Special usage of non-predicate verbs

Non-predicate verbs mainly include infinitive, gerund and present participle. In order to distinguish the usage and meaning of these three different non-predicate verbs, we will distinguish their usage and subtle meaning from the perspective of three non-predicate verbs as subject, object, object complement, attribute, adverbial, predication and some special structural sentence patterns.

1. The difference between infinitive and gerund as subjects

(1) Gerund as subject usually indicates abstract action; The infinitive as the subject indicates the specific action.

No smoking. Smoking is forbidden here .. (Abstract)

It is not good for you to smoke so much. It is not good for you to smoke so much. (concrete)

(2) When gerund is used as the subject, it is usually used to express known things or experiences.

Infinitive phrases are usually used to indicate unfinished things or purposes.

Mountain climbing is very interesting. Mountain climbing is very interesting. (experience)

Driving during rush hour is very tiring. Driving during rush hour is boring. (experience)

(3) The infinitive is the subject, usually the formal subject, and the infinitive phrase as the subject is postpositioned.

It only took me five minutes to finish the work.

2. The difference between infinitive, gerund and participle as predicative.

(1) infinitive as predicative

1) infinitive, as a predicative, generally indicates specific actions, especially future actions.

Doing two things at a time is doing it inside. Doing two things at a time means doing nothing.

My suggestion is to start work at once. My suggestion is to start at once.

2) If the subject is infinitive (indicating conditions), the predicative is also infinitive (indicating results).

I'll believe that when I see it. I'll believe that when I see it.

Work means making a living. Work is for living.

3) If the subject is a noun centered on purpose, duty, hope, idea, happiness, work, plan, problem, purpose, thing, wish, etc. As a predicative, infinitives play a supplementary role in explaining the subject.

His wish is to buy a luxury car in the near future. His hope is to buy a luxury car in the near future.

The function of louis sullivan architecture is to provide a large uninterrupted floor and allow sufficient light to enter the room.

The most important thing is to negotiate with them about the future of the factory.

(2) Gerund as predicative: Gerund as predicative indicates abstract and general behavior.

Our job is to serve the people. Our job is to serve the people.

His hobby is collecting stamps. His hobby is collecting stamps.

(Note) When a gerund is used as a predicative, it has the same form as the present participle in the progressive tense, but its structure is quite different. The action of explaining the progressive tense is completed by the subject. Gerund is used as a predicative to explain the nature or situation of the subject.

People can't help but feel confused, because they simply can't understand how he made such a stupid mistake.

His victory in the final is not more convincing than I expected.

(3) participle as predicative

There are two kinds of participle as predicative, one is present participle as predicative, and the other is past participle as predicative. The difference between the two lies in the places that are often tested in the exam. Generally speaking, verbs expressing mental state, such as excite and interest, are transitive verbs. Chinese does not mean "excited" and "happy", but "excited" and "happy", so the participle should be "excited" and "happy" in the past. Therefore, all expressions of "irritating" are -ing, and all expressions of "feeling" are in the form of -ed. In other words, if people are interested in ..., it means someone is interested in ..., and if people/things are interested in themselves, it means sb. /something. Very interested. This is very common:

Fun makes people happy-being interested is happiness.

Excited, excited.-excited, excited

Pleasure is pleasant-happiness is happiness.

Disappointed, disappointed, disappointed.

Encourage-encourage

Pleasant.

Without rhyme or reason.-without rhyme or reason

Satisfied.-satisfied.

Surprise is amazing.-surprise is amazing.

Worry, worry.-worry, worry.

Traveling is interesting, but it's tiring. Traveling is interesting, but it will make people very tired.

If students are taught too much, they will be confused. Students will be confused if they are asked to learn too much.

This argument is very convincing. His argument is very convincing.

They were very excited at the news. They were very excited at the news.