Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Practise + -ing.
Don’t say: You must practice to speak English.
- Say: You must practice speaking English.
March 3, 2012
March 2, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Go on (continue) + -ing.
Don’t say: The music went on to play all day.
- Say: The music went on playing all day.
March 1, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Excuse + -ing.
Don’t say: Please excuse me to be so late.
- Say: Please excuse my being so late.
- Or: Please excuse me for being so late.
February 29, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Avoid + -ing.
Don’t say: You can’t avoid to make mistakes.
- Say: You can’t avoid making mistakes.
February 28, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Tired of + -ing.
Don’t say: The customer got tired to wait.
- Say: The customer got tired of waiting.
February 27, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Succeed in + -ing.
Don’t say: Paula succeeded to win the prize.
- Say: Paula succeeded in winning the prize.
February 25, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Object to + -ing.
Don’t say: I object to be treated like this.
- Say: I object to being treated like this.
February 24, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Fond of + -ing.
Don’t say: She is always fond to talk.
- Say: She is always fond of talking.
February 23, 2012
Misuse of the infinitive
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After prepositions or preposition phrases:
Instead of, etc. + -ing.
Don’t say: He went away instead to wait.
- Say: He went away instead of waiting.
February 22, 2012
Write
Write: To form (letters or words); to compose and set down, especially in literary or musical form; to fill in or cover with writing; to express in writing; to communicate by correspondence; to underwrite.
Synonyms: compose, copy, indite, inscribe, pen, scrawl, scribble, transcribe.
Example: It was written that the empire would fall.
Usage in Sentence: Write in, not with.
Don’t say: I’ve written .the letter with ink.
- Say: I’ve written the letter in ink.
