Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/146
But our recognition of it implies a corresponding duty to make the most of such advantages.—Times.
A duty to make: the duty of making. Compare power and the power above.
The following is probably an adaptation (not to be commended) of it is necessary for Russia to secure–for Russia to secure being regarded as a fused infinitive like the Latin accusative and infinitive.
His views on the necessity for Russia to secure the command of the sea...—Times.
b. Though the gerund with of is the usual construction after nouns, they sometimes prefer the gerund with other prepositions also to the infinitive. The gerund with in should be used, for instance, in the following. But euphony operates again in the first.
...the extraordinary remissness of the English commanders to utilize their preponderating strength against the Boers.—Times.
Lord Kenyon reminded the House of the resistance met with to vaccination, to [of?] the possible effect of the proposal to increase that resistance. ...—Times.
I think sculpture and painting have an effect to teach us manners and abolish hurry.—Emerson.
Such a capitulation would be inconsistent with the position of any Great Power, independently of the humiliation there would be for England and France to submit their agreement for approval and perhaps modification to Germany.—Times.
The humiliation there would be in submitting; or the humiliation it would be to submit.
c. After verbs and adjectives the infinitive is much more common; but no one will use a gerund where an infinitive is required, while many will do the reverse.
But history accords with the Japanese practice to show [in showing] that...—Times.
We must necessarily appeal to the intuition, and aim much more to suggest than to describe [at suggesting than at describing].—Emerson.
But they can only highly serve us, when they aim not to drill, but to create [at drilling, but at creating].—Emerson.