The difference between 'to' and 'of' in some sentences
I have a quick question regarding some usages of both 'to' and 'of'. Could you please have a look at the sentences below and share your insights with me as to how to make a distinction between them.
- Consider the case of Afghanistan: even though it is an open secret that the United States expects the Chinese military to shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability there after U.S. troops leave the country, the Chinese government has shown no interest in this idea.
In this sentence, "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability" clearly indicated that the US expects China to give him a hand in maintaining stability after they withdraw from Afghanistan. However, is there any chance we can make that sentence "shoulder some of the burden to maintain stability" rather than "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability"
- We've never missed a chance to take greater control over our lives. So, I don't think we'll end up setting aside our hard-won power to engineer the genes that shape us.
In this second sentence, can we make the first part as follows: "We have never missed a chance of taking greater control over our lives."
In the second part can we also change the structure as follows: "So, I do not think we will end up setting aside our hard-won power of engineering the genes that shape us."
As you can infer, I am struggling with something and it really annoys me not being able to see the difference.
In my mind, hard-won power to engineer shapes hard-won which is to engineer.
Another example, a chance to take greater control over our lives shapes a chance which is to take greater control.
I am not sure if I have been able to make my problem clear, but mainly the usage of a chance of winning or a chance to win cannot make a distinction in my view.
Any help is appreciated.
Many thanks,
Sercan.
grammar prepositions
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
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I have a quick question regarding some usages of both 'to' and 'of'. Could you please have a look at the sentences below and share your insights with me as to how to make a distinction between them.
- Consider the case of Afghanistan: even though it is an open secret that the United States expects the Chinese military to shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability there after U.S. troops leave the country, the Chinese government has shown no interest in this idea.
In this sentence, "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability" clearly indicated that the US expects China to give him a hand in maintaining stability after they withdraw from Afghanistan. However, is there any chance we can make that sentence "shoulder some of the burden to maintain stability" rather than "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability"
- We've never missed a chance to take greater control over our lives. So, I don't think we'll end up setting aside our hard-won power to engineer the genes that shape us.
In this second sentence, can we make the first part as follows: "We have never missed a chance of taking greater control over our lives."
In the second part can we also change the structure as follows: "So, I do not think we will end up setting aside our hard-won power of engineering the genes that shape us."
As you can infer, I am struggling with something and it really annoys me not being able to see the difference.
In my mind, hard-won power to engineer shapes hard-won which is to engineer.
Another example, a chance to take greater control over our lives shapes a chance which is to take greater control.
I am not sure if I have been able to make my problem clear, but mainly the usage of a chance of winning or a chance to win cannot make a distinction in my view.
Any help is appreciated.
Many thanks,
Sercan.
grammar prepositions
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
New contributor
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I have a quick question regarding some usages of both 'to' and 'of'. Could you please have a look at the sentences below and share your insights with me as to how to make a distinction between them.
- Consider the case of Afghanistan: even though it is an open secret that the United States expects the Chinese military to shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability there after U.S. troops leave the country, the Chinese government has shown no interest in this idea.
In this sentence, "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability" clearly indicated that the US expects China to give him a hand in maintaining stability after they withdraw from Afghanistan. However, is there any chance we can make that sentence "shoulder some of the burden to maintain stability" rather than "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability"
- We've never missed a chance to take greater control over our lives. So, I don't think we'll end up setting aside our hard-won power to engineer the genes that shape us.
In this second sentence, can we make the first part as follows: "We have never missed a chance of taking greater control over our lives."
In the second part can we also change the structure as follows: "So, I do not think we will end up setting aside our hard-won power of engineering the genes that shape us."
As you can infer, I am struggling with something and it really annoys me not being able to see the difference.
In my mind, hard-won power to engineer shapes hard-won which is to engineer.
Another example, a chance to take greater control over our lives shapes a chance which is to take greater control.
I am not sure if I have been able to make my problem clear, but mainly the usage of a chance of winning or a chance to win cannot make a distinction in my view.
Any help is appreciated.
Many thanks,
Sercan.
grammar prepositions
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
New contributor
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I have a quick question regarding some usages of both 'to' and 'of'. Could you please have a look at the sentences below and share your insights with me as to how to make a distinction between them.
- Consider the case of Afghanistan: even though it is an open secret that the United States expects the Chinese military to shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability there after U.S. troops leave the country, the Chinese government has shown no interest in this idea.
In this sentence, "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability" clearly indicated that the US expects China to give him a hand in maintaining stability after they withdraw from Afghanistan. However, is there any chance we can make that sentence "shoulder some of the burden to maintain stability" rather than "shoulder some of the burden of maintaining stability"
- We've never missed a chance to take greater control over our lives. So, I don't think we'll end up setting aside our hard-won power to engineer the genes that shape us.
In this second sentence, can we make the first part as follows: "We have never missed a chance of taking greater control over our lives."
In the second part can we also change the structure as follows: "So, I do not think we will end up setting aside our hard-won power of engineering the genes that shape us."
As you can infer, I am struggling with something and it really annoys me not being able to see the difference.
In my mind, hard-won power to engineer shapes hard-won which is to engineer.
Another example, a chance to take greater control over our lives shapes a chance which is to take greater control.
I am not sure if I have been able to make my problem clear, but mainly the usage of a chance of winning or a chance to win cannot make a distinction in my view.
Any help is appreciated.
Many thanks,
Sercan.
grammar prepositions
grammar prepositions
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
New contributor
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
New contributor
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
New contributor
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
asked 5 mins ago
Sercan AltunSercan Altun
1
1
New contributor
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Sercan Altun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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