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 #2 (permalink) Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:55 am Expressions/gerunds |
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Hi Loos,
Expressions are ways of saying something/expressing an idea as in the sentence: calming yourself down means relaxing. Calming is a gerund and is like a noun and a verb in one word.
Alan
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Alan
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| #3 (permalink) Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:34 am What are expressions and gerunds? |
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Hi,
I couldn't really get it.
what is wrong with the sentence
The secret to calm yourself down in moments of panic or crisis is simple: just breathe slowly in and out a few times.
Can you please get me to a link which explains about how and why are gerunds used?
Thanks
Rahul |
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Rahul B
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| #4 (permalink) Mon Dec 29, 2008 13:35 pm What are expressions and gerunds? |
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| Hi, "The secret to calming" or "the secret to calm"? Are both correct? |
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 Isaias
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| #5 (permalink) Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:45 am Expressions/gerunds |
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| Alan wrote: |
Hi Loos,
Expressions are ways of saying something/expressing an idea as in the sentence: calming yourself down means relaxing. Calming is a gerund and is like a noun and a verb in one word.
Alan |
Thank you so much for your explanation. |
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Nguyento
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| #6 (permalink) Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:57 am What are expressions and gerunds? |
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Hi,
What is the difference between "secret to claming down" and "secret to clam down". Which one is right
Do both these convey the same meaning
Thanks
Vidya |
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Scooby17
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| #7 (permalink) Tue Mar 22, 2011 18:58 pm What are expressions and gerunds? |
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Hello,
I presume you mean 'calming down' and 'calm down'.
Usually when combined with 'secret to' we would use 'calming. I can't think of an example which would use 'calm' correctly.
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Beeesneees
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| #8 (permalink) Tue Mar 22, 2011 20:10 pm What are expressions and gerunds? |
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Hi Scooby17,
In your second example of 'calm down, you would have to say: The secret is to calm down. That suggests that the important thing to do is to calm down. 'The secret to calming down' suggests 'The best way to calm yourself down'.
Alan
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| #9 (permalink) Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:17 am What are expressions and gerunds? |
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Hi Alan and Beesnees,
Thank you for the quick reply. I, somehow, understood the differences between the two expressions. But as a non native speaker, if someone were to write "secret to clam down' or "secret to claming down", I wouldn't have found any difference. But now I can, to an extent. If possible, can you let me know the correct grammar rule to be followed for cases like this or do these come by practise.
Thanks,
Vidhya |
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Scooby17
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| #10 (permalink) Sat May 14, 2011 4:42 am What are expressions and gerunds? |
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| Scooby17 wrote: |
Hi Alan and Beesnees,
Thank you for the quick reply. I, somehow, understood the differences between the two expressions. But as a non native speaker, if someone were to write "secret to clam down' or "secret to claming down", I wouldn't have found any difference. But now I can, to an extent. If possible, can you let me know the correct grammar rule to be followed for cases like this or do these come by practise.
Thanks,
Vidhya |
In the given sentences the word 'to' plays a decisive role. It is a preposition in 'secret to calming down' and an infinitive marker in 'secret to calm down'. While the former makes better sense, the latter may cause semantic confusion.
You will, perhaps, understand it more if you compare the first example with 'I look forward to meeting you soon.' Here the 'to' is a preposition. You can't say 'I look forward to meet you soon', which is unacceptable or non-standard.
T H Lawrence
May 14, 2011
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| #11 (permalink) Sat May 14, 2011 10:20 am What are expressions and gerunds? |
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| Scooby17 wrote: |
Hi Alan and Beesnees,
Thank you for the quick reply. I, somehow, understood the differences between the two expressions. But as a non native speaker, if someone were to write "secret to clam down' or "secret to claming down", I wouldn't have found any difference. But now I can, to an extent. If possible, can you let me know the correct grammar rule to be followed for cases like this or do these come by practise.
Thanks,
Vidhya |
Hello Vidhya,
I see that THLawrence has answered your question, but I would just like to add that every time you have written the word 'calm', you have reversed the two middle letters.
Although it was clear from your context what you meant, please be aware that CLAM has an entirely different meaning. The correct spelling for the word you are writing is CALM. :)
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Beeesneees
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| #12 (permalink) Sun May 15, 2011 18:32 pm What are expressions and gerunds? |
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Hi Lawrence,
Thank you for the clear explanation.
Hi Beeesnees,
The spelling mistake was a typo, not intentional.
until now I didn't know about clam. Anyway, the typo served a purpose. Thanks for pointing it out.
Vidhya |
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