It’s a question that pops up, often when we’re trying to articulate our future plans or even just our current thoughts: what’s the right way to say it? Take the sentence, "I am considering to be a doctor." It sounds… almost right, doesn't it? But as anyone who’s wrestled with English grammar knows, there’s often a subtle twist that makes all the difference.
Interestingly, when we use the verb 'consider' in this way, it typically calls for a gerund – that's the '-ing' form of a verb acting as a noun. So, instead of "considering to be," the more natural and grammatically accepted phrasing is "considering being." It’s like the verb 'consider' prefers to look at an ongoing action or state, rather than a future intention expressed with an infinitive ('to be').
Think about it this way: when you're considering something, you're often mulling over a possibility, an idea, or a potential path. You're not necessarily committing to the act of becoming a doctor just yet, but you're contemplating the state of being one. "I am considering being a doctor" captures that sense of contemplation about a potential future identity.
Now, what about "I am considered to be a doctor"? This flips the meaning entirely. Here, 'considered' is in the passive voice. It means that other people think or believe you are a doctor, perhaps based on your actions or reputation. It’s a statement about how you are perceived by others, not about your own internal deliberation.
This distinction might seem small, but it’s one of those lovely quirks of English that can change the entire message. It highlights how a simple shift from an infinitive to a gerund can alter the subject's agency and the sentence's meaning.
It’s easy to get bogged down in grammar rules, especially when you hear conflicting advice. Some folks might tell you that certain constructions are simply 'wrong,' often based on outdated notions. As Michael Rundell, Editor-in-Chief of the Macmillan Dictionary, points out, language rules are not set in stone; they evolve. What might have been frowned upon decades ago, like the use of 'hopefully' to mean 'it is to be hoped,' is now the dominant usage.
However, for verbs like 'consider,' the preference for a gerund is a pretty well-established convention. It’s less about a rigid, ancient rule and more about how the language has naturally settled into a rhythm that feels right to native speakers. It’s about clarity and flow. So, when you're pondering your future career or any other significant decision, remember that "I am considering being a doctor" is the way to express your thoughtful contemplation.
