{"id":91,"date":"2013-03-12T03:48:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-12T03:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/monkeygrammar.org\/index.php\/2013\/03\/12\/how-to-make-sentences-in-business-english-4\/"},"modified":"2020-04-15T13:29:52","modified_gmt":"2020-04-15T13:29:52","slug":"how-to-make-sentences-in-business-english-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/how-to-make-sentences-in-business-english-4\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Sentences in Business English (4)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: This post is about how to make sentences<\/b> in business English. It starts with one of the biggest mistakes<\/b> in English ‘suggested to build<\/b> a new team’ and then moves on to discuss the reasons<\/b> and concepts<\/b> behind. In a way, you will learn what gerunds and infinitives are, but without explanations that are difficulty and not funny.<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Big Verbs followed by verb+ing<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/a>Before you know which (Big) verbs are to be followed by verb+ing, I\u2019ll tell you <\/span>the biggest mistake<\/span> in Business English, really the biggest. <\/span><\/b>What is it? <\/span><\/span>Read the following sentence.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\n<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The CEO suggested to build a new team.       (<\/span>WRONG<\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
Is the sentence correct? <\/span> No<\/b><\/span><\/span>!  Am I crazy?  Or is it some kind of joke?  No, absolutely not. When \u2018suggest\u2019 is a <\/span>Big<\/span> Verb (the <\/span>first verb<\/span> in a sentence), it is to be followed by verb+ing. Yes, verb+ing.   <\/b><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>   <\/span>Why?<\/span>  <\/span>Why? <\/span> <\/span>Why?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
If you read books on grammar, you will find that <\/span>they just tell you the rule<\/span>, the rule that suggest is followed by verb+ing, and they will give you <\/span>a horrible term<\/span> \u2018gerund\u2019. <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

However, in George Yule\u2019s book (Explaining English Grammar), he has come up with an explanation. <\/span><\/span>According to him, the <\/b><\/span>thing followed <\/span>by \u2018suggest\u2019 is <\/span>an event<\/span>.  What does that mean?  It means it is<\/span> like a noun<\/span>.  <\/span><\/span>In other words, <\/span>to build <\/span>(from the above example) is more like an action but <\/span>less like a noun. <\/span>  <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
Yet<\/span><\/b>, \u2018building\u2019 can<\/span> <\/span><\/span>work as a noun. <\/span><\/span> You may ask a further question: How does \u2018building\u2019 work like a noun?  To get the answer<\/span> read the following two sentences: <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
a. We <\/span>shopped<\/span> in Paris last month. <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
b. We did some <\/span>shopping<\/span> in Paris last month. <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
The word \u2018<\/span>shopped<\/span>\u2019 is a verb but \u2018<\/span>shopping\u2019<\/span> is a noun.  In other words, when you add \u2018ing\u2019 to a verb, it can become a noun, or a noun-like event. <\/span>So besides \u2018suggest\u2019,<\/span> what<\/span> other <\/span>verbs (Big Verbs) are to be<\/span> followed by verb+ing<\/span>? <\/span>Before you get the answer, read the following case.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n
Situation<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nApologising<\/span> for making mistakes<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
<\/a>I <\/span>regret making<\/span> the mistakes (that was careless), but I<\/span> deny having <\/span>anything to do with money laundry.                                                      <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                   <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In the sentence the two Big Verbs (<\/span>regret <\/span>and <\/span>deny)<\/span> are followed by verb+ing, as shown below:<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n
regret<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nmaking<\/span> (make + ing<\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
deny<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nhaving<\/span>  (have + ing<\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n

\n<\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/div>\n

So you\u2019ve got the rule that \u2018regret and deny\u2019 are usually followed by verb+ing.  But  what is <\/span>wrong<\/b><\/span> with ‘<\/span><\/span>I <\/span>regret to make<\/span> the mistakes<\/span><\/span><\/b>‘.     <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

Besides<\/b><\/span> Yule\u2019s above explanation, I would suggest another one.  \u2018<\/span>To make <\/span>the mistakes\u2019 sounds like the mistake <\/span>has not been made<\/span>. <\/span>A mistake is<\/span> in the future<\/span>.<\/span>  Odd<\/span> enough!  Right?  <\/span>In fact, I guess you have been using to+verb in daily and professional lives. Are the following <\/span>two<\/span><\/b> situations familiar to you?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

Situation <\/span>1<\/span>: Things to buy <\/span><\/span>at a supermarket<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Things + to buy<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>
\nSo have <\/span>you bought the things already? Probably not.  As ‘to buy<\/span>‘ has something to do with the future.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/b>
\n<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/b>Situation 2<\/span>: Schedule<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong>People <\/span>to meet <\/span>at 10:30<\/span>
\n                                                                                             <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/b>
\nSo, when you use to<\/span>+verb<\/span>, you usually refer to something <\/span><\/b>that is to be done<\/span>, <\/b>and<\/span> <\/b>that you <\/span>haven\u2019t done it<\/span> yet.   <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

The case of \u2018deny<\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n

<\/span>On the contrary<\/span>, can you <\/span><\/span>deny <\/span>something that is to be done?  Probably not.  The things you deny can hardly be in the future, right? <\/span><\/b>That is, if you want to know <\/span>how to use deny<\/span>, once again, you may get in touch with your feelings.  <\/span>What <\/span>do you <\/span><\/span>feel <\/span>about things you deny?   <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/b>Do you<\/span> like<\/span> what you deny?      <\/span> <\/span>     <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

         or<\/strong><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

                        Do you<\/span> not like <\/span>what you deny?<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/b>You\u2019ve got it, I guess. Usually, for things you <\/span>don\u2019t like<\/span> (or hate), you take verb+ing.  A typical example is:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

I <\/span>hate eating out <\/span>with my boss.    <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2193<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

hate + eating out<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, other Big Verbs about things you don\u2019t like followed by verb+ing include:<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n
\n
avoid<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
                          <\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
delay  <\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
*<\/span><\/td>\n\n
<\/span>  postpone  <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/b><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

risk<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
We postponed <\/span>submitting<\/span><\/span><\/b> the report<\/span><\/b> (on an analysis of our industry).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
So, do you like \u2018<\/span>submitting a report<\/span>\u2019?  What can I say if you say yes!  With Big Verbs like \u2018postpone\u2019 you can imagine it usually goes with things you don\u2019t like.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
What about <\/span>things you like<\/span>?  The same rule applies.  That is, with verbs (Big Verbs) about things you like, you use verb+ing to follow them.  A  typical  example is the verb \u2018enjoy\u2019?<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I enjoy hav<\/span>ing<\/span> lunch with my boss.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
(<\/span>Well, are you telling the truth?<\/span>)<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u2193<\/span><\/div>\n
enjoy + hav<\/span>ing<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
——————————<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
This post is adapted from the book: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Feel<\/span><\/i>Good<\/span><\/i><\/b>Grammar: <\/span><\/i><\/span><\/b>
\n How to<\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/span><\/i>Make <\/span><\/i>Sentences <\/span><\/i>in <\/span><\/i>Business<\/span><\/i> English<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/b>
\n<\/em>
\n<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span><\/b>Buy the book:<\/em><\/span><\/b>
\n
\n<\/em><\/span><\/b>Kindle (ebook)<\/a>      Amazon (paperback)<\/span><\/a>     Kobo (ebook)<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\n<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: This post is about how to make sentences in business English. It starts with one of the biggest mistakes in English ‘suggested to build a new team’ and then moves on to discuss the reasons and concepts behind. In a way, you will learn what gerunds and infinitives are, but without explanations that are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/FreeGreatPicture.com-29110-interesting-business-image.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":726,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions\/726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}