Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
almost certainly; very likely; apparently; in all likelihood
cheap
probably
sincerely
pretty
TOEIC prep test: Word games free: Online Noun Adjective Adverb Verb Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund'



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
Meaning of "brand name" | Idiom 'rolling budget'
Listening exercises
Message
Author
'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund' #1 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 13:17 pm   'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund'
 

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #119 "Gerund or Infinitive", question 6

Try ......... the door really hard if you want to open it.

(a) pushing
(b) push
(c) pushes
(d) pushed

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #119 "Gerund or Infinitive", answer 6

Try pushing the door really hard if you want to open it.

Correct answer: (a) pushing

Your answer was: incorrect
Try push the door really hard if you want to open it.
_________________________

I used 'Try push...' that was marked incorrect. Could you please shed some light on it?

Michael Swan suggests:

"To talk about making an effort to do something difficult, we can use either try+infinitive or try +ing.

I tried to change the wheel...
I tried changing the wheel...


Thanks
Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2061

'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund' #2 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 14:02 pm   'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund'
 

Tom wrote:
I used 'Try push...' that was marked incorrect. Could you please shed some light on it?

Michael Swan suggests:

"To talk about making an effort to do something difficult, we can use either try+infinitive or try +ing.

I tried to change the wheel...
I tried changing the wheel...

Hi Tom

You could have possibly used the "to infinitive" (just as you did in your example) but the only infinitive option in the test was a "bare infinitive" and that doesn't work in this case. Sad

Try to push...

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Are you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsIn this story you'll learn how to use the English articlesHere is all you want to know about English! Click to subscribe to free email English course
'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund' #3 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 19:59 pm   'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund'
 

Well, my question has been rephrased and, sorry to say, with typos. Mad

I never used try push!.This was not my question.

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2061

Try #4 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 20:10 pm   Try
 

Hi Tom,

To me try to do something is make an effort to do something as in

Charlie tried for years to pass his driving test but always failed until someone suggested he should try taking some lessons.

Try taking in this sentence means do something as a trial or experiment.
That was the point of my test question here.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story In short
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 9114
Location: UK

'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund' #5 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 20:14 pm   'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund'
 

Thank you, Alan

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2061

'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund' #6 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 20:15 pm   'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund'
 

Hi Tom

I promise you, I didn't alter your post. I just answered what I saw posted. Although.... come to think of it, it seems to me your post actually appeared twice (doubled) when I first saw it... Did you notice anything unusual at the time you posted? Confused

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Display posts from previous:   
Meaning of "brand name" | Idiom 'rolling budget'
ESL Forum | English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests) 'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund' All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Meaning of 'May I ride with you to work?'Can you please VERSUS Should you pleaseMeaning of voidIdiom: "can you run that past me again"Idiom: 'grasp it at the first time'Meaning of GraspIdiom: It's all Greek to mePreposition During versus conjunction WhileMeaning of annual incrementMeaning of lonesomeNever hit me VERSUS never whip meIs anything wrong with 'waiting for the bus'?Wonderful bends VERSUS wonderful curvesMeaning of "wrong number"Forgive VERSUS excuseMeaning of appreciationPosition your products differently?Expression: carrying a bag under her arm'Try + infinitive' versus 'Try + gerund'

Discover English-test.net
Given my gre what nextDifference between syllabus and curriculumExpressions: Glad you like it. I guesstests of EnglishESL Vocabulary ActivityGRE Practice: Vocabulary Quiz: Adjective ListGRE vocab test: Free word games: Online Adjectives GameMeaning of studied, wary, amphibian, reactionary, unwarranted, gory, insuperableDefinition of land, strike, establish, animal, full, army, huge, reason, officer, makePart of speech exercise: This way and thatEnglish exercises handouts: US Government Questions Test (5)The Best American Erotica 1995 audiobook download

 
You can post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail