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  • Yesterday, I came out early of my home in search of my car's lost keys.
  • Yesterday, I came out early of my home in searching of my car's lost keys.

First, are both these sentences correct? Second, how could you chose whether to use gerund (searching) after preposition or noun (search)?

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They are not both correct. in searching of is ungrammatical.

Yesterday, I was in search of my keys.

In searching for my keys, I found an old photograph.

In searching for = during, or as a result of, the act of searching for {something}

in search of = trying to find

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The first sentence is correct. The second is not.

Simplifying things a bit, gerunds like to be paired with the verb "to be."

I am searching for my keys.

I was searching for my keys yesterday.

I will be searching for my keys when I'm done here.

Gerunds are generally not used in the construct "in [verb] of" without changing the "voice" of your statement. But that's a question for another day.

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  • In speaking of such things, you should exercise caution.
    – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica
    Commented Jul 22, 2017 at 18:15
  • Because cryptic wizards might pass by. Explaining your concern and choice to downvote would be more helpful to the OP.
    – JBH
    Commented Jul 22, 2017 at 18:20
  • Do you see any conflict between my comment above and the definitive statement with which you close your answer? In assuming of the questioner that he can read, I do him no disservice.
    – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica
    Commented Jul 22, 2017 at 18:30
  • Fair enough. I've edited the question. Though no sane English speaker would use the phrase, "in assuming of." It may be grammatically correct, but it sounds awful. Since this is a site for people learning to speak English as a second language...
    – JBH
    Commented Jul 22, 2017 at 18:46
  • The gerund-participle is frequently and commonly used in the construction in [verb] of. This particular verb doesn't take the preposition of in this usage. The question of active or passive voice doesn't come into it.
    – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica
    Commented Jul 22, 2017 at 18:51

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