Question

I was the only one in my class to pass all of exams. Объясните пожалуйста, почему мы пишем глагос с to, а не с ing.

Answer 1

В предложении есть конструкция to be+ only one, которое выражает результат действия или какого-то события.

Answer 2

Why do we write "to" instead of "ing" after the verb "pass"?

When discussing the verb "pass" in the context of exams, we typically use the infinitive form of the verb, which is "to pass," rather than the gerund form with "-ing" ("passing"). This is because the verb "pass" is being used as a transitive verb, which requires an object to complete its meaning.

In this case, the object is "exams." The infinitive form "to pass" indicates the action of successfully completing or achieving a passing grade in the exams. On the other hand, the gerund form "passing" would imply an ongoing or continuous action, which doesn't accurately convey the intended meaning.

Here's an example to illustrate the difference:

- "I was the only one in my class to pass all of the exams." (correct) - "I was the only one in my class passing all of the exams." (incorrect)

In the correct sentence, "to pass" indicates the successful completion of the exams, while the incorrect sentence using "passing" suggests an ongoing action without a clear sense of completion.

So, when discussing the successful completion of exams, it is more appropriate to use the infinitive form "to pass" rather than the gerund form "passing."