Date:  Fri, 11 Apr 1997 09:40:30 -0600
From:  Kat Rose <Kat.Rose[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SPOT.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject: Re: Variation in "try"-complements?

Bill Spruiell asked if the interchangeable use of gerund and infinitive
objects with "try" were common in areas other than Central Michigan.

I grew up in the Quint (now Quad) Cities, Illinois side, and have been in
Colorado (north central Front Range) for 25 years. This interchangeable use
is common in conversation in both places. I use "tried opening..." for both
"attempted the task of opening..." and "attempted to achieve a goal by
opening...", taking meaning from context.

HTH


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Kat Rose   Kat.Rose[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]spot.Colorado.edu
My words, my rights, my responsibility