[Grammar] take to Ving, (gerund or present participle?)

[jutfrank]

I really don't mean to aim anything at anyone. I hope people understand that I know little about grammar, but I do find this matter interesting and I'm trying to think and talk it through, with the hope of learning something from you all.

 

[Phaedrus]

Thanks, Jutfrank. Regarding your example:

His deliberately not making sense is frustrating.

I find the not interesting, in that it seems to render the corresponding gerund ungrammatical:

*[strike]His deliberate not making of sense is frustrating[/strike].

However, when the negation is made part of the gerund by means of the prefix non-, the result strikes me as tolerable, if inelegant:

His deliberate non-making of sense is frustrating.

 

[jutfrank]

I find the not interesting, in that it seems to render the corresponding gerund ungrammatical

Yes, that is exactly what I thought too. That's really why I added it (my original example didn't include it)—because I found it puzzling.

In syntax, is the not in my original considered as modifying the VP making sense? Can we say that gerunds cannot include adverbial modifiers, or something along those lines?

 

[sitifan]

I find Piscean's "like" suspect.

What does the quoted sentence mean? What is 'Piscean's "like" suspect'?

 

[Phaedrus]

Fine. I'll leave the thread. I am interested in grammar, not in discussion of my motives for liking a post,

Goodbye. FYI, Piscean, since you showed no appreciation for my having gratified your curiosity as to my source, I have deleted the entire post.

If you request that information again here, I shall no longer honor your request.

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

- Matthew 7:6, KJV

 

[GoesStation]

The forum is for discussing English, not one another's motivations. Thread closed.

 

[Tdol]

This thread seems to have gone unnecessarily hostile to me. Can't we disagree without all this?