[Grammar] Gerund or Infinitive as a Complement

[pseudo]

s1. My dream is to become a teacher.
s2. My dream is becoming a teacher.

I think both s1 and s2 are right.

s3. My hobby is to play tennis.
s4. My hobby is playing tennis.

But s3 is incorrect.
I wonder if the subject doesn't determine which is the complement.
Is there any grammar rules?
If there is, which nouns can have gerund or infinitive or both as a complement?
How about 'My wish is becoming a teacher' or 'My job is to sell used cars'?

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And one more question.

s5. My dream is a teacher.

is s5 grammatically correct?
I think it should be "My dream is to be a teacher."

 

[SlickVic9000]

(not a teacher)

Not sure I'd say S3 is wrong, but I will say that it's not the way I would express that thought.
And yes, S5 is incorrect. Your suggested correction is acceptable.

 

[bhaisahab]

"My wish is becoming a teacher" is not natural English.

 

[TheParser]

any grammar rules?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,

I love rules, too. So I did some googling and found two "rules."

1. One very popular and reliable website * says that the infinitive "is often a complement used to help define an abstract

noun." Abstract nouns would include such words as "desire," "plan," and "wish." I think that "dream" is abstract, too, don't

you? ("abstract" = an idea that you cannot physically touch)

a. So if we follow this "rule," then we would have to say "My dream is to become a teacher."

*****

2. The second source ** had a nice "rule," too.

a. Use the gerund if you are referring to reality, a fact, actual experience -- in the present or past.

i. Driving his own car costs a lost of money. = It is a fact that he has a car. It is a fact that it costs a lot of money for gasoline, etc.

b. Use the infinitive if you are referring to a possibility, an idea, a hope, a dream or a goal.

i. To drive his own car is his great dream. = He does not actually have a car. It is just his dream.

*****

Thus:

1. My dream is to become a teacher.
2. To become a teacher is my dream.
3. Becoming a teacher is my dream.

NOTES:

a. No. 1 is the one that almost all native speakers would prefer.
b. Some people feel that No. 2 sounds more formal than No. 3.
c. Yes, No. 3 uses a gerund even though it is only a dream. So it "breaks" the rule that I discussed above.
As you can guess, those "rules" have exceptions. But they give you a general idea.


James


* grammar.ccc.comnet.edu.

** Tenth Week Verbals: Gerund or Infinitive (on the Web).

 

[pseudo]

Thank you for your reply.
Koreans sometimes says like s5.
I think "My dream is to be a teacher." is logically right.

 

[pseudo]

Thank you for your reply.^^

 

[pseudo]

Paradoxically, I feel rules make me free.
I cannot thank you enough for your detailed explanation.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,


I feel that you are spot on: rules make me feel free, too. We humans need order.

James

P.S. "Spot on" is a Britishism that means something like "absolutely right." I love the sound of that expression!

 

[5jj]

We humans need order.

opinion matter is . That a of