When is the object of a verb is the subject of the gerund in structure “subject + verb + object +...
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
I'm quite sure that the person who climbed Ben Nevis is "I" not "This" in 1).
But, I'm not so sure that the person who lost "my credit card" is "I" not "you" in 2).
My question is when the object of a verb is the subject of the gerund in structure "subject + verb + object + preposition + gerund"?
gerunds
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 26 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
I'm quite sure that the person who climbed Ben Nevis is "I" not "This" in 1).
But, I'm not so sure that the person who lost "my credit card" is "I" not "you" in 2).
My question is when the object of a verb is the subject of the gerund in structure "subject + verb + object + preposition + gerund"?
gerunds
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 26 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
Note that, although "I" is the more likely subject of "losing" in your second example, changing "told" to "warned" would make "you" the more likely subject of "losing". (And changing "told ... about" to "warned ... against" would make "you" even more certainly the subject of "losing".)
– Andreas Blass
May 29 at 3:16
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
I'm quite sure that the person who climbed Ben Nevis is "I" not "This" in 1).
But, I'm not so sure that the person who lost "my credit card" is "I" not "you" in 2).
My question is when the object of a verb is the subject of the gerund in structure "subject + verb + object + preposition + gerund"?
gerunds
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
I'm quite sure that the person who climbed Ben Nevis is "I" not "This" in 1).
But, I'm not so sure that the person who lost "my credit card" is "I" not "you" in 2).
My question is when the object of a verb is the subject of the gerund in structure "subject + verb + object + preposition + gerund"?
gerunds
gerunds
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
asked Jun 17 '17 at 15:35
Aki
3741620
3741620
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 26 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 26 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
Note that, although "I" is the more likely subject of "losing" in your second example, changing "told" to "warned" would make "you" the more likely subject of "losing". (And changing "told ... about" to "warned ... against" would make "you" even more certainly the subject of "losing".)
– Andreas Blass
May 29 at 3:16
add a comment |
Note that, although "I" is the more likely subject of "losing" in your second example, changing "told" to "warned" would make "you" the more likely subject of "losing". (And changing "told ... about" to "warned ... against" would make "you" even more certainly the subject of "losing".)
– Andreas Blass
May 29 at 3:16
Note that, although "I" is the more likely subject of "losing" in your second example, changing "told" to "warned" would make "you" the more likely subject of "losing". (And changing "told ... about" to "warned ... against" would make "you" even more certainly the subject of "losing".)
– Andreas Blass
May 29 at 3:16
Note that, although "I" is the more likely subject of "losing" in your second example, changing "told" to "warned" would make "you" the more likely subject of "losing". (And changing "told ... about" to "warned ... against" would make "you" even more certainly the subject of "losing".)
– Andreas Blass
May 29 at 3:16
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
I would have to say that this is all about context.
I failed to find references in major dictionaries, so I would have to quote other less recognized sources:
From The "subject" of the gerund | Grammaring - A guide to English grammar:
The doer of the action expressed by the gerund can be[...]unexpressed and understood only from the context
From Gerunds as Subjects | Grammar Quizzes:
Because a gerund clause is reduced (i.e., not marked for tense, person, or number, and the subject omitted) information must be understood from context.
(I am well aware that the second quote is about gerunds acting as subjects, but I think the two situations are similar enough.)
My analysis:
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
"Climbing" is an action which only a human (and some animals) can do, and I would assume "this" is something inanimate, so the subject is clearly "I" instead of "this".
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
Here, the subject is "I" because in the gerund there is "my credit card". If I phrased it this way, the subject would be "you":
2*) I told you about breaking your knees, didn't I?
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
1
You're confusing 'subject' (which is a purely grammatical designation defined by the structure of a given sentence) with 'agent' (the term used for the doer of an action, etc). In 'John hit Jill', 'John' is the subject and John is the agent. Passivising, 'Jill was hit by John.' Now, 'Jill' is the subject but John remains the agent (perpetrator).
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 28 '17 at 10:48
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
I would have to say that this is all about context.
I failed to find references in major dictionaries, so I would have to quote other less recognized sources:
From The "subject" of the gerund | Grammaring - A guide to English grammar:
The doer of the action expressed by the gerund can be[...]unexpressed and understood only from the context
From Gerunds as Subjects | Grammar Quizzes:
Because a gerund clause is reduced (i.e., not marked for tense, person, or number, and the subject omitted) information must be understood from context.
(I am well aware that the second quote is about gerunds acting as subjects, but I think the two situations are similar enough.)
My analysis:
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
"Climbing" is an action which only a human (and some animals) can do, and I would assume "this" is something inanimate, so the subject is clearly "I" instead of "this".
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
Here, the subject is "I" because in the gerund there is "my credit card". If I phrased it this way, the subject would be "you":
2*) I told you about breaking your knees, didn't I?
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
1
You're confusing 'subject' (which is a purely grammatical designation defined by the structure of a given sentence) with 'agent' (the term used for the doer of an action, etc). In 'John hit Jill', 'John' is the subject and John is the agent. Passivising, 'Jill was hit by John.' Now, 'Jill' is the subject but John remains the agent (perpetrator).
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 28 '17 at 10:48
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I would have to say that this is all about context.
I failed to find references in major dictionaries, so I would have to quote other less recognized sources:
From The "subject" of the gerund | Grammaring - A guide to English grammar:
The doer of the action expressed by the gerund can be[...]unexpressed and understood only from the context
From Gerunds as Subjects | Grammar Quizzes:
Because a gerund clause is reduced (i.e., not marked for tense, person, or number, and the subject omitted) information must be understood from context.
(I am well aware that the second quote is about gerunds acting as subjects, but I think the two situations are similar enough.)
My analysis:
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
"Climbing" is an action which only a human (and some animals) can do, and I would assume "this" is something inanimate, so the subject is clearly "I" instead of "this".
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
Here, the subject is "I" because in the gerund there is "my credit card". If I phrased it this way, the subject would be "you":
2*) I told you about breaking your knees, didn't I?
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
1
You're confusing 'subject' (which is a purely grammatical designation defined by the structure of a given sentence) with 'agent' (the term used for the doer of an action, etc). In 'John hit Jill', 'John' is the subject and John is the agent. Passivising, 'Jill was hit by John.' Now, 'Jill' is the subject but John remains the agent (perpetrator).
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 28 '17 at 10:48
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I would have to say that this is all about context.
I failed to find references in major dictionaries, so I would have to quote other less recognized sources:
From The "subject" of the gerund | Grammaring - A guide to English grammar:
The doer of the action expressed by the gerund can be[...]unexpressed and understood only from the context
From Gerunds as Subjects | Grammar Quizzes:
Because a gerund clause is reduced (i.e., not marked for tense, person, or number, and the subject omitted) information must be understood from context.
(I am well aware that the second quote is about gerunds acting as subjects, but I think the two situations are similar enough.)
My analysis:
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
"Climbing" is an action which only a human (and some animals) can do, and I would assume "this" is something inanimate, so the subject is clearly "I" instead of "this".
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
Here, the subject is "I" because in the gerund there is "my credit card". If I phrased it this way, the subject would be "you":
2*) I told you about breaking your knees, didn't I?
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
I would have to say that this is all about context.
I failed to find references in major dictionaries, so I would have to quote other less recognized sources:
From The "subject" of the gerund | Grammaring - A guide to English grammar:
The doer of the action expressed by the gerund can be[...]unexpressed and understood only from the context
From Gerunds as Subjects | Grammar Quizzes:
Because a gerund clause is reduced (i.e., not marked for tense, person, or number, and the subject omitted) information must be understood from context.
(I am well aware that the second quote is about gerunds acting as subjects, but I think the two situations are similar enough.)
My analysis:
1) This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.
"Climbing" is an action which only a human (and some animals) can do, and I would assume "this" is something inanimate, so the subject is clearly "I" instead of "this".
2) I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?
Here, the subject is "I" because in the gerund there is "my credit card". If I phrased it this way, the subject would be "you":
2*) I told you about breaking your knees, didn't I?
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
answered Jun 17 '17 at 16:16
Leaky Nun
472210
472210
1
You're confusing 'subject' (which is a purely grammatical designation defined by the structure of a given sentence) with 'agent' (the term used for the doer of an action, etc). In 'John hit Jill', 'John' is the subject and John is the agent. Passivising, 'Jill was hit by John.' Now, 'Jill' is the subject but John remains the agent (perpetrator).
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 28 '17 at 10:48
add a comment |
1
You're confusing 'subject' (which is a purely grammatical designation defined by the structure of a given sentence) with 'agent' (the term used for the doer of an action, etc). In 'John hit Jill', 'John' is the subject and John is the agent. Passivising, 'Jill was hit by John.' Now, 'Jill' is the subject but John remains the agent (perpetrator).
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 28 '17 at 10:48
1
1
You're confusing 'subject' (which is a purely grammatical designation defined by the structure of a given sentence) with 'agent' (the term used for the doer of an action, etc). In 'John hit Jill', 'John' is the subject and John is the agent. Passivising, 'Jill was hit by John.' Now, 'Jill' is the subject but John remains the agent (perpetrator).
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 28 '17 at 10:48
You're confusing 'subject' (which is a purely grammatical designation defined by the structure of a given sentence) with 'agent' (the term used for the doer of an action, etc). In 'John hit Jill', 'John' is the subject and John is the agent. Passivising, 'Jill was hit by John.' Now, 'Jill' is the subject but John remains the agent (perpetrator).
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 28 '17 at 10:48
add a comment |
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f394451%2fwhen-is-the-object-of-a-verb-is-the-subject-of-the-gerund-in-structure-subject%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Note that, although "I" is the more likely subject of "losing" in your second example, changing "told" to "warned" would make "you" the more likely subject of "losing". (And changing "told ... about" to "warned ... against" would make "you" even more certainly the subject of "losing".)
– Andreas Blass
May 29 at 3:16