Usage Difference between to-infinitive and participle
I came across this question today.
Q: the correct expression for blank.
The documents ____ immediate attention are on top.
1. Requiring 2. To require
I know the answer is 1. Requiring, however I don't know why number 2 can't be an answer.
As far as I know, a to-infinitive can define a noun, like "books to read," so to me, number 2 can be an answer. But at the same time, I know "documents to require" looks very awkward. I just don't know why. Could you help me?
infinitives present-participle
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
add a comment |
I came across this question today.
Q: the correct expression for blank.
The documents ____ immediate attention are on top.
1. Requiring 2. To require
I know the answer is 1. Requiring, however I don't know why number 2 can't be an answer.
As far as I know, a to-infinitive can define a noun, like "books to read," so to me, number 2 can be an answer. But at the same time, I know "documents to require" looks very awkward. I just don't know why. Could you help me?
infinitives present-participle
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
add a comment |
I came across this question today.
Q: the correct expression for blank.
The documents ____ immediate attention are on top.
1. Requiring 2. To require
I know the answer is 1. Requiring, however I don't know why number 2 can't be an answer.
As far as I know, a to-infinitive can define a noun, like "books to read," so to me, number 2 can be an answer. But at the same time, I know "documents to require" looks very awkward. I just don't know why. Could you help me?
infinitives present-participle
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
I came across this question today.
Q: the correct expression for blank.
The documents ____ immediate attention are on top.
1. Requiring 2. To require
I know the answer is 1. Requiring, however I don't know why number 2 can't be an answer.
As far as I know, a to-infinitive can define a noun, like "books to read," so to me, number 2 can be an answer. But at the same time, I know "documents to require" looks very awkward. I just don't know why. Could you help me?
infinitives present-participle
infinitives present-participle
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
edited Mar 2 '17 at 15:19
Andrew Leach♦
79.9k8152256
79.9k8152256
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
asked Mar 2 '17 at 15:14
MayjioMayjio
592
592
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
You are right, in some cases you can use to+infinitive to describe a noun:
I have books to read, work to do, people to call.
However, this only works with verbs that imply the action would be performed with the references nouns being the object of the action. That means that if I describe the actions from my earlier example being executed:
I read books.
I do work.
I call people.
If the noun that you describe would be the subject of the action, this doesn't work:
Documents require attention.
People read books.
In these cases you cannot describe documents or people using to+infinitive:
*Documents to require attention
*People to read books
Instead, we use the active or present participle to describe them:
Documents requiring attention
People reading books
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
Doesn't work. Some people read books. They're readers. Some people do books. They're accountants. The people to do books are accountants
– deadrat
Mar 2 '17 at 19:05
add a comment |
I like your answer, oerkelens and the fact that mayjio is asking why? but I am having a problem with:
'I begin looking for something else to do'.
Every time I consider it I get 'I begin to look for something else to do.'
Please, slap me with a 'needlessly convoluted' answer if that is what it takes.
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
First of all (fussy point), I think you wrote 'documents' in its the singular form when it should in fact be plural (the 3rd-person plural verb 'are' refers to it later in the sentence).
You should try to accustom yourself to the term 'documents requiring' so that you are more comfortable with that aspect of grammar. In general, try to read up on when it is appropriate to use present participles like requiring, and when you should use the infinitive, as into require.
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
"Just learn it" hardly explains why "I have books to read" is correct while "I have documents to require attention" is not. And the question was not whether document to reuqire is correct, but why it is incorrect.
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:48
You're never going to find an answer for that. Even if you do, it will be complex and grammatical and unsatisfying even if you can follow it. I agree I haven't given you a proper answer, but I don't think there is a proper answer.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 15:53
1
Have you read my answer? Is it incorrect, complex or unsatisfying? I agree it is grammatical - but that is kind of the whole point of this website. We like grammar here at ELU :)
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:56
Sorry @orkelens, I didn't bother scrolling up so I assumed that you were the person who had asked the question . It's only that the person asking the question seemed not to feel that the infinitive sounded wrong, so I was telling him to research it and make it sound right. That's mainly because I didn't have a proper answer myself and I did not believe that I could find one with any amount of research.Your answer proved me wrong, so +1. Also, I was using 'grammatical' as a synonym for 'needlessly convoluted', but it was the wrong word in context now you mention it.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 16:08
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You are right, in some cases you can use to+infinitive to describe a noun:
I have books to read, work to do, people to call.
However, this only works with verbs that imply the action would be performed with the references nouns being the object of the action. That means that if I describe the actions from my earlier example being executed:
I read books.
I do work.
I call people.
If the noun that you describe would be the subject of the action, this doesn't work:
Documents require attention.
People read books.
In these cases you cannot describe documents or people using to+infinitive:
*Documents to require attention
*People to read books
Instead, we use the active or present participle to describe them:
Documents requiring attention
People reading books
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
Doesn't work. Some people read books. They're readers. Some people do books. They're accountants. The people to do books are accountants
– deadrat
Mar 2 '17 at 19:05
add a comment |
You are right, in some cases you can use to+infinitive to describe a noun:
I have books to read, work to do, people to call.
However, this only works with verbs that imply the action would be performed with the references nouns being the object of the action. That means that if I describe the actions from my earlier example being executed:
I read books.
I do work.
I call people.
If the noun that you describe would be the subject of the action, this doesn't work:
Documents require attention.
People read books.
In these cases you cannot describe documents or people using to+infinitive:
*Documents to require attention
*People to read books
Instead, we use the active or present participle to describe them:
Documents requiring attention
People reading books
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
Doesn't work. Some people read books. They're readers. Some people do books. They're accountants. The people to do books are accountants
– deadrat
Mar 2 '17 at 19:05
add a comment |
You are right, in some cases you can use to+infinitive to describe a noun:
I have books to read, work to do, people to call.
However, this only works with verbs that imply the action would be performed with the references nouns being the object of the action. That means that if I describe the actions from my earlier example being executed:
I read books.
I do work.
I call people.
If the noun that you describe would be the subject of the action, this doesn't work:
Documents require attention.
People read books.
In these cases you cannot describe documents or people using to+infinitive:
*Documents to require attention
*People to read books
Instead, we use the active or present participle to describe them:
Documents requiring attention
People reading books
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
You are right, in some cases you can use to+infinitive to describe a noun:
I have books to read, work to do, people to call.
However, this only works with verbs that imply the action would be performed with the references nouns being the object of the action. That means that if I describe the actions from my earlier example being executed:
I read books.
I do work.
I call people.
If the noun that you describe would be the subject of the action, this doesn't work:
Documents require attention.
People read books.
In these cases you cannot describe documents or people using to+infinitive:
*Documents to require attention
*People to read books
Instead, we use the active or present participle to describe them:
Documents requiring attention
People reading books
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:47
oerkelensoerkelens
33.8k792123
33.8k792123
Doesn't work. Some people read books. They're readers. Some people do books. They're accountants. The people to do books are accountants
– deadrat
Mar 2 '17 at 19:05
add a comment |
Doesn't work. Some people read books. They're readers. Some people do books. They're accountants. The people to do books are accountants
– deadrat
Mar 2 '17 at 19:05
Doesn't work. Some people read books. They're readers. Some people do books. They're accountants. The people to do books are accountants
– deadrat
Mar 2 '17 at 19:05
Doesn't work. Some people read books. They're readers. Some people do books. They're accountants. The people to do books are accountants
– deadrat
Mar 2 '17 at 19:05
add a comment |
I like your answer, oerkelens and the fact that mayjio is asking why? but I am having a problem with:
'I begin looking for something else to do'.
Every time I consider it I get 'I begin to look for something else to do.'
Please, slap me with a 'needlessly convoluted' answer if that is what it takes.
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I like your answer, oerkelens and the fact that mayjio is asking why? but I am having a problem with:
'I begin looking for something else to do'.
Every time I consider it I get 'I begin to look for something else to do.'
Please, slap me with a 'needlessly convoluted' answer if that is what it takes.
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I like your answer, oerkelens and the fact that mayjio is asking why? but I am having a problem with:
'I begin looking for something else to do'.
Every time I consider it I get 'I begin to look for something else to do.'
Please, slap me with a 'needlessly convoluted' answer if that is what it takes.
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I like your answer, oerkelens and the fact that mayjio is asking why? but I am having a problem with:
'I begin looking for something else to do'.
Every time I consider it I get 'I begin to look for something else to do.'
Please, slap me with a 'needlessly convoluted' answer if that is what it takes.
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
answered 44 mins ago
Pope DixonPope Dixon
1
1
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Pope Dixon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
First of all (fussy point), I think you wrote 'documents' in its the singular form when it should in fact be plural (the 3rd-person plural verb 'are' refers to it later in the sentence).
You should try to accustom yourself to the term 'documents requiring' so that you are more comfortable with that aspect of grammar. In general, try to read up on when it is appropriate to use present participles like requiring, and when you should use the infinitive, as into require.
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
"Just learn it" hardly explains why "I have books to read" is correct while "I have documents to require attention" is not. And the question was not whether document to reuqire is correct, but why it is incorrect.
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:48
You're never going to find an answer for that. Even if you do, it will be complex and grammatical and unsatisfying even if you can follow it. I agree I haven't given you a proper answer, but I don't think there is a proper answer.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 15:53
1
Have you read my answer? Is it incorrect, complex or unsatisfying? I agree it is grammatical - but that is kind of the whole point of this website. We like grammar here at ELU :)
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:56
Sorry @orkelens, I didn't bother scrolling up so I assumed that you were the person who had asked the question . It's only that the person asking the question seemed not to feel that the infinitive sounded wrong, so I was telling him to research it and make it sound right. That's mainly because I didn't have a proper answer myself and I did not believe that I could find one with any amount of research.Your answer proved me wrong, so +1. Also, I was using 'grammatical' as a synonym for 'needlessly convoluted', but it was the wrong word in context now you mention it.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 16:08
add a comment |
First of all (fussy point), I think you wrote 'documents' in its the singular form when it should in fact be plural (the 3rd-person plural verb 'are' refers to it later in the sentence).
You should try to accustom yourself to the term 'documents requiring' so that you are more comfortable with that aspect of grammar. In general, try to read up on when it is appropriate to use present participles like requiring, and when you should use the infinitive, as into require.
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
"Just learn it" hardly explains why "I have books to read" is correct while "I have documents to require attention" is not. And the question was not whether document to reuqire is correct, but why it is incorrect.
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:48
You're never going to find an answer for that. Even if you do, it will be complex and grammatical and unsatisfying even if you can follow it. I agree I haven't given you a proper answer, but I don't think there is a proper answer.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 15:53
1
Have you read my answer? Is it incorrect, complex or unsatisfying? I agree it is grammatical - but that is kind of the whole point of this website. We like grammar here at ELU :)
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:56
Sorry @orkelens, I didn't bother scrolling up so I assumed that you were the person who had asked the question . It's only that the person asking the question seemed not to feel that the infinitive sounded wrong, so I was telling him to research it and make it sound right. That's mainly because I didn't have a proper answer myself and I did not believe that I could find one with any amount of research.Your answer proved me wrong, so +1. Also, I was using 'grammatical' as a synonym for 'needlessly convoluted', but it was the wrong word in context now you mention it.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 16:08
add a comment |
First of all (fussy point), I think you wrote 'documents' in its the singular form when it should in fact be plural (the 3rd-person plural verb 'are' refers to it later in the sentence).
You should try to accustom yourself to the term 'documents requiring' so that you are more comfortable with that aspect of grammar. In general, try to read up on when it is appropriate to use present participles like requiring, and when you should use the infinitive, as into require.
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
First of all (fussy point), I think you wrote 'documents' in its the singular form when it should in fact be plural (the 3rd-person plural verb 'are' refers to it later in the sentence).
You should try to accustom yourself to the term 'documents requiring' so that you are more comfortable with that aspect of grammar. In general, try to read up on when it is appropriate to use present participles like requiring, and when you should use the infinitive, as into require.
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
edited Mar 2 '17 at 16:09
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
answered Mar 2 '17 at 15:24
Laura CooksonLaura Cookson
1154
1154
"Just learn it" hardly explains why "I have books to read" is correct while "I have documents to require attention" is not. And the question was not whether document to reuqire is correct, but why it is incorrect.
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:48
You're never going to find an answer for that. Even if you do, it will be complex and grammatical and unsatisfying even if you can follow it. I agree I haven't given you a proper answer, but I don't think there is a proper answer.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 15:53
1
Have you read my answer? Is it incorrect, complex or unsatisfying? I agree it is grammatical - but that is kind of the whole point of this website. We like grammar here at ELU :)
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:56
Sorry @orkelens, I didn't bother scrolling up so I assumed that you were the person who had asked the question . It's only that the person asking the question seemed not to feel that the infinitive sounded wrong, so I was telling him to research it and make it sound right. That's mainly because I didn't have a proper answer myself and I did not believe that I could find one with any amount of research.Your answer proved me wrong, so +1. Also, I was using 'grammatical' as a synonym for 'needlessly convoluted', but it was the wrong word in context now you mention it.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 16:08
add a comment |
"Just learn it" hardly explains why "I have books to read" is correct while "I have documents to require attention" is not. And the question was not whether document to reuqire is correct, but why it is incorrect.
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:48
You're never going to find an answer for that. Even if you do, it will be complex and grammatical and unsatisfying even if you can follow it. I agree I haven't given you a proper answer, but I don't think there is a proper answer.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 15:53
1
Have you read my answer? Is it incorrect, complex or unsatisfying? I agree it is grammatical - but that is kind of the whole point of this website. We like grammar here at ELU :)
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:56
Sorry @orkelens, I didn't bother scrolling up so I assumed that you were the person who had asked the question . It's only that the person asking the question seemed not to feel that the infinitive sounded wrong, so I was telling him to research it and make it sound right. That's mainly because I didn't have a proper answer myself and I did not believe that I could find one with any amount of research.Your answer proved me wrong, so +1. Also, I was using 'grammatical' as a synonym for 'needlessly convoluted', but it was the wrong word in context now you mention it.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 16:08
"Just learn it" hardly explains why "I have books to read" is correct while "I have documents to require attention" is not. And the question was not whether document to reuqire is correct, but why it is incorrect.
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:48
"Just learn it" hardly explains why "I have books to read" is correct while "I have documents to require attention" is not. And the question was not whether document to reuqire is correct, but why it is incorrect.
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:48
You're never going to find an answer for that. Even if you do, it will be complex and grammatical and unsatisfying even if you can follow it. I agree I haven't given you a proper answer, but I don't think there is a proper answer.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 15:53
You're never going to find an answer for that. Even if you do, it will be complex and grammatical and unsatisfying even if you can follow it. I agree I haven't given you a proper answer, but I don't think there is a proper answer.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 15:53
1
1
Have you read my answer? Is it incorrect, complex or unsatisfying? I agree it is grammatical - but that is kind of the whole point of this website. We like grammar here at ELU :)
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:56
Have you read my answer? Is it incorrect, complex or unsatisfying? I agree it is grammatical - but that is kind of the whole point of this website. We like grammar here at ELU :)
– oerkelens
Mar 2 '17 at 15:56
Sorry @orkelens, I didn't bother scrolling up so I assumed that you were the person who had asked the question . It's only that the person asking the question seemed not to feel that the infinitive sounded wrong, so I was telling him to research it and make it sound right. That's mainly because I didn't have a proper answer myself and I did not believe that I could find one with any amount of research.Your answer proved me wrong, so +1. Also, I was using 'grammatical' as a synonym for 'needlessly convoluted', but it was the wrong word in context now you mention it.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 16:08
Sorry @orkelens, I didn't bother scrolling up so I assumed that you were the person who had asked the question . It's only that the person asking the question seemed not to feel that the infinitive sounded wrong, so I was telling him to research it and make it sound right. That's mainly because I didn't have a proper answer myself and I did not believe that I could find one with any amount of research.Your answer proved me wrong, so +1. Also, I was using 'grammatical' as a synonym for 'needlessly convoluted', but it was the wrong word in context now you mention it.
– Laura Cookson
Mar 2 '17 at 16:08
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