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20-May-2008, 12:37
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| |  go to the trouble of/to
Dear Teachers,
I went to the trouble to explain what the difference was. OR
I went to the trouble of explaining what the difference was.
As I know both forms are ok. Which is more natural to you and why?
Regards
Banderas |
20-May-2008, 12:43
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| | Re: go to the trouble of/to
They're both rather awkward. Wouldn't use the first one, though.... |
20-May-2008, 12:47
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| |  Re: go to the trouble of/to
The second example is the more natural. I suppose it may be that 'I went to precedes' the other 'to' in your first example so avoiding it with 'of' in the second example cures the ugliness.
It could also be excused as an idiom (?).
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20-May-2008, 13:07
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| | Re: go to the trouble of/to
Quote:
Originally Posted by meez  They're both rather awkward. Wouldn't use the first one, though.... | Hi, meez,
what makes you think so? |
20-May-2008, 13:11
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| | Re: go to the trouble of/to
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shakespeare's brother
It could also be excused as an idiom (?).
SB | Indeed, it is an idiom but I see and hear "to the trouble to do/explain" etc.
as often as "to the trouble of explaining/doing" etc. Hence my question. |
20-May-2008, 13:18
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| |  Re: go to the trouble of/to
So do I, but still to me more naturally: I 'went to the trouble of'. However, equally natural to me is: I 'took the trouble to' so perhaps the naturalness comes from what verb you use prior to the trouble. | | The Following User Says Thank You to Shakespeare's brother For This Useful Post: | |
20-May-2008, 13:25
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| | Re: go to the trouble of/to
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shakespeare's brother So do I, but still to me more naturally: I 'went to the trouble of'. However, equally natural to me is: I 'took the trouble to' so perhaps the naturalness comes from what verb you use prior to the trouble. | Thank you, SB. 
PS. The official forum "Thanks" button dissapeared. So this kind of thanks must do.  |
20-May-2008, 13:26
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| | Re: go to the trouble of/to
That's good enough for me!
Regards,
SB |
20-May-2008, 15:16
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| | Re: go to the trouble of/to
The problem is the ugly construction of 'went to...to (verb)' in this context.
I took the trouble to explain what the difference was.
I went to the trouble of explaining what the difference was.
(and 'took' here would sound just as ugly) |
20-May-2008, 15:20
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| | Re: go to the trouble of/to
Quote:
Originally Posted by David L. The problem is the ugly construction of 'went to...to (verb)' in this context. | In what context should I use "go to the trouble of", then? | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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