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The Gerund

 

The Gerund comes from the OE verbal noun. It is formed by adding the suffix -ing to verbal stem and coincides in form with Participle I. The Gerund has both verbal and noun characteristics.

 

Verb Characteristics of the Gerund

1. The Gerund has: tense and voice (transitive verbs only) distinctions:

  Active Passive
Indefinite writing being written
Perfect having written having been written

 

1. The Indefinite Gerund expresses the action simultaneous with that of the finite form of the verb:

e.g. He tells (told, will tell) me of his writing a report.

• The Indefinite Gerund may also refer to the future when it is used with such verbs as to insist, to intend, to suggest:

e.g. I intend going there tomorrow.

2. The Perfect Gerund indicates an action prior to that expressed by the finite form of the verb:

e.g. I'm surprised of having done it.

Note: The Indefinite Gerund is commonly used instead of the Perfect Gerund after:

1) the prepositions on, upon, after, without, because the meaning of the preposition itself indicates that the action of the Gerund is prior to that of the finite verb:

e.g. On leaving the house I still heard their loud voices.

After catching a few fish we prepared a delicious breakfast.

2) the verbs to remember, to excuse, to forgive, to thank:

e.g. I don't remember hearing the legend before.

Using the Perfect Gerund is possible though rare:

e.g. He didn't remember having been in that room.

 

2. The Gerund of a transitive verb may have a direct object:

e.g. Would you mind my opening the window?

3. The Gerund can be modified by an adverb:

e.g. I was surprised at his speaking English so fluently.

 

Noun Characteristics of the Gerund

1. Noun characteristics of the gerund are manifested in its syntactic functions. It can be used as a subject or an object (direct or prepositional) of the sentence. When used as an attribute or an AM the Gerund also shows its nominal character: it is always preceded by the preposition, which is a formal mark of the noun:

e.g. Crossing the river was a hard task (subject)

She intends leaving tomorrow (direct object)

I have the pleasure of living here (attribute)

After catching a few fish we prepared a delicious breakfast. (AM of time)

2. The Gerund may be used with the possessive pronoun or noun in the Possessive case:

e.g. I rely on her (Mary's) doing it properly.

 

 

The Gerund and the Infinitive

There are words that can take either the Infinitive or the Gerund:

BEGIN, START, CONTINUE, CEASE

Either the Infinitive or the Gerund may be used without any difference in meaning, but the Infinitive is more usual with verbs of knowing and understanding:

e.g. I began working / to work. cf I begin to understand.



If the main verb is progressive, the Infinitive is usually used:

e.g. It was beginning to rain.

INTEND

After this verb the Infinitive is more usual than the Gerund:

e.g. I intend to sell it / selling it.

But when intend is followed by an object the Infinitive is necessary:

e.g. I never intended things to turn out the way they did.

(DIS)LIKE, LOVE, PREFER, HATE, CAN'T BEAR / STAND

To speak about things in general the Gerund is used. The Infinitive is mostly used with the reference to a special occasion:

e.g. She doesn't like going out (in general). She prefers watching TV.

I don't like to go there (now). I prefer to stay at home.

ADVISE, ALLOW, PERMIT, RECOMMEND

If the person concerned is mentioned then the Infinitive is used:

e.g. They don't allow us to park here.

But if the person is not mentioned the Gerund is used:

e.g. They don't allow parking here.

NEED, REQUIRE, WANT

These verbs can be followed either by the Gerund or the Infinitive, the Gerund being more usual:

e.g. The grass needs cutting./The grass needs to be cut.

REGRET, REMEMBER, FORGET

With these verbs the Infinitive mostly refers to the future, while the Gerund refers to the past:

e.g. I regret spending so much money. cf I regret to say...

I remember seeing him. Remember to buy the book.

I'll never forget waiting for you. (usually negative) Don't forget to lock the door.

STOP

In the meaning to end, to cease it is followed by the Gerund:

e.g. Stop talking!

In the meaning to halt it is followed by the Infinitive of purpose:

e.g. On my way home I stopped to talk with my friend.

TRY

In the meaning to attempt, to make an effort it is followed by the Infinitive:

e.g. Maria tried to learn English, but she found it too difficult and gave up.

In the meaning to experiment it is followed by the Gerund:

e.g. The room was hot. I tried opening the window, but that didn't help. So I tried turning on the fan, but it was still hot. Finally, I turned on the air conditioner.

USED followed by the Infinitive denotes past repeated action:

e.g. I used to read many books when I was a child.

TO BE / TO BECOME/ TO GET USED TO followed by the Gerund has the meaning to be accustomed to:

e.g. I'm not used to getting such presents.

MEAN

In the meaning to intend to do sth it is followed by the Infinitive:

e.g. I didn’t mean to upset you.

In the meaning to have a particular meaning it is followed by the Gerund:

e.g. His order meant staying at home for one more hour.


Date: 2015-02-03; view: 934


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