TeachingEnglish
ing-form or infinitive
Submitted by david.dewever on 7 December, 2009 - 09:04
hello,
One of my students made a leaflet for a science project, and translated it into English. Whilst doing this, I was asked a question to which I haven't found an actual answer yet.
Can you help me?
I need to know whether 'to measure is to know' or 'measuring is knowing' is correct. In analogy with 'seeing is believing', I would choose the second version. Grammatically, I would prefer the first one.
I'm looking forward to your answer.
David
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'TO MEASURE IS TO KNOW' SEEMS TO ME APPROPRIATE.Complement of 'be' verb.
Since you are talking about notions (measures = knowledge) I think "To measure is to know" is the one I would opt for.
In "measuring is knowing" you give a comment on existing facts. ( when people are measuring, my opinion is that they are in fact carrying out a cognitive process)
I don't know if I was clear enough !
I think first one is correct.
To define measure as a verb use "to measure is to know". But seeing is a noun or gerund.
To use measuring, i think you should use "measuring is a process of knowing".