Grammar, help!

[Williamyh]

Hi Everybody,

Could you please tell me how come use "explaining" in the following sentence? not use "to explain"? I have a kind of confuse. Awaiting for your explanation.Thanks.

He or she could be insulted and you would have to waste time explaining yourself in another e-mail.

WYH

 

[xpert]

Good question!

We usually say "waste time in doing something"
In your sentence, the preposition "in" is dropped.

 

[Raymott]

Hi Everybody,

Could you please tell me how come use "explaining" in the following sentence? not use "to explain"? I have a kind of confuse. Awaiting for your explanation.Thanks.

He or she could be insulted and you would have to waste time explaining yourself in another e-mail.

WYH

1. You waste/spend/use up time explaining yourself.
2. You take/make/set aside time to explain yourself.

In 1. explaining yourself wastes/spends ... time. The action of explaining, etc. wastes time. The explaining is synchronous with the
wasting, spending time.

In 2. explaining yourself does not make/set up time [Though it does take time] The point is the time has already been taken, made or set up.

 

[Williamyh]

1. You waste/spend/use up time explaining yourself.
2. You take/make/set aside time to explain yourself.

In 1. explaining yourself wastes/spends ... time. The action of explaining, etc. wastes time. The explaining is synchronous with the
wasting, spending time.

In 2. explaining yourself does not make/set up time [Though it does take time] The point is the time has already been taken, made or set up.

Thanks for your answer. But I also wanted to know, explaining is "Gerund"? any criteria if using "ing" form in this case? Is it affected by waste? In short, I wanted to know if the verb is not waste.....can I use "ing" form for the word of explain.....

 

[Raymott]

Thanks for your answer. But I also wanted to know, explaining is "Gerund"? any criteria if using "ing" form in this case? Is it affected by waste? In short, I wanted to know if the verb is not waste.....can I use "ing" form for the word of explain.....

My examples were meant to illustrate that sometimes you can and sometimes you can't.
No, I can't give you a rule, sorry.