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Originally Posted by nautes20 Hi, Teachers... :D
Why is the first sentence ungrammatical?
I think the first sentence has a similar structure to the fourth.
1. I found to read this book difficult.
2. I found this book difficult to read.
3. I found it difficult to read this book.
4. I found reading this book difficult.
Best regards |
I see where MM is going, and as stated, 1. is OK, but given the pattern you're looking at, have you thought about the kind of object the verb 'found' subcategorizes for?
I found + Non-finite Clause
I found
it difficult to read this book.
I found
reading this book (to be) difficult.
I found
this book (to be) difficult to read
I found
to read this book (to be) difficult. (Odd)
Infinitive 'to read' refers to an unactualized event. If the main verb is 'found', past tense, then the book has been read, so use present participle 'reading', which expresses an actualized event.