Key to + ing/+ infinitif
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Message de advance posté le 11-02-2014 à 16:35:18 (S | E | F)
Hello !
Can someone explain why the verb + ing form is used in this sentence please?
The key to gaining points.
Could I use the verb + infinitive ?
Thank you !
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Modifié par lucile83 le 11-02-2014 21:14
Message de advance posté le 11-02-2014 à 16:35:18 (S | E | F)
Hello !
Can someone explain why the verb + ing form is used in this sentence please?
The key to gaining points.
Could I use the verb + infinitive ?
Thank you !
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Modifié par lucile83 le 11-02-2014 21:14
Réponse: Key to + ing/+ infinitif de chrizostomm, postée le 11-02-2014 à 17:16:47 (S | E)
Hello,
The verb-ing form in this sentence focuses more on the process rather than on the result. It is therefore a matter of style. Consequently you can use verb + infinitive structure as well!
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Modifié par lucile83 le 11-02-2014 21:21
Réponse: Key to + ing/+ infinitif de dino, postée le 11-02-2014 à 20:33:53 (S | E)
Hello,
The key to gaining points... I'm not sure at all that it is proper English.
The thing is, after a preposition, you must always use the verb with ing.
If you can use the infinive: yes, you can. The key to gain points sounds even better to me.
I am never sure one hundred percent as I am French, but I think you can go with that.
Anyway, I guess most people would go for : The key for gaining points.
Hope I am a great help.
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Modifié par lucile83 le 11-02-2014 21:24
Réponse: Key to + ing/+ infinitif de dino, postée le 11-02-2014 à 21:41:24 (S | E)
Apologies. The subject was interesting so I have asked my English flatmate. The best sentence is: The key to gaining points. After the word key when it's not to describe the key of the door, We must always use the preposition to; so the key to gaining points is the best sentence. Hope you anderstood that to is a preposition, and after a preposition only the verbe with ing can be used.
Réponse: Key to + ing/+ infinitif de gerondif, postée le 11-02-2014 à 21:54:12 (S | E)
Bonsoir,
quand to est une préposition, il est suivi soit d'un nom , soit d'un verbe qui, mis en ing, devient un nom et qu'on appelle un gérondif:
the key to success
the key to good housekeeping
the key to elegant swimming.
The key to safe climbing.
C'est la même préposition employée dans:
I prefer swimming to running.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I am used to swimming in cold water.
in order to, afin de, exprime un but:
He used a key in order to open the door.
in order to est souvent réduit à to au sens de pour + un but.
I come here to work.
Ne confondez pas "be + ing" et un gérondif:
be + ing: I am writing, je suis en train d'écrire, writing est un participe présent.
gérondif:
I like Picasso's pictures: j'aime les toiles de Picasso. Pictures est un nom commun à 100%
I like Picasso's paintings: j'aime les toiles de Picasso. Paintings est un gérondif tellement devenu un nom qu'on peut le mettre au pluriel.
I like Picasso's painting: j'aime la peinture de Picasso, son coup de patte. painting est un gérondif qui tire plus sur le verbe.
The key to gaining points: signifie: la clef menant vers le gain de points en mot-à-mot.
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