BOOK. THE GERUND. VERBAL AND DEVERBAL USES

The hardest thing about learning English is understanding the gerund.

Not knowing what to do next in your life can be confusing and a painful experience (gerund) VS Not knowing what to do, I asked him for advice. (present participle)

Before ordering a taxi, and after ordering a taxi the noun-verb follows a preposition and is a gerund. Waiting for a taxi, patience is needed. Or Waiting for a taxi I dropped my wallet, are I think both participles, 

Although death is terrifying, knowing that you are living to eternity without ever being able to die is even more terrifying.

There are many reasons why learning English is a worthwhile venture. First, English is a global language that often provides the common ground for speakers who don’t speak each other’s native languages. Next, a basic understanding of English is often recommended, or even required in some cases, for those seeking admittance to a top university or employment at a multinational company. Finally, English is the language of science and technology.

Understanding English is essential when working for multinational companies.

For people seeking employment in a multinational company, it’s worth learning the English language. For people seeking employment in a multinational company, it’s worth learning the English language. 

The programme covers a wide variety of different business subjects, ranging from banking to international conferences and interviews.

As most scientific papers and technical manuals are only published in English, learning the English language should be a top priority for anyone pursuing a career in science or technology. People with a casual interest in either of these fields may also find that English is worth learning for the same reason.

 As you can see, there are many reasons why it’s worth learning the English language. Sure, the spelling and pronunciation systems may seem nonsensical at times, but despite this, English is still one of the easier languages to learn due to its relatively simple alphabet and the overwhelming amount of resources available to those wishing to learn it – two important factors that can be extremely helpful when learning a new language.

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a. as the subject of the sentence:

Finding some quiet time in your life, I think, is hugely important.

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times. Mark Twain

Thinking is the hardest work there is.

b. as the complement of the verb 'to be':

The hardest thing about learning English is understanding the gerund.

c. after prepositions. The gerund must be used when a verb comes after a preposition:

● As far as I'm concerned, there's no job more important on the planet than being a mother.

(A) Winning is better than losing.
(B) It's better to win than to lose.
"It's better than losing," could mean the same thing assuming "it" refers to "winning." Otherwise, A and B mean the same thing. To me, "It's better than to lose" sounds strange and I wouldn't use it (but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's incorrect).

The same is true for:

It's easier to walk than to fly.
Walking is easier than flying.
It's easier than flying.

"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Preposition vs adverb

If it has an object, it’s a preposition, if it doesn’t, it’s an adverb.

Simple as that¹. If you are one of those people who have memorized the prepositions and you spot one in a sentence, before you mark it down as a preposition, make sure it has an object (ask preposition what?). For example:

• Billy ran up the stairs.
• Billy looked up and saw the alien spacecraft.

Both sentences include the word up. We know up is often a preposition, but let’s check. Does it have an object? In the first sentence it does: stairs. Up what? Up the stairs.

H0w about the second sentence? Up what? Well, um, hmm. There’s no answer because there’s no object. Up in this example is being used as an adverb to modify the verblooked. It shows how or where Billy looked.

c.1. After noun + preposition:

c.2. After adjective + preposition:

c.3. After 

d. after a number of 'phrasal verbs' which are composed of a verb + preposition/adverb: to look forward to, to give up, to be for/against, to take to, to put off, to keep on ...

e. in compound nouns

Desire is the starting point of all achievement. * The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the strength within you that survives all hurt. * I wanted to learn everything I could about what it takes to be a great chef. It was a turning point for me. * You go through life experiences. Each record captures a different turning point in my life. * Living is no laughing matter, I mean, living must be your whole occupation.



f. after the expressions: can't help, can't stand, it's no use/good, and the adjective worth:

I don't listen to music when I write - I find it distracting.

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 * It was an ongoing struggle to say no, I don't want to be a part of the perpetuation of this stereotype. * There's always been an ongoing struggle between commerce and art. * There's always been a struggle between good and evil.* There's always been a struggle between the fringe and the mainstream, and between big money interests/owners and the poor/renters. If anything, ... * Hope is a waking dream. Aristotle

Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?