Understanding gerunds

What say you on the issue below?

WHEN they teach grammar, English teachers emphasise that the word “to” is always followed by verbs in the base forms, for example:

a) to meet b) to go c) to write

As students, we listen and follow. We think we understand until we come across the following: a) to meeting b) to going c) to writing.

What is happening here? Confused?

a) Sharul is looking forward to meeting you.

b) Syahrel is committed to going to the conference.

c) This is the guide to writing a good blog.

The confusion stems from the fact that some English teachers fail to explain about gerunds. (base form of verb + ing).

Gerunds are verbs that act or function as nouns. In other words, they are ‘noun-like verbs’.

Examples of gerunds can be seen in the following:

a) I love jogging. b) Running is good for your health.

Jogging and running in the above sentences cannot be considered as verbs since they are not indicating “an action” or “a movement”. Rather, the words indicate “a name (thing)” which nouns are used for.

Compare these: a) I love jogging in the garden. (gerund) b) He is jogging in the garden. (verb)

In English, these are some of the examples of words and phrases that are usually followed by gerunds: go, love, mind, enjoy, avoid, suggest, discuss, mention, complain about, dream about, think about, talk about, (be) worried about, (be) excited about, apologise for, (be) responsible for, believe in, succeed in, (be) interested in, look forward to, (be) capable of, instead of, take advantage of, take care of, insist on, in addition to, (be) committed to, object to, (be) used to, (be) opposed to, (be) accustomed to, prevent from, prohibit from, stop from. – Mahid Masseluang, Labuan

Every and first

LAST week’s Mind Our English’s Open Channel “Unintended meaning” reminded me of this example of Manglish which I came across in a local publication. It said: “Every first Sunday of the month”.

I could be wrong of course but it seems to me that there can be just one “first Sunday of the month”. Perhaps “first Sunday of every month” was intended and shorter besides? – SM

Obese and obesity

I HAVE written several times about some of our radio deejays’ poor English and on Aug 20, it happened again. The two radio deejays on duty were discussing ‘obesity’, and kept on pronouncing the word ‘obese’ as ‘o-best’ and ‘obesity’ as ‘o-best-sity’.

This radio station has a large following so I hope more effort will be taken to avoid embarrassing mistakes like this. I wish these deejays would do their homework before going “on air” so that they will be able to pronounce English words properly. – Hussaini Abdul Karim, Shah Alam

The brainchild

WHILE reading the StarOnline introduction to an interview with Pete Teo, I noticed the phrase “brain child” was misused. The introduction said: “Catch this exclusive interview with Pete Teo, the brain child for 15Malaysia and watch the short films on thestaronline.tv or www.15malaysia.com.” I do not usually comment on matters like this but I feel compelled to correct this particular mistake.

The phrase “brainchild” should be used to describe a product of a person’s intellect and not the person as suggested by the introduction to the video. – Eugene Lim

Note from Fadzilah Amin: Eugene Lim is right: “brainchild” (one word) means “an idea, plan, or invention regarded as the result of a person’s mental effort.” (Concise Oxford Dictionary) The way StarOnline phrased it doesn’t make sense. It suggests that 15Malaysia created Pete Teo, whereas it is the other way round: Pete Teo created 15Malaysia.

I would suggest dropping the word “brainchild” altogether. Either of the following sentences would be more accurate: “Catch this exclusive interview with Pete Teo, the brains behind 15Malaysia and watch the short films on thestaronline.tv or www.15malaysia.com.” (“brains” here means “the person who is responsible for thinking of and organising something.” (OALD)

“Catch this exclusive interview with Pete Teo, the creator of 15Malaysia and watch the short films on thestaronline.tv or www.15malaysia.com.”

Hanged is for people

I REFER to The Star’s Aug 21 story in the Nation pages with the heading, “Ex-cop jailed seven years”. The judge was quoted as saying, “Automatically he will not be hung.He will continue to breathe and live.’’

The word hung should be hanged. Hung is used for articles whereas hanged is used for people. – T. Sathyaseelan, Kajang

Fadzilah Amin: The simple past tense AND past participle of “hang” which applies to things is “hung”, but when it applies to people who are sentenced to death, it is “hanged”.