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The gerund as adverbial modifier of cause (reason).
| Somebody| does | something did | because of through for from from fear of in on account of | doing something |
I couldn't speak for laughing. = I couldn't speak because I was laughing.
In refusing to work abroad, she missed an excellent job opportunity. = Because she refused to work abroad, she missed an excellent job opportunity.
We didn't get home till after midnight because of missing the bus. – 'Because of missing' is the gerund in the function of an adverbial modifier of reason.
The community benefits from having an excellent health service.
Ed got up to the station early, for fear of missing Helen.
We missed the plane through being held up on the M 25.
5.5. The gerund as adverbial modifier of substitution / replacement
| Somebody | does did | something | instead of | doing something |
I stayed in bed all day instead of going to work. - "Instead of going" is the gerund which is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of substitution.
Instead of being annoyed, he seemed quite pleased.
5.6. The gerund as adverbial modifier of comparison/preference
| Somebody | does did | something | rather than than better than worse than as (an adjective) as | doing something |
I think I'd like to stay at home this evening rather than going out. - "Rather than going out" is the gerund in the function of an adverbial modifier of preference.
He likes starting early rather than staying late.
I like skiing better than skating.
He found lying on the beach just as boring as sitting. – 'sitting' is the gerund in the function of an adverbial modifier of comparison.
There's nothing worse than owing.
James thinks that driving himself is safer than letting me drive.
I'll deliver it by hand; this will be cheaper than posting it.
The gerund as adverbial modifier of addition
| Somebody | does did | something | besides in addition to | doing something |
What can you do besides typing? – "Besides typing" is the gerund which is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of addition.
Besides doing the cooking I look after the garden.
Besides being heartbroken, she felt foolish.
In addition to teaching, she also works in the holidays as a nurse.
The gerund as adverbial modifier of concession
| Somebody | does did | something | in spite of despite (formal) | doing something |
He managed to eat a big lunch despite having eaten an enormous breakfast. - "Despite having eaten" is the gerund which is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of concession.
Liza got the job in spite of having no qualification for it.
Despite wanting to see him again, she refused to reply his letters.
The gerund as adverbial modifier of condition
| (But for doing something) | somebody | does did | something | without doing something |
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs (proverb). - "Without breaking" is the gerund which is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of condition.
Date: 2015-12-24; view: 2946
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| Exercise 8. Define the function of the gerund in the following sentences. | | | The gerund as adverbial modifier of purpose |