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I learned gerund couldn't be used this way - For example :

Smoking that could be very harmful for my health is my big problem. (grammatically wrong)

= Smoking could be very harmful for my health + smoking is my big problem. 

Walking that I do everyday is my habit. (grammatically wrong)

  =  I walk everyday + walking is my habit.

Only with a none not a gerund.

Is it true ?

Because It makes sense at least for me.

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  • I think those sentences are grammatical (it'd be better to wait for a more proficient speaker to decide that nonetheless), but I wonder if they convey what you intend. Please edit your question to clarify the intended meaning of those sentences.
    – user3395
    Aug 15, 2019 at 17:51
  • ohh thank you for advise ..! I will right now :>>
    – ukwon95
    Aug 15, 2019 at 18:02
  • Both sentences are obviously grammatical if you add some punctuation. (Commas, hyphens, or parentheses around that and is.) Since punctuation, or the lack of it, only affects semantics or style, that means that the sentences are grammatical without any punctuation too. (Albeit awkward.) Aug 16, 2019 at 3:50

1 Answer 1

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I think you are at least partly right.

Without the restrictive relative, it is fine:

Walking is my habit.

With a non-restrictive relative, it is also fine:

Walking, which I do every day, is my habit.

(That is perhaps tautologous, as "which I do every day" is almost a definition of "habit"; but that doesn't alter the fact that it is grammatical.

But with a restrictive relative clause, it is certainly awkward. I don't think it is ungrammatical: I can imagine it in rather stilted, formal language, eg:

Talking that is not necessary should be avoided.

[Note incidentally that other modifiers which are not relative clauses can come there:

Walking in the hills restores my good humour.

Driving without care and attention is dangerous.

I believe that these work because the modifier goes inside the gerund clause:

[Driving [without care and attention]]NP is dangerous.

But I haven't explored this point any further.]

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  • Oh Thank you for comment Colin fine :) so I should add something if I want tn make perfect sentence between that and is. Thank you !
    – ukwon95
    Aug 16, 2019 at 10:21
  • I don't understand that comment, @ukwon95.
    – Colin Fine
    Aug 16, 2019 at 22:31

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