Learn English – “turn + -ing” vs turn + infinitive”
gerundsinfinitives
When using the noun turn, should I use the +ing form or the infinitive?
Whose turn is it to do the washing up?
Whose turn is it doing the washing up?
Best Answer
Turn is a little tricky.
Both turn to do X and turn doing X are found, but under different circumstances.
You use the infinitive when you are referring to the point in time at which the action starts, when the action lies in the future::
It's Jack's turn to drive now.
When it was Betty's turn to speak we all left to get coffee.
Next week is Fred's turn to host the party.
But when you're referring to the action as an entirety, with duration, you use the gerund:
Sarah took my turn chairing the committee, because I was called out of town.
During Mike's turn watching the dials Anne keyed in the data they'd accumulated.
“We use for + the -ing form of a verb to talk about the function of something or how something is used.”
This dictum from English Grammar Today might have two very different meanings:
“To talk about the function of something or how something is used we must use for + the -ing form of a verb.”
This is simply wrong. There are other ways of talking about these functions, even if we restrict ourselves to the constructions licensed by the verbs use and need: a marked infinitive, a subordinate clause introduced by in order that or so that or to the end of or for the purpose of. In fact, the quotation itself uses a marked infinitive with use for exactly that purpose: to talk about the function of, &c.
“A use of *for + the -ing form of a verb is to talk about the function of something or how something is used.”
This is quite a different matter. This talks about what the construction is good for—or one of the things it is good for, since it has other uses, such as specifying the reasons for an award or an arrest.
Best Answer
Turn is a little tricky.
Both turn to do X and turn doing X are found, but under different circumstances.
You use the infinitive when you are referring to the point in time at which the action starts, when the action lies in the future::
But when you're referring to the action as an entirety, with duration, you use the gerund: