In English, sentence construction can sometimes be tricky, especially when it comes to using the right verb forms or expressions. In this case, the question revolves around why ‘I enjoy to play tennis’ is considered incorrect, and why ‘It’s enjoyable to play tennis’ is acceptable. Let’s break down the reason behind this difference.
1. The Correct Usage of ‘Enjoy’ in English
The verb ‘enjoy’ in English is always followed by a gerund, which is the ‘-ing’ form of a verb. This means that the correct phrase should be ‘I enjoy playing tennis’ rather than ‘I enjoy to play tennis.’ This is a standard rule in English grammar, and it’s important to remember that after ‘enjoy,’ you must use the gerund form of the verb.
For example:
- Correct: I enjoy playing tennis.
- Incorrect: I enjoy to play tennis.
2. Why ‘It’s enjoyable to play tennis’ is Correct
The phrase ‘It’s enjoyable to play tennis’ is grammatically correct because in this case, ‘enjoyable’ is an adjective that is used to describe the noun ‘playing tennis.’ When using adjectives like ‘enjoyable,’ the infinitive form (‘to + verb’) is appropriate. Therefore, ‘to play tennis’ is the correct form here.
For example:
- Correct: It’s enjoyable to play tennis.
- Incorrect: It’s enjoyable playing tennis.
3. Common Mistakes with ‘Enjoy’ and ‘Enjoyable’
One common mistake is confusing ‘enjoy’ with ‘enjoyable.’ While ‘enjoy’ is followed by a gerund (verb + ing), ‘enjoyable’ is an adjective, and it often takes an infinitive after it. Knowing when to use the gerund and when to use the infinitive is key to mastering these expressions.
Example mistakes:
- Incorrect: I enjoy to watch movies.
- Correct: I enjoy watching movies.
4. Summary
To sum up, ‘I enjoy to play tennis’ is incorrect because ‘enjoy’ is always followed by the gerund form (‘-ing’). On the other hand, ‘It’s enjoyable to play tennis’ is correct because ‘enjoyable’ is an adjective, and it requires the infinitive form (‘to play’). Understanding the difference between ‘enjoy’ and ‘enjoyable’ will help you avoid common mistakes in English grammar.
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