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Old 16-Oct-2004, 09:46
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Default which one is more common or correct!

hi,

S1: It is easy growing up.
S2: It is easy to growing up.

Which sentence is more correct or common? And what's the difference between the two?
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Old 16-Oct-2004, 10:49
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Default Re: which one is more common or correct!

Quote:
Originally Posted by paula123
hi,

S1: It is easy growing up.
S2: It is easy to grow up.

Which sentence is more correct or common? And what's the difference between the two?
Gerunds usually refer to actualized events, whereas infinitives usually refer to potenial events. For example, by using 'growing up', a gerund, the speaker bases her/his statement on her/his past (i.e., an actualized event). By using 'to grow up' an infinitive, the speaker makes reference to someone's else future (i.e., a potential event).

EXAMPLES
1. Growing up is easy.
(Actualized event; the speaker experienced the event)

2. To grow up and become a good citizen is easy.
(Potential event; the event has not been realized yet; it hasn't happened. The speaker is speaking to/about people who have yet to reach adulthood.)

As for which is more common, I'm not sure how to answer that because usage depends on whether the speaker wants to expresses a potential event or an actualized event.
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