What are the subjects in these sentences? [on hold]
- Having to walk the dogs drives me crazy.
- Walking the dogs drives me crazy.
In the first sentence, what is the subject? What would the correct verb tense (drive or drives) be for this sentence?
In the second sentence, it seems that "walking" is a gerund and also the subject of the sentence. Since "walking" is singular, the verb would be "drives." Is this correct?
I am a native English speaker, but I was never taught what to do in situations like these. I would like some clarification for future writing. Thank you.
grammar american-english
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
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put on hold as off-topic by Kris, sumelic, tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
- Having to walk the dogs drives me crazy.
- Walking the dogs drives me crazy.
In the first sentence, what is the subject? What would the correct verb tense (drive or drives) be for this sentence?
In the second sentence, it seems that "walking" is a gerund and also the subject of the sentence. Since "walking" is singular, the verb would be "drives." Is this correct?
I am a native English speaker, but I was never taught what to do in situations like these. I would like some clarification for future writing. Thank you.
grammar american-english
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
New contributor
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as off-topic by Kris, sumelic, tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
In the first sentence, it's having to walk the dogs. (Or being required to walk the dogs or simply [that] requirement.) It's singular and should be drives.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
– Ben
2 days ago
1
In both cases, the non-finite clause is subject: "having to walk the dog" and "walking the dogs". Non-finite clause subjects take singular agreement, so "drives" is correct.
– BillJ
2 days ago
Possible duplicate of Making adult decisions "is" or "are" really not fun: Which is correct?
– sumelic
2 days ago
See also “Doing such stunts ARE punishable” or “Doing such stunts IS punishable”?
– sumelic
2 days ago
add a comment |
- Having to walk the dogs drives me crazy.
- Walking the dogs drives me crazy.
In the first sentence, what is the subject? What would the correct verb tense (drive or drives) be for this sentence?
In the second sentence, it seems that "walking" is a gerund and also the subject of the sentence. Since "walking" is singular, the verb would be "drives." Is this correct?
I am a native English speaker, but I was never taught what to do in situations like these. I would like some clarification for future writing. Thank you.
grammar american-english
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
New contributor
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
- Having to walk the dogs drives me crazy.
- Walking the dogs drives me crazy.
In the first sentence, what is the subject? What would the correct verb tense (drive or drives) be for this sentence?
In the second sentence, it seems that "walking" is a gerund and also the subject of the sentence. Since "walking" is singular, the verb would be "drives." Is this correct?
I am a native English speaker, but I was never taught what to do in situations like these. I would like some clarification for future writing. Thank you.
grammar american-english
grammar american-english
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
New contributor
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
New contributor
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
New contributor
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
141
141
New contributor
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Ben is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as off-topic by Kris, sumelic, tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as off-topic by Kris, sumelic, tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, Chenmunka, Skooba
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
In the first sentence, it's having to walk the dogs. (Or being required to walk the dogs or simply [that] requirement.) It's singular and should be drives.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
– Ben
2 days ago
1
In both cases, the non-finite clause is subject: "having to walk the dog" and "walking the dogs". Non-finite clause subjects take singular agreement, so "drives" is correct.
– BillJ
2 days ago
Possible duplicate of Making adult decisions "is" or "are" really not fun: Which is correct?
– sumelic
2 days ago
See also “Doing such stunts ARE punishable” or “Doing such stunts IS punishable”?
– sumelic
2 days ago
add a comment |
2
In the first sentence, it's having to walk the dogs. (Or being required to walk the dogs or simply [that] requirement.) It's singular and should be drives.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
– Ben
2 days ago
1
In both cases, the non-finite clause is subject: "having to walk the dog" and "walking the dogs". Non-finite clause subjects take singular agreement, so "drives" is correct.
– BillJ
2 days ago
Possible duplicate of Making adult decisions "is" or "are" really not fun: Which is correct?
– sumelic
2 days ago
See also “Doing such stunts ARE punishable” or “Doing such stunts IS punishable”?
– sumelic
2 days ago
2
2
In the first sentence, it's having to walk the dogs. (Or being required to walk the dogs or simply [that] requirement.) It's singular and should be drives.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
In the first sentence, it's having to walk the dogs. (Or being required to walk the dogs or simply [that] requirement.) It's singular and should be drives.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
– Ben
2 days ago
That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
– Ben
2 days ago
1
1
In both cases, the non-finite clause is subject: "having to walk the dog" and "walking the dogs". Non-finite clause subjects take singular agreement, so "drives" is correct.
– BillJ
2 days ago
In both cases, the non-finite clause is subject: "having to walk the dog" and "walking the dogs". Non-finite clause subjects take singular agreement, so "drives" is correct.
– BillJ
2 days ago
Possible duplicate of Making adult decisions "is" or "are" really not fun: Which is correct?
– sumelic
2 days ago
Possible duplicate of Making adult decisions "is" or "are" really not fun: Which is correct?
– sumelic
2 days ago
See also “Doing such stunts ARE punishable” or “Doing such stunts IS punishable”?
– sumelic
2 days ago
See also “Doing such stunts ARE punishable” or “Doing such stunts IS punishable”?
– sumelic
2 days ago
add a comment |
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2
In the first sentence, it's having to walk the dogs. (Or being required to walk the dogs or simply [that] requirement.) It's singular and should be drives.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
– Ben
2 days ago
1
In both cases, the non-finite clause is subject: "having to walk the dog" and "walking the dogs". Non-finite clause subjects take singular agreement, so "drives" is correct.
– BillJ
2 days ago
Possible duplicate of Making adult decisions "is" or "are" really not fun: Which is correct?
– sumelic
2 days ago
See also “Doing such stunts ARE punishable” or “Doing such stunts IS punishable”?
– sumelic
2 days ago