to try to do/ trying to do

[Gorkem Atay]

''The detective wasted too much time to try to find out who murderer was''.

''The detective wasted too much time trying to find out who murderer was''.


Are the both sentences correct? And, if one is wrong, is this a big mistake or acceptable ?

 

[MikeNewYork]

For me, the second is far superior. The first is grammatical but not very natural.

PS: Oops! Missed the lacking articles.

 

[Gorkem Atay]

What does the far superior mean? Is the sentence far from being superior?

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

They are both wrong because there should be a determiner before 'murderer'.

If you correct that, the second one will be right and the first one will still be wrong. It is understandable but not acceptable.

 

[Gorkem Atay]

How can I correct that, would you show me please?

 

[Barb_D]

... the murderer...

You need a "the."

 

[Gorkem Atay]

I have never understood the usage of ''the''. Could you explain to me what meaning ''the'' gives to that sentence.

 

[Barb_D]

"Murderer" is a countable noun. That means it requires a determiner in the singular.
There is only one murderer, so it's a specific thing, and uses a "the."

Articles are very, very hard to master. Many say that they are the last thing required to sound native-like in your writing.

 

[Raymott]

What does the far superior mean? Is the sentence far from being superior?

No, "far superior" means very superior. 'Far' is often used like this - far prettier, far more intelligent, etc.

 

[Gorkem Atay]

So, I think that I can make a sentence like:

''I went to my summerhouse starting to write my second novel''.

Is it okay?

 

[Barb_D]

The act of "starting" something happens in an instant and only once.

I went to my summer house (two words) to write my second novel.
... to get started on my second novel.
... to start writing my second novel.

 

[Raymott]

You can use the continuous form if you choose the right verb, which I think is what you're trying to do.
"I went to my summer house intending to write my novel." You were intending to do it on your way there. You can't have been starting it (literally) as you went there, I imagine. If you were on a train and started your writing, you'd have to explain that.
"I went to my summer house thinking about starting my novel" OK
"I went to my summer house planning my novel" - This is borderline acceptable. If you add "in my head" at the end, it would make sense.

 

[MikeNewYork]

No, that sounds as if you were writing while you were traveling.

I went to my summerhouse to start writing my second novel.
I went to my summerhouse to write my second novel.

 

[Rover_KE]

How can I correct that, would you show me please?

To correct mistakes in your text, click Edit Post, make your corrections and click Save.