4.8. Some prepositional verbs and phrases used with the gerund.

4.8.1. accuse of, agree to (on), (dis)approve of, complain of, depend on, insist on, feel like, object to, persist in, rely on, succeed in, suspect of, thank for, think of (about), look forward to, congratulate on (for).

4.8.2. aware of, (in)capable of, fond of, guilty of, indignant at, proud of, pleased at (about) smth, (but: be pleased with smb), surprised at (by), angry with smb for, bad (good) at, clever at, responsible for, sorry for (about).

4.8.3. advantage of, cause for, grounds for, difficulty in, experience in, harm in, amazement at, attempt at, irritation at, fantasy about, objection to.

Exercises

Exercise 1. Comment on the forms of the gerund. Translate thesentences into Russian.

1. I was afraid of being rejected, yes. (E.S.) 2. He once punched an intern during an operation for making an error in judgment. (S.Sh.) 3. She could hear her father's voice saying, "Going out with Jim Cleary was a mistake." (S.Sh.) 4. The front door needs (wants, requires) mending. (G.L.Alexander) 5. And how did you manage putting this off? (J.L.) 6. That's what you get for trusting people. (A.H.) 7. Not being recognized in his own airport was a frequent experience. (A.H.) 8. A few months after Toni started working at Global Computer Graphics, she learned about the Internet. (S.Sh.) 9. Do you think that by getting my friend to buy the securities... I should add greatly to the welfare of the community? (S.M.) 10. A young man couldn't take charge of a girl and bring her out without ruining her reputation. (M.F.) 11. Having explained this subject, we fell to discussing books. (M.F.) 12. He went upstairs to get his bathing suit. (D.S.) 13. "I will never be traumatized by having someone call me Grandma," Pascale said lightly. (D.S.) 14. The two American ladies perhaps felt a pang of dismay at being confronted with her exuberant youth. (S.M.) 15. I could not help feeling slightly nettled, I must confess. (S.L.) 16. Life of Caesar: a famous Roman general, the last who ever landed in Britain without being stopped at the custom house. (S.L.) 17. He began to feel ashamed of having imagined that it would do very well for the Hales. (E.G.) 18. Franklin, on being asked whether the United States had done right in going into the war, said "Yes." (S.L.)

Exercise 2. Say what actions are expressed by the gerund – simultaneous with or prior to the actions expressed by the predicate verbs. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. He ended by saying that he had a dog at the house. (S.L.) 2. On looking out of the window she noticed many people walking towards the stone-pits. (E.G.) 3. She appeared in court in Valencia after being charged with two counts of fraud. (D.T.) 4. Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown were so busy stitching doll's clothes... (S.L.) 5. Moscow at first lined up with Paris and Berlin in opposing the war. (D.T.) 6. Mr. Abbas criticised Hamas and Islamic Jihad for retaliating to Israeli military actions. (D.T.) 7. They have to keep smiling at Miss Beresford when she cracks jokes at their expense. (A.M.L.) 8. Nobody in a crew likes having permanent invalids aboard ship. (A.M.L.) 9. I kept on thinking up to the end that he would yield. (S.M.) 10. She remembered walking, as a girl, past the piles of sawdust at the factory to the house of her best friend. (J.Ch.) 11. Sensing none of their malevolent thoughts about her, Gwen sat down with them, after carrying several platters to the table. (D.S.) 12. He thought she should think about retiring. (D.S.) 13. Let him have a little fun after all the sadness he's had over losing Anne. (D.S.) 14. Fergie has apologized to shopkeepers in Fleet, Hampshire, for causing them to lose business. (N.I.) 18. In France they've erected statues to Marie Harel, who is credited with inventing Camambert. (N.I.) 19. The burglar Tony Martin was sent back to prison yesterday for breaching the terms of his curfew. (D.T.)

Exercise 3. Open the brackets using the appropriate forms of the gerund.

1. I have no other means of (to convey) my ideas. 2. She felt irritated at (to keep) in the dark all this time. 3. Aren't you surprised at (not to invite) to the party? 4. She didn't give the impression of (to have) anything to hide. 5. In those capacities I am used to (to act) as a communicator. 6. Geoffrey Briggs was later jailed for (to cause) grievous bodily harm. 7. I remember once (to go) in a lilac silk to see candles made. 8. I could not help (to watch) your face with some anxiety, when Mr. Thornton made his confession of (to be) a shop-boy. 9. At every school she went she learnt drawing, besides (to teach) by her father at home. 10. I suspect him of (to lose) my book. 11. He was irritated at her for (not to do) it. 12. Nobody likes (to make fun of). 13. I will keep (to bring) the idea before gran (Austral. for "granny") until she gets used to it. (M.F.) 14. Your hair wants (to cut). 15. Jane was punished for (to strike) her cousin. 16. He was greatly pleased at (to find) a job. 17. In childhood I was fond of (to read to) by my granny. 18. She will object to (to treat) like a small girl. 19. Is the film worth (to see)? 20. I remember (to enclose) this photograph in my last letter to him.

Exercise 4. Use the appropriate forms of the gerund inserting prepositions where necessary.

1. She held her breath to prevent herself (to cry out). 2. I am sick and tired (to have) tea without milk and sugar. 3. The child needs (to take care of). 4. I can't tell you how grateful I am to you (to listen) to me. 5. It is no good (to do) things by halves. 6. When she took a thing into her head there was no (to stop) her. 7. She was incapable (to turn) a deaf ear to this appeal. 8. He spoke with an air (to prepare) carefully everything beforehand. 9. He was conscious (to surround) by some mystery. 10. He remembered (to drive) once at a great speed to meet her at the airport. 11. Seeing us she could not help (to smile). 12. He has a reason (not to come) here. 13. They kept very still for fear (to notice). 14. I am always afraid (to lose) something. 15. She didn't give the impression (to be) very naïve. 16. Did you succeed (to teach) her to drive? 17. What do you mean (to talk) like this? 18. Let's go down (to sign) the papers. 19. She took pride (to be responsible) for such important work. 20. She felt like (to give up) all the attempts to make him feel happier. 21. He kept on (to ask) these questions. 22. Many students in our group are keen (to go) to America in summer. 23. I loathe (to have) to admit that it is true. 24. Isn't she proud (to be) so pretty? 25. He refrained (to say) anything. 26. I don't think the question is worth (to discuss).

Exercise 5. Translate the sentences into Russian paying attention to the syntactical function of the gerund.

Subject

1. Going out with Shane Miller was a mistake. (S.Sh.) 2. There was no doubting that he had made a mistake. 3. Sailing with him was one of her great pleasures. (D.S.) 4. There was no denying that Gwen was impressive. (D.S.) 5. It felt so good just being back in France. (D.S.) 6. I had long since learned that visiting only brings sorrow. (S.L.) 7. It's no use arguing with him now. 8. It was no good objecting.

Predicative

1. Striking is leaving off work till you get your own rate of wages. (E.G.) 2. But the greatest challenge of all was coming to terms with his memories of Anne. (D.S.) 3. "What I hate about it is putting her ahead of honest-to-goodness fare-paying passengers who've been waiting hours already." (A.H.) 4. Are you for or against staying here? 5. The real problem is getting something done about the cheap imports. (D.Biber) 6. His first job was getting her tea.7. Our main problem was finding time to do the work. (B.D.Graver)

Part of a compound verbal predicate

1. Presently they left off singing and commenced talking. (M.F.) 2. Ned took the telephone from Tanya and began speaking rapidly in a low tone. (A.H.) 3. Don't say anything. She'll start thinking it's all her fault. (M.F.) 4. "Is it me?" I asked. "Yes," he said quickly, "it is you," and he went on looking at it (the photograph). (S.L.) 5. The woman kept reassuring her that her friends would like it. (D.S.) 6. They've finished cross-checking the finger-prints on the bodies of the victims. (S.Sh.)

Direct object

1. I remember once asking him if he wanted to write. (S.M.) 2. She loathed working at Global Computer Graphics. (S.Sh.) 3. He always enjoyed talking to her. (D.S.) 4. He loved feeling Gwen near him. (D.S.) 5. This man looked so careworn that Margaret could not help giving him am answering smile. (E.G.) 6. It was a fair price and well worth doing. (D.S.) 7. I don't mind cooking, but I hate cleaning up after. (D.S.) 8. Up to 100 people face losing their jobs. (D.T.) 9Fancy living in the middle of factories and factory people!(E.G.) 10. She was too busy rolling out of the way. (J.L.)

Prepositional object

1. John nagged her again about going to the doctor. (D.S.) 2. I felt like writing a dozen letters there and then. (N.L.) 3. Pascale was used to defending them to each other. (D.S.) 4. She nodded yes, and was not very good at masking her pride. (E.S.) 5. Mr. Arafat has been accused of deliberately attempting to undermine his prime minister. (D.T.) 6. Doubts such as these prevent me from taking active measures. (S.L.) 7. "I am particularly looking forward to doing a very interesting job." (N.I.) 8. He might, unlike Alexander, be capable of smiling occasionally. (A.M.L.) 9. The governments hope that unionists will return to sharing power with Sinn Fein. (D.T.) 10.Duncan had insisted on waiting in Neville's sitting room. (J.L.) 11. Arlette told Richard about growing up in Rome. (S.Sh.)

Attribute

1. Ashley was an expert in advertising and graphic design. (S.Sh.) 2. Have you any particular reason for thinking that? (A.Chr.) 3. I like your funny way of doing things. (A.Chr.) 4. She hated to give up the idea of spending a month in St.Tropez. (D.S.) 5. He was famous in their midst for his distaste for spending money. (D.S.) 6. Gertie was the only one who had felt any sorrow at parting with me. (M.F.) 7. He announced his intention of obtaining the opinion of some good masters. (M.F.) 8. He looked unimpressed either by her lack of enthusiasm for meeting Gwen, or by Pascale's. (D.S.) 9. I am sorry you have had the trouble of calling twice (E.G.) 10. They underestimate the difficulty of "making humour". (S.L.) 11. In that case there doesn't seem to be any point in my forbidding it. (S.M.)

Adverbial modifiers

1. On taking their departure they cordially invited us to return their visits. (M.F.) 2. At hearing things put so bluntly, forcing her to understand, Mrs. Abbandano began to weep. (M.P.) 3. I paused before replying. (S.M.) 4. "How was Christmas? Ours was awful," she volunteered without stopping for breath. (D.S.) 5. Our first fifteen years or so were spent in getting education. (S.L.) 6. In writing this I ought to explain that I am a tottering old man of forty-six. (S.L.) 7. I've written a lot of them down for fear of losing them. (S.L.) 8. She could hardly read for laughing. (S.L.) 9. The company's solution was to increase security by introducing barriers. (D.T.) 10. By then the dogs had gotten used to Pascale and only stood there barking, instead of trying to attack her. (D.S.) 11. He probably should have made an effort to meet her prior to making the commitment. (J.L.) 12. I was to be given more time on account of being ugly – I was not a valuable article in the marriage market. (M.F.) 13. He passed his time in drinking tea and looking at the photographs. (S.L.) 14. Besides losing all nerve, I had a very queer voice which everyone remarked. (M.F.)

Exercise 6. Translate the sentences into English using gerunds in the functions of

Subject

1. Я понимаю, что спорить с ним сейчас бесполезно. 2. Зимой до этой горной деревушки не доберешься ни на вертолете, ни на автобусе. 3. Чтение детективных рассказов было ее единственным развлечением. 4. Курение на нашем факультете должно быть запрещено. 5. Бесполезно звонить им в такой поздний час. 6. Выступать на собраниях – настоящее мучение для многих. 7. Делать что-то лучше, чем просто ждать.

Predicative

1. Его план заключался в том, чтобы вернуться в лабораторию и завершить опыт. 2. Самое главное – это продолжить нашу работу несмотря на все трудности. 3. Во время моего отсутствия твоим делом будет – кормить собаку и гулять с ней. 4. Ее призвание – учить маленьких детей танцевать. 5. Единственное, что мы сейчас можем сделать – это перевязать рану.

Part of a compound verbal predicate

1. Он дома. Продолжайте звонить, пока он не поднимет трубку. 2. Говорил он так тихо и монотонно, что вскоре все перестали его слушать. 3. Часы пробили 11, и она начала беспокоиться. 4. Я выглянула в окно: густой снег продолжал падать. 5. Отвечал он так неохотно, что она перестала задавать ему вопросы и обратилась к его другу. 6. Он рассмеялся, когда услышал эту историю.

Direct object

1. Впредь избегай делать такие глупые ошибки. 2. Она не любит, когда ей мешают во время работы. 3. Я очень сожалею, что ничего им не рассказала при встрече. 4. Он отрицает, что имеет какое-либо отношение к краже. 5. Кажется, ты получаешь удовольствие от того, что ничего не делаешь. 6. И что они намереваются делать в подобных обстоятельствах? 7. Я помню, что выключила газ перед тем, как уйти. 8. Неужели ты совсем забыла, что обещала помочь мне? 9. Вы не против того, чтобы подождать еще немного? 10. Я предлагаю отложить этот визит до более подходящего момента. 11. Она была занята уборкой квартиры. 12. Как ты думаешь, стоит ли покупать это пальто?

Prepositional object

1. Спасибо, что помогли мне перейти улицу. 2. Он не привык, чтобы его критиковали. 3. Никто не будет возражать, если собрание будет отложено. 4. Его обвиняют в том, что он продал секретную информацию нашим конкурентам. 5. Боюсь, ничто не помешает ей встретиться с ним. 6. Я настаиваю на том, чтобы мне рассказали всю правду. 7. Никто и не подозревал, что она лгала все это время. 8. Вам удалось убедить их в том, что вы правы? 9. Она очень хорошо обманывает людей (to be good at). 10. Ты не боишься возвращаться так поздно?

Attribute

1. Не вижу никакого вреда в том, чтобы сообщить им об этом. 2. Тебе нравится, как он объясняет это правило? 3. Боюсь, здесь у вас будут трудности в том, чтобы найти интересную работу. 4. Я пришла сюда с намерением выяснить все обстоятельства того, что произошло. 5. Терпеть не могу твою привычку молчать, когда тебе задают вопрос. 6. Его мастерство рисовать пейзажи просто поразительно! 7. Она чувствовала раздражение от того, что ей мешают. 8. Вряд ли есть смысл тратить деньги на этот сомнительный проект. 9. У меня нет никаких возражений против того, чтобы работать с вами. 10. У него нет никакой причины, чтобы отказаться от этого предложения.

Adverbial modifiers

1. Они шли без остановки несколько часов. 2. Она начала уборку с того, что выбросила все старые письма и газеты. 3. Переводя этот текст, он сделал несколько ошибок. 4. Помимо того, что она присматривает за ребенком, у нее есть много других обязанностей по дому. 5. Он составил завещание после того, как узнал о своей болезни? 6. Несмотря на то, что она чувствовала себя нездоровой, она пошла на эту встречу. 7. Секунду она колебалась, прежде чем открыть письмо. 8. Ты можешь узнать об этом, позвонив в справочное бюро. 9. На вашем месте я бы занялась делом вместо того, чтобы ссориться. 10. Можно улучшить произношение, слушая магнитофонные записи? 11. Глаза у нее опухли и покраснели из-за того, чтобы она плакала. 12. Защищая себя, он раскрыл имя главаря банды.

Exercise 7. Analyse the functions of the gerund.

1.Everald Grey's opinion on artistic matters was considered worth having. (M.F.) 2. I was always desirous of enjoying the company of society people who were well-bred. (M.F.) 3. Career! That's all girls think of now, instead of being good wives and mothers and attending to their homes. (M.F.) 4. All the romantic in me revolted at the idea of leaving the second millennium B.C. (C.W.) 5. Like Diana, she had become a zealot overnight, hell-bent on protecting their friend. (D.S.) 6. Do you suppose they'll mind coming to the villa? (D.S.) 7. I opened the fire without any beating about the bush. (M.F.) 8. Reich talked about increasing the range of the indicator. (C.W.) 8. But staying in a hotel wouldn't be nearly as much fun, not to mention the expense. (D.S.) 9. She often went to dance class at night, after teaching all day. (D.S.) 10. On receiving the intelligence contained in the letter, I walked out of the house. (M.F.) 11. He had no intention of disturbing the old man for long. (J.L.) 12. She'd displayed no nervousness in dealing with a lord. (J.L.) 13. Frazzled, that was how Duncan started feeling, once Neville's guests began arriving at Summers Glade. (J.L.) 14. She dreaded the thought of facing him, but she could think of no excuse. (S.M.) 15. Setting up complicated schemes in the hopes that they would have a particular desired effect just wasn't her cup of tea. (J.L.)

Exercise 8. Instructions as for 7.

1. But it is not necessary to pronounce either of these names in reading them. (S.L.) 2. Anne had put it behind her, and instead of grieving for what she had lost, she was satisfied with what she had. (D.S.) 3. That's the most inconclusive reason for not writing that I've ever heard. (S.M.) 4. He loved his children and grandchildren and spending time with them. (D.S.) 5. Anne had thought long and hard about going into politics years before. (D.S.) 6. He felt like teasing her. (J.L.) 7. A gene that puts people at risk of becoming alcoholics has been identified by scientists at the University of California. (N.I.) 8. I only started smoking last spring. (S.L.) 9. He didn't look very bright, yet he was widely regarded as having one of the most brilliant minds in the Royal Navy. (A.M.L.) 10. Universal, the world's largest record company, began slashing prices of compact disks. (D.T.) 11. Eric was angry at himself now for not suspecting something. (D.S.) 12. Perhaps the dust had not been produces by carving? (C.W.) 13. Henry Martin was sore with him for turning down the position he offered him (Larry). (S.M.) 14. But things don't get any easier by putting them off. (S.M.) 15. I had done an unwarrantable thing in breaking in on the privacy of this man's scientific pursuits. (S.L.) 16. It criticized the trust for failing to monitor the well-being of the children after they arrived in the country. (D.T.) 17. They were quick in comprehension, alert in grasping interrelationships. (E.J.)

Exercise 9. Make up sentences with the following words and phrases.

1. to approve of, to complain of, to confess to, to dream of, to grumble about, to insist on, to mean by, to persist in, to refrain from, to succeed in, to take to, to threaten with, to worry about

2. can't bear, can't help, to look forward to, to take pride in, to take risks in, to be on the point of, to be in favour of.

3. absorbed in, accustomed to, amused at, annoyed at, (in)capable of, clever (good) at, (un)conscious of, content with, delighted at, keen on, proud of, skilled in (at), sorry for, surprised at, wrong in.

4. advantage of, method of, cause for, grounds for, reason for, belief in, difficulty in, experience in, point in, amazement at, attempt at, pleasure at, fantasy about, scruples about, objection to.

Exercise 10. Translate into English using gerunds.

1. Со времени исчезновения его не видели уже 8 дней. 2. Многое зависит от того, чтобы получить его (пса) обратно. 3. Как только человечество направило свою энергию на сокращение своих нужд вместо увеличения своих желаний, все стало просто. 4. Вчера утром они пришли снова и стали рассматривать диски. 5. Я не против того, чтобы сказать, что несчастные случаи такого рода были самой огорчительной чертой цивилизации до тех пор, пока мы не предприняли меры покончить со всеми несчастными случаями. 6. У меня есть очень простой способ найти какой-либо дом ночью – просто стучать в соседние двери, пока я не найду того, что нужно. 7. Джоунз (Jones) принес пакет с буфета и начал развертывать его. 8. Подзорная труба была не в состоянии (incapable) справиться даже с малейшей вибрацией. 9. Он понимающе кивнул, а затем удивил ее, сказав: "Вы все-таки придете, по моей просьбе." 10. Вы все привыкли быть вместе, после всех этих лет. 11. Должны существовать и брокеры, и это вполне приличный и уважаемый способ зарабатывать себе на жизнь. 12. Трейси уже давно перестала ожидать что-либо от своих родителей помимо еды. 13. Оркестр продолжал играть, хор продолжал свои попытки петь. 14. Солнце начало клониться к западу.

Exercise 11. Instructions as for 10.

1. Она сочла бы это неверным помогать тебе жить, ничего не делая. 2. Но он знал, как много значит для нее пребывание в Париже. 3. Попытайтесь пробраться сюда так, чтобы вас не заметили. 4. Тетя Юфемия (Euphemia) вечно обвиняла ее в том, что она пытается украсть ее деньги. 5. Она сказала, что ее сестра Юфемия не выносит присутствия кошки рядом с собой. 6. У него не было никакого средства (means), чтобы избавиться от тела. 7. Неприятности с полицией могли повлечь за собой депортацию. 8. Я помню, что не очень давно встретила эту пару на официальном завтраке (luncheon). 9. Не могу не сказать, что я полагаю, с его стороны это было очень опрометчиво. 10. Юфемия боялась. Чего? Того, что ее убьют за ее деньги. 11. Она заподозрила свою сестру в том, что та пытается отравить её. 12. Нашел ли убийца деньги после того, как убил ее?