Awaiting for your guidance

[hancherng]

Could somebody explain to me that, why there is a present contiounous tense appears (taking) after a past tense (suggested) for the sentences below:

He suggested taking the children to the zoo today.

Can we put present tense like take ?


Thank you.

[zaffar]

Hi,
In your sentence, "taking" is a gerund. Some verbs are followed by the gerund and some are followed by the to-infinitive; for example " I like to go to the zoo;" on the other hand, some verbs are followed by both gerunds and infinitives without special difference in their meanings. For example, "I've begun taking my classes" or " I've begun to take my classes.

[hancherng]

Thank you.

Do you mean that the word "taking" in the sentence above is not a verb but is a noun ? How am I going to differentiate contiounous tense and gerund in the future ? Any clues ?

[Tdol]

A present participle is used either with the verb 'to be' as a full verb or as an adjective. If the -ing form is the subject or object of the sentence or after a preposition, it is a gerund:

Swimming is good exercise. (subject of sentence- gerund)
I like walking. (gerund)
On arriving, you should report to Reception. (gerund)

He's talking to a client. (main verb- present participle)
It's an interesting book. (adjective- present participle)