gerund or infinitive

Members help members on grammar, vocab, pronunciation...

Moderator: EC

Post Reply
User avatar
Tukanja
Top Contributor
Top Contributor
Posts: 535
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:47 pm
Status: Learner of English

gerund or infinitive

Post by Tukanja »

This is from my dictionary

precaution noun
Click to hear the UK pronunciation of this wordClick to hear the US pronunciation of this word/prɪˈkɔː.ʃən//-ˈkɑː-/ n
[C] an action which is done to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous happening.

happening or to happen?

Or maybe from happening.

Thanks
alawton
Rising Star
Rising Star
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:57 am
Status: Teacher of English

Re: gerund or infinitive

Post by alawton »

Hello,

If it is worded the way you have it then it should be "from happening". It looks like there was a typo or just a mistake.

Andrew Lawton
http://drewseslfluencylessons.com
User avatar
Joe
Admin/Teacher
Admin/Teacher
Posts: 1789
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:56 am
Status: Teacher of English
Location: England

Re: gerund or infinitive

Post by Joe »

Certainly you cannot prevent something to happen :nok:

You prevent something from happening :ok:
User avatar
Tukanja
Top Contributor
Top Contributor
Posts: 535
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:47 pm
Status: Learner of English

Re: gerund or infinitive

Post by Tukanja »

Thank you both, especially Josef, for this additional explanation.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/diction ... precaution

The sentence sounded odd to me, but as I wasn't completely sure, I asked the question on the EC forum.;-)
User avatar
Tukanja
Top Contributor
Top Contributor
Posts: 535
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:47 pm
Status: Learner of English

Re: gerund or infinitive

Post by Tukanja »

Its me again. :-)
Is it possible to say in academic English

To prevent corrosion at the liquid/vapor interface and in the vapor space, a high liquid level in the tanks is recommended.

or it should be said this way

To prevent corrosion from happening at the liquid/vapor interface..

Also what could be "the liquid/vapor interface"?

Thanks
Post Reply