that gerund business again...

[jctgf]

hi,

i had been studying the usage of "to be used/to get used to" when i came across to these sentences:

"I'm accustomed to getting up early."

"he objected to changing the plans."

again, i don't understand why to use the gerund in these situations.

using the infinitive in the sentences above would be incorrect?

could someone shed some light on it?

thanks!

jc

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by jctgf

hi,

i had been studying the usage of "to be used/to get used to" when i came across to these sentences:

"I'm accustomed to getting up early."

"he objected to changing the plans."

again, i don't understand why to use the gerund in these situations.

using the infinitive in the sentences above would be incorrect?

could someone shed some light on it?

thanks!

jc

No, it wouldn't be incorrect, JC. "incorrect" is much too loaded a term to be used effectively in language teaching. It would be unnatural. There's no rule that I'm aware of [that's not to say there isn't, and it sure seems like there's gotta be] that determines why we use an 'ing' form or an infinitive form.

Sometimes we can use either and sometimes there is a major difference in meaning,

He stopped smoking vs He stopped to smoke.

As far as 'be/get used to' count your lucky stars that it uses only one form.

[jctgf]

thanks a lot!

in my thread i wrote:

"i had been studying the usage of..."

should i have written

"i was studying the usage of ..."

?

thanks again!

[riverkid]

in my thread i wrote:

"i had been studying the usage of..."

should i have written

"i was studying the usage of ..."

+++++++++++++++++

Both are fine, JC.