gerund and noun applications












4















This sentence below is extracted from vocabulary for IELTS book (recording scripts part).




But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




Why she's saying argue? Shouldn't it be arguing or argument? And why conflict is not plural?










share|improve this question





























    4















    This sentence below is extracted from vocabulary for IELTS book (recording scripts part).




    But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




    Why she's saying argue? Shouldn't it be arguing or argument? And why conflict is not plural?










    share|improve this question



























      4












      4








      4


      0






      This sentence below is extracted from vocabulary for IELTS book (recording scripts part).




      But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




      Why she's saying argue? Shouldn't it be arguing or argument? And why conflict is not plural?










      share|improve this question
















      This sentence below is extracted from vocabulary for IELTS book (recording scripts part).




      But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




      Why she's saying argue? Shouldn't it be arguing or argument? And why conflict is not plural?







      grammar nouns gerunds






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited yesterday









      J.R.

      100k8129247




      100k8129247










      asked 2 days ago









      amir rezvanfaramir rezvanfar

      628




      628






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

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          8














          The verb "argue" is correct. Similar structures exist:




          What she does is play tennis.

          All I do is miss you.

          What you have to do is be happy




          The structure is subject-verb-complement. The complement is a bare infinitive (without "to"). Your example is more complex as the subject is "All we seem to do", but the bare infinitive is just "argue".



          "Conflict" is not plural as it is used as a non-count noun: "How much conflict?"






          share|improve this answer


























          • Would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

            – amir rezvanfar
            2 days ago













          • It doesn't seem to be very common, and I can't find a specific site about it. The middle example is taken from a song "Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet". I've added a third example which shows that this is a bare infinitive, and not simple present.

            – James K
            2 days ago





















          2














          The example is correct. "argue" here is a verb. In "All we seem to do is argue" "argue" is the action that they take. It could be reworded as "we are always arguing" where "are" is the verb, and "arguing" is a gerund.



          In "that causes a lot of conflict between us" "conflict" is indicating a state, a continuing condition, rather than a distinct action. It could be reworded as "That causes many conflicts between us" referring to many distinct, individual conflicts. In this case the meaning is not much changed.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.





















          • In this case what do you say? when I go to beach all I want to do is walk/walking?

            – amir rezvanfar
            2 days ago








          • 1





            @amir rezvanfar : One would NOT say "all i want to do is walking." One coudl say "All I want to do is walk" or "I want to go walking". The first is verb-complement,(is - walk) the 2nd is verb-gerund (go - walking)

            – David Siegel
            2 days ago













          • would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

            – amir rezvanfar
            2 days ago



















          2














          To use the noun "argument" in place of the verb "argue" in this sentence, the sentence would need to be rewritten to use "have arguments". For example:




          But nowadays all we seem to do is have arguments and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




          This is perfectly grammatical, but I think it is slightly weaker writing than the original form, because of the need for the auxiliary "have"






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.




























            1















            But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




            There is an omission of to before the verb argue, which is common these days especially in American English informal language.



            And to is optional in such sentences (i.e sentences in that form)




            ...is (to) argue...




            ... since the verb do has a role in permitting that; otherwise, that structure wouldn't work.



            Also, notice that argue is a verb in its infinitive form and can't be alternated with a noun such as argument.





            You may want to read this.






            share|improve this answer























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              4 Answers
              4






              active

              oldest

              votes








              4 Answers
              4






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              8














              The verb "argue" is correct. Similar structures exist:




              What she does is play tennis.

              All I do is miss you.

              What you have to do is be happy




              The structure is subject-verb-complement. The complement is a bare infinitive (without "to"). Your example is more complex as the subject is "All we seem to do", but the bare infinitive is just "argue".



              "Conflict" is not plural as it is used as a non-count noun: "How much conflict?"






              share|improve this answer


























              • Would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago













              • It doesn't seem to be very common, and I can't find a specific site about it. The middle example is taken from a song "Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet". I've added a third example which shows that this is a bare infinitive, and not simple present.

                – James K
                2 days ago


















              8














              The verb "argue" is correct. Similar structures exist:




              What she does is play tennis.

              All I do is miss you.

              What you have to do is be happy




              The structure is subject-verb-complement. The complement is a bare infinitive (without "to"). Your example is more complex as the subject is "All we seem to do", but the bare infinitive is just "argue".



              "Conflict" is not plural as it is used as a non-count noun: "How much conflict?"






              share|improve this answer


























              • Would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago













              • It doesn't seem to be very common, and I can't find a specific site about it. The middle example is taken from a song "Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet". I've added a third example which shows that this is a bare infinitive, and not simple present.

                – James K
                2 days ago
















              8












              8








              8







              The verb "argue" is correct. Similar structures exist:




              What she does is play tennis.

              All I do is miss you.

              What you have to do is be happy




              The structure is subject-verb-complement. The complement is a bare infinitive (without "to"). Your example is more complex as the subject is "All we seem to do", but the bare infinitive is just "argue".



              "Conflict" is not plural as it is used as a non-count noun: "How much conflict?"






              share|improve this answer















              The verb "argue" is correct. Similar structures exist:




              What she does is play tennis.

              All I do is miss you.

              What you have to do is be happy




              The structure is subject-verb-complement. The complement is a bare infinitive (without "to"). Your example is more complex as the subject is "All we seem to do", but the bare infinitive is just "argue".



              "Conflict" is not plural as it is used as a non-count noun: "How much conflict?"







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited 2 days ago

























              answered 2 days ago









              James KJames K

              38.3k14097




              38.3k14097













              • Would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago













              • It doesn't seem to be very common, and I can't find a specific site about it. The middle example is taken from a song "Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet". I've added a third example which shows that this is a bare infinitive, and not simple present.

                – James K
                2 days ago





















              • Would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago













              • It doesn't seem to be very common, and I can't find a specific site about it. The middle example is taken from a song "Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet". I've added a third example which shows that this is a bare infinitive, and not simple present.

                – James K
                2 days ago



















              Would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

              – amir rezvanfar
              2 days ago







              Would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

              – amir rezvanfar
              2 days ago















              It doesn't seem to be very common, and I can't find a specific site about it. The middle example is taken from a song "Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet". I've added a third example which shows that this is a bare infinitive, and not simple present.

              – James K
              2 days ago







              It doesn't seem to be very common, and I can't find a specific site about it. The middle example is taken from a song "Dire Straits, Romeo and Juliet". I've added a third example which shows that this is a bare infinitive, and not simple present.

              – James K
              2 days ago















              2














              The example is correct. "argue" here is a verb. In "All we seem to do is argue" "argue" is the action that they take. It could be reworded as "we are always arguing" where "are" is the verb, and "arguing" is a gerund.



              In "that causes a lot of conflict between us" "conflict" is indicating a state, a continuing condition, rather than a distinct action. It could be reworded as "That causes many conflicts between us" referring to many distinct, individual conflicts. In this case the meaning is not much changed.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.





















              • In this case what do you say? when I go to beach all I want to do is walk/walking?

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago








              • 1





                @amir rezvanfar : One would NOT say "all i want to do is walking." One coudl say "All I want to do is walk" or "I want to go walking". The first is verb-complement,(is - walk) the 2nd is verb-gerund (go - walking)

                – David Siegel
                2 days ago













              • would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago
















              2














              The example is correct. "argue" here is a verb. In "All we seem to do is argue" "argue" is the action that they take. It could be reworded as "we are always arguing" where "are" is the verb, and "arguing" is a gerund.



              In "that causes a lot of conflict between us" "conflict" is indicating a state, a continuing condition, rather than a distinct action. It could be reworded as "That causes many conflicts between us" referring to many distinct, individual conflicts. In this case the meaning is not much changed.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.





















              • In this case what do you say? when I go to beach all I want to do is walk/walking?

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago








              • 1





                @amir rezvanfar : One would NOT say "all i want to do is walking." One coudl say "All I want to do is walk" or "I want to go walking". The first is verb-complement,(is - walk) the 2nd is verb-gerund (go - walking)

                – David Siegel
                2 days ago













              • would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago














              2












              2








              2







              The example is correct. "argue" here is a verb. In "All we seem to do is argue" "argue" is the action that they take. It could be reworded as "we are always arguing" where "are" is the verb, and "arguing" is a gerund.



              In "that causes a lot of conflict between us" "conflict" is indicating a state, a continuing condition, rather than a distinct action. It could be reworded as "That causes many conflicts between us" referring to many distinct, individual conflicts. In this case the meaning is not much changed.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.










              The example is correct. "argue" here is a verb. In "All we seem to do is argue" "argue" is the action that they take. It could be reworded as "we are always arguing" where "are" is the verb, and "arguing" is a gerund.



              In "that causes a lot of conflict between us" "conflict" is indicating a state, a continuing condition, rather than a distinct action. It could be reworded as "That causes many conflicts between us" referring to many distinct, individual conflicts. In this case the meaning is not much changed.







              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.









              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer






              New contributor




              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.









              answered 2 days ago









              David SiegelDavid Siegel

              76111




              76111




              New contributor




              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.





              New contributor





              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.






              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.













              • In this case what do you say? when I go to beach all I want to do is walk/walking?

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago








              • 1





                @amir rezvanfar : One would NOT say "all i want to do is walking." One coudl say "All I want to do is walk" or "I want to go walking". The first is verb-complement,(is - walk) the 2nd is verb-gerund (go - walking)

                – David Siegel
                2 days ago













              • would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago



















              • In this case what do you say? when I go to beach all I want to do is walk/walking?

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago








              • 1





                @amir rezvanfar : One would NOT say "all i want to do is walking." One coudl say "All I want to do is walk" or "I want to go walking". The first is verb-complement,(is - walk) the 2nd is verb-gerund (go - walking)

                – David Siegel
                2 days ago













              • would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

                – amir rezvanfar
                2 days ago

















              In this case what do you say? when I go to beach all I want to do is walk/walking?

              – amir rezvanfar
              2 days ago







              In this case what do you say? when I go to beach all I want to do is walk/walking?

              – amir rezvanfar
              2 days ago






              1




              1





              @amir rezvanfar : One would NOT say "all i want to do is walking." One coudl say "All I want to do is walk" or "I want to go walking". The first is verb-complement,(is - walk) the 2nd is verb-gerund (go - walking)

              – David Siegel
              2 days ago







              @amir rezvanfar : One would NOT say "all i want to do is walking." One coudl say "All I want to do is walk" or "I want to go walking". The first is verb-complement,(is - walk) the 2nd is verb-gerund (go - walking)

              – David Siegel
              2 days ago















              would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

              – amir rezvanfar
              2 days ago





              would you please introduce a site regarding this structure to me , I want to know more of it.

              – amir rezvanfar
              2 days ago











              2














              To use the noun "argument" in place of the verb "argue" in this sentence, the sentence would need to be rewritten to use "have arguments". For example:




              But nowadays all we seem to do is have arguments and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




              This is perfectly grammatical, but I think it is slightly weaker writing than the original form, because of the need for the auxiliary "have"






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.

























                2














                To use the noun "argument" in place of the verb "argue" in this sentence, the sentence would need to be rewritten to use "have arguments". For example:




                But nowadays all we seem to do is have arguments and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




                This is perfectly grammatical, but I think it is slightly weaker writing than the original form, because of the need for the auxiliary "have"






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.























                  2












                  2








                  2







                  To use the noun "argument" in place of the verb "argue" in this sentence, the sentence would need to be rewritten to use "have arguments". For example:




                  But nowadays all we seem to do is have arguments and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




                  This is perfectly grammatical, but I think it is slightly weaker writing than the original form, because of the need for the auxiliary "have"






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.










                  To use the noun "argument" in place of the verb "argue" in this sentence, the sentence would need to be rewritten to use "have arguments". For example:




                  But nowadays all we seem to do is have arguments and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




                  This is perfectly grammatical, but I think it is slightly weaker writing than the original form, because of the need for the auxiliary "have"







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered yesterday









                  David SiegelDavid Siegel

                  76111




                  76111




                  New contributor




                  David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.























                      1















                      But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




                      There is an omission of to before the verb argue, which is common these days especially in American English informal language.



                      And to is optional in such sentences (i.e sentences in that form)




                      ...is (to) argue...




                      ... since the verb do has a role in permitting that; otherwise, that structure wouldn't work.



                      Also, notice that argue is a verb in its infinitive form and can't be alternated with a noun such as argument.





                      You may want to read this.






                      share|improve this answer




























                        1















                        But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




                        There is an omission of to before the verb argue, which is common these days especially in American English informal language.



                        And to is optional in such sentences (i.e sentences in that form)




                        ...is (to) argue...




                        ... since the verb do has a role in permitting that; otherwise, that structure wouldn't work.



                        Also, notice that argue is a verb in its infinitive form and can't be alternated with a noun such as argument.





                        You may want to read this.






                        share|improve this answer


























                          1












                          1








                          1








                          But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




                          There is an omission of to before the verb argue, which is common these days especially in American English informal language.



                          And to is optional in such sentences (i.e sentences in that form)




                          ...is (to) argue...




                          ... since the verb do has a role in permitting that; otherwise, that structure wouldn't work.



                          Also, notice that argue is a verb in its infinitive form and can't be alternated with a noun such as argument.





                          You may want to read this.






                          share|improve this answer














                          But nowadays all we seem to do is argue and that causes a lot of conflict between us.




                          There is an omission of to before the verb argue, which is common these days especially in American English informal language.



                          And to is optional in such sentences (i.e sentences in that form)




                          ...is (to) argue...




                          ... since the verb do has a role in permitting that; otherwise, that structure wouldn't work.



                          Also, notice that argue is a verb in its infinitive form and can't be alternated with a noun such as argument.





                          You may want to read this.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered yesterday









                          Tasneem ZhTasneem Zh

                          806117




                          806117






























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