GATE CSE 2011 | Question: 58

Question

Choose the most appropriate word(s) from the options given below to complete the following sentence.

I contemplated _________ Singapore for my vacation but decided against it.

• A. to visit
• B. having to visit
• C. visiting
• D. for a visit

Comments

both a and c should be correct but c make more sense as the verb in pastense

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look thoughtfully for a long time at.

"he contemplated his image in the mirrors"

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1. The "Timeline" Test (The Fastest Way)

Look at the timing of the action. Is it a future plan/intention, or is it an ongoing/completed experience?

• Future, Purpose, or Intention $\rightarrow$ Use Infinitive (to + verb)

  • “I decided... to go.” (The going happens after the deciding).

  • “I plan... to study.” (The studying happens after the planning).

• Ongoing, Real Experience, or Active Thought $\rightarrow$ Use Gerund (verb + ing)

  • “I enjoy... swimming.” (You enjoy the active experience of it).

  • “I finished... writing.” (You are stopping an ongoing action).

2. How to apply this to your Singapore question

The sentence was: "I contemplated _________ Singapore for my vacation..."

Let's test both options using our mental models:

• Why not the infinitive (to visit)? Infinitives usually project a straight forward future goal or a target decision (like "I decided to visit").

• Why the gerund (visiting)? To contemplate means to actively turn an image or idea around in your mind. You are visualizing the actual experience of being on vacation in Singapore. Because you are playing an ongoing scenario in your head, it structurally demands the experience-focused gerund: visiting.

The Cheat-Sheet Rule

If you can replace the blank with a regular physical noun (like "pizza" or "the plan") and it makes structural sense, a Gerund fits perfectly because it acts just like a solid noun:

• "I contemplated [a vacation]" $\rightarrow$ Works! $\rightarrow$ Therefore, "I contemplated visiting" works.

• "I want [pizza]" $\rightarrow$ Works, but you can't say "I want eating pizza"; you have to say "I want to eat pizza" because wanting targets a future action.

Answer 1

Answer "Visiting"
some Verbs are Followed by Gerunds, not infinitives
e.g.,   

• I recommend leaving while we can.
• I have quit smoking
• Did I mention reading that novel last summer?
• He avoided talking to her.

Some verb can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but there will be a difference in meaning.
e.g.,   

• I stopped smoking  - means something quite different, for instance,
• I stopped to smoke - the infinitive form will usually describe a potential action.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/gerunds.htm

Comments

From where to learn these stuff !!

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This can be both A and C.

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See, (C) is used more historically compared to (A), and hence is most correct answer.

Can someone tell if (A) is wrong or not?

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https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/gerund-vs-infinitive-practice
 

Gerunds: verb + ing 

Infinitives: to + verb

Gerunds are often used when actions are real, fixed, or completed. "I enjoy cooking."

Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future: "He wants to swim."

I think in this question as he was talking about past (contemplated) so already completed therefore Gerunds should be used here
Ans) visiting 

 

Answer 2

C) visiting

Comments

why cant it be 'to visit'..?

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could u plz distinguish between options [A] and [C]