well copied about the preposition TO which I mustn't mistake for an infinitive particle!

TO coming after the guide.
As I can use a guide to Germany, I also can hire a guide to leading me through an exhibition of works by Dürer.
That 'leading' would be the name of the action of leading.

There is something that leaves me peeved: may that gerund coming for a name be replaced by an infinitive?
I need a guide to leading me through the trickeries of English.
Are you the guide to lead me, Gwendo?

Is it a benefit to being unemployed? (from a GG lesson)
I feel that I couldn't say here "benefit to be unemployed", because the 'being' is a state condition.

I am available to chatting with you.
Am I not available to chat with you?
I can smell a shade of meaning between the two.

Maybe I had better suffer from anosmia, who knows?
Be you thanked, Gwendo, you're always at the ready to help! I couldn't manage to have a marathon chat so far, as you are the one and only replying to my call. Well copied about the preposition TO which I mustn't mistake for an infinitive particle! TO coming after the guide. As I can use a guide to Germany, I also can hire a guide to leading me through an exhibition of works by Dürer. That 'leading' would be the name of the action of leading. There is something that leaves me peeved: may that gerund coming for a name be replaced by an infinitive? I need a guide to leading me through the trickeries of English. Are you the guide to lead me, Gwendo? Is it a benefit to being unemployed? (from a GG lesson) I feel that I couldn't say here "benefit to be unemployed", because the 'being' is a state condition. I am available to chatting with you. Am I not available to chat with you? I can smell a shade of meaning between the two. Maybe I had better suffer from anosmia, who knows?

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