Infinitive vs Gerund












4
















The business hoped to devote most of its fund to ______ for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.




Should the answer be "pay" or "paying"? Why and, what difference would it make (if any)?










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    4
















    The business hoped to devote most of its fund to ______ for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.




    Should the answer be "pay" or "paying"? Why and, what difference would it make (if any)?










    share|improve this question



























      4












      4








      4


      1







      The business hoped to devote most of its fund to ______ for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.




      Should the answer be "pay" or "paying"? Why and, what difference would it make (if any)?










      share|improve this question

















      The business hoped to devote most of its fund to ______ for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.




      Should the answer be "pay" or "paying"? Why and, what difference would it make (if any)?







      grammar usage word-difference






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      edited 5 hours ago









      Gustavson

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      2,800311










      asked 5 hours ago









      JoeJoe

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      2714






















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          "to" is a preposition there, so a gerund is required.



          The correct sentence is:




          • The business hoped to devote most of its fund to paying for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.


          You devote money, time, effort, etc. to something, and that something needs to be a noun. If it is a verb, its nominal variant (i.e. a gerund) will be required.



          Here you can find more examples.






          share|improve this answer































            2














            What follows to should be a noun (or verb acting as a noun), making this the correct version of your sentence:




            The business hoped to devote most of its funds to paying for new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.




            Note that I used the plural funds on the assumption that you're talking about budget or money rather than an actual fund. I also added a comma after ads.





            Having said that, I would dispense with to paying for altogether. It's redundant.



            A shorter and still understandable sentence is simply:




            The business hoped to devote most of its funds to new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.






            On the other hand, you can rephrase the original sentence so pay can be used rather than paying. To do this, you would remove devote and rearrange things a bit:




            The business hoped to pay for new television ads with most of its funds, since it wanted more coverage.







            share|improve this answer























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              2 Answers
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              2 Answers
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              active

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              active

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              2














              "to" is a preposition there, so a gerund is required.



              The correct sentence is:




              • The business hoped to devote most of its fund to paying for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.


              You devote money, time, effort, etc. to something, and that something needs to be a noun. If it is a verb, its nominal variant (i.e. a gerund) will be required.



              Here you can find more examples.






              share|improve this answer




























                2














                "to" is a preposition there, so a gerund is required.



                The correct sentence is:




                • The business hoped to devote most of its fund to paying for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.


                You devote money, time, effort, etc. to something, and that something needs to be a noun. If it is a verb, its nominal variant (i.e. a gerund) will be required.



                Here you can find more examples.






                share|improve this answer


























                  2












                  2








                  2







                  "to" is a preposition there, so a gerund is required.



                  The correct sentence is:




                  • The business hoped to devote most of its fund to paying for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.


                  You devote money, time, effort, etc. to something, and that something needs to be a noun. If it is a verb, its nominal variant (i.e. a gerund) will be required.



                  Here you can find more examples.






                  share|improve this answer













                  "to" is a preposition there, so a gerund is required.



                  The correct sentence is:




                  • The business hoped to devote most of its fund to paying for new television ads since it wanted more coverage.


                  You devote money, time, effort, etc. to something, and that something needs to be a noun. If it is a verb, its nominal variant (i.e. a gerund) will be required.



                  Here you can find more examples.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 5 hours ago









                  GustavsonGustavson

                  2,800311




                  2,800311

























                      2














                      What follows to should be a noun (or verb acting as a noun), making this the correct version of your sentence:




                      The business hoped to devote most of its funds to paying for new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.




                      Note that I used the plural funds on the assumption that you're talking about budget or money rather than an actual fund. I also added a comma after ads.





                      Having said that, I would dispense with to paying for altogether. It's redundant.



                      A shorter and still understandable sentence is simply:




                      The business hoped to devote most of its funds to new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.






                      On the other hand, you can rephrase the original sentence so pay can be used rather than paying. To do this, you would remove devote and rearrange things a bit:




                      The business hoped to pay for new television ads with most of its funds, since it wanted more coverage.







                      share|improve this answer




























                        2














                        What follows to should be a noun (or verb acting as a noun), making this the correct version of your sentence:




                        The business hoped to devote most of its funds to paying for new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.




                        Note that I used the plural funds on the assumption that you're talking about budget or money rather than an actual fund. I also added a comma after ads.





                        Having said that, I would dispense with to paying for altogether. It's redundant.



                        A shorter and still understandable sentence is simply:




                        The business hoped to devote most of its funds to new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.






                        On the other hand, you can rephrase the original sentence so pay can be used rather than paying. To do this, you would remove devote and rearrange things a bit:




                        The business hoped to pay for new television ads with most of its funds, since it wanted more coverage.







                        share|improve this answer


























                          2












                          2








                          2







                          What follows to should be a noun (or verb acting as a noun), making this the correct version of your sentence:




                          The business hoped to devote most of its funds to paying for new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.




                          Note that I used the plural funds on the assumption that you're talking about budget or money rather than an actual fund. I also added a comma after ads.





                          Having said that, I would dispense with to paying for altogether. It's redundant.



                          A shorter and still understandable sentence is simply:




                          The business hoped to devote most of its funds to new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.






                          On the other hand, you can rephrase the original sentence so pay can be used rather than paying. To do this, you would remove devote and rearrange things a bit:




                          The business hoped to pay for new television ads with most of its funds, since it wanted more coverage.







                          share|improve this answer













                          What follows to should be a noun (or verb acting as a noun), making this the correct version of your sentence:




                          The business hoped to devote most of its funds to paying for new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.




                          Note that I used the plural funds on the assumption that you're talking about budget or money rather than an actual fund. I also added a comma after ads.





                          Having said that, I would dispense with to paying for altogether. It's redundant.



                          A shorter and still understandable sentence is simply:




                          The business hoped to devote most of its funds to new television ads, since it wanted more coverage.






                          On the other hand, you can rephrase the original sentence so pay can be used rather than paying. To do this, you would remove devote and rearrange things a bit:




                          The business hoped to pay for new television ads with most of its funds, since it wanted more coverage.








                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 3 hours ago









                          Jason BassfordJason Bassford

                          15.8k22237




                          15.8k22237






























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