0

Can the verb LINGER be used with a gerund?

He is lingering calling her.

I always linger doing my homework.

Improve this question
3
  • 1
    It is understandable, but I don't think I would use it. I might do so with a comma to make the -ing phrase an afterthought: He is lingering, calling for her.
    – Colin Fine
    Commented Mar 6, 2021 at 19:37
  • 1
    No: "linger" does not license gerund-participial complements.
    – BillJ
    Commented Mar 6, 2021 at 19:52
  • Why did you have to let it linger?
    – FeliniusRex - gone
    Commented Apr 2, 2021 at 18:41

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

No, you wouldn’t hear it used like that.

Something more idiomatic would be saying that you “linger around/over” something, i.e. the idea of doing something, or the obligation/necessity to do it.

I always linger around/over doing my homework.

He is lingering around/over calling her.

Improve this answer
1
  • "around" sounds wrong to me. Can't put into words exactly why, but it just does not seem altogether correct.
    – Prime Mover
    Commented Mar 6, 2021 at 19:58

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .