Is “Manages to do” Correct? Manage to do or doing?

Grammar / By

The phrase “manage to do” refers to somebody succeeding in doing something. While the phrase is simple, the rules governing its usage can be difficult and complex. The phrase “manage to doing” is grammatically incorrect and is often used by those not fully aware of key English grammar rules. Read on to find out more about this!

“Manage to do” or “manage to doing”: which one is correct?

It can often be difficult to identify if an English phrase is grammatically correct. That isn’t surprising given the notoriously complex and difficult grammar rules in English. The phrase “manage to do” refers to somebody successfully accomplishing a task, especially a difficult one.

“Manage to doing” is incorrect and goes against grammar rules. The present form of “to manage,” which is simply “manage”, can not be used with the present participle form of “do,” which is “doing.”

So “manage to doing” is incorrect and must be avoided in English. “Manage to do” is correct since the present forms of the verbs “manage” and “do” are being used together. This is an example of gerunds and infinitives in English.

In addition, the phrase “manages to do” is also grammatically correct and is used in certain contexts.

“Manage to do” vs “managed to do”: when to use each

Now that you know which phrase is correct, let’s explore the usage of the phrase “manage to do” in more detail. There are two commonly used versions of the phrase and each of them is used in different contexts and scenarios.

1. Manage to do

The phrase “manage to do” is normally used when talking about the possibility of somebody doing something in the future tense.

Example: “This task is quite difficult and requires a lot of time. Can you manage to do it on your own?”

It can also be used when talking in the present about something somebody managed to do in the past.

Example: “The odds were strictly against her and she hadn’t practised enough. Then how did she manage to get the highest score?”

2. Managed to do

The phrase “managed to do” is usually used when recounting a past event in which somebody managed to do something.

Example: “I was short on time and had limited resources at my disposal but I still managed to do the task I was given.”

Example: “He had a throbbing headache after dinner but still managed to do the dishes before he went to bed.

 

Conor
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