12. Gerund: Forms and Functions

 

 

She was angry at Tom’s having asked her impudently about Jim.

 

Nominal features:

1. _____________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________

 

Verbal features:

1. _____________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________

 

 

Exercise 12.1. Say whether the ing-words are gerunds, participles or verbal nouns. Give your reasons.

 

1. 1.    "Forgive me for keeping you waiting," he said, looking a little surprised... "I had to run up and wash. I was playing tennis when the bell rang" ...

2. 2.    "Now Laura," said her mother quickly, "come with me into the smoking room."

3. 3.    "Well," thought Michael, "giving advice is clearly not my stunt!"

4. 4.    And indeed she has such an excellent chance of winning that it sounds like pure folly to wish her to stand down.

5. 5.    As for Nella, she watched the incomings and outgoings of Prince Aribert with a kindly interest.

6. 6.    As we passed I remarked a beautiful church-spire rising above some old elms in the park.

7. 7.    At first he determined to go to bed again, but when he thought of the redressing and rewashing and the having of another bath, he determined he wouldn't.

8. 8.    At night before my sleeping drug had soothed me I would imagine him going up my stairs.

9. 9.    Colonel Julyan kept yawning at the back. He opened his mouth very wide and yawned aloud, sighing heavily afterwards... I did not know how to prevent myself from turning round and screaming to him to stop.

10. 10. George accompanied Elizabeth to the boarding house where she lived.

11. 11. He took out a thermos, a hair-brush, a shaving set and a sleeping bag.

12. 12. I felt as if the stopping of the clocks had stopped time in that mysterious place.

13. 13. I heard the rain still beating continuously on the staircase window, and the travelling wind blowing.

14. 14. It was like revisiting the scene of a quieter life.

15. 15. My aunt concluded this philosophical summary, by fixing her sleeping eyes with a kind of triumph on Anne.

16. 16. On the way to his dressing room Michael encountered Coaker.

17. 17. Sam continued his jumping movement until he was near the smoking fire.

18. 18. She was to have my bed, and I was to lie in the sitting room, to keep guard over her.

19. 19. Taking off his Monk's garment which he now hated, he dressed himself, and without seeing her again drove home.

20. 20. The nightingale's song was then the only voice of the hour; in listening to it, I again wept. Mr. Rochester sat quiet, looking at me gently and seriously.

21. 21. The wandering look and changed utterance told what wreck had taken place in her once-vigorous frame.

22. 22. This is the standard travelling kit," he said.

23. 23. Tom disliked being spoken to just then.

24. 24. Victorine turned and began pulling an old cord round the sleeping boy.

25. 25. Liza was able to make her own living by working at a factory.

 

Exercise 12.2. Translate using gerunds and define their functions in the sentences.

 

1. 1.    Разговоры не помогают в беде.

2. 2.    To, что мы ждали профессора, было слабым оправданием тому, что мы ничего не делали.

3. 3.    To, что я ответил утвердительно, было ему очень приятно.

4. 4.    Бесполезно говорить с ним.

5. 5.    В ее отношении к этому нельзя было ошибиться.

6. 6.    Единственное средство от такой головной боли, как у меня, это лечь спать.

7. 7.    Мы намереваемся поехать в Швейцарию и подняться на Монблан.

8. 8.    Джозеф не мог не восхищаться этим человеком.

9. 9.    Она начала рыдать и стонать.

10. 10. Ночью пошел дождь.

11. 11. Том продолжал белить забор.

12. 12. Внезапно она перестала разговаривать.

13. 13. Я просто обожаю кататься верхом.

14. 14. Ей доставляло удовольствие петь и играть для него.

15. 15. Чарли не удавалось смотреть легко на вещи.

16. 16. Может быть, вы не будете возражать против того, чтобы вошел Ричард?

17. 17. Тетя Августа не одобрит то, что вы здесь.

18. 18. Он родился с даром покорять сердца.

19. 19. У нее было чувство, что ею воспользовались.

20. 20. Нет никакой надежды на то, что они смогут скоро пожениться.

21. 21. Вскоре послышался шум автомобиля, который подъезжал к двери.

22. 22. Оставив зонтик в передней, она вошла в гостиную.

23. 23. Он должен был пробыть три дня дома, прежде чем возвратиться на ферму.

24. 24. Поведение мистера Бамбля, когда его оставили в одиночестве, было не совсем понятно.

25. 25. Она напугала своего отца тем, что расплакалась.

26. 26. День прошел за упаковкой вещей.

27. 27. Она была очень красива, сама того не зная.

28. 28. Одна сторона галереи использовалась для танцев.

29. 29. Он не имеет права приходить и беспокоить вас и отца, если его не приглашают.

30. 30. Я не смел присутствовать на похоронах, так как боялся поставить себя в глупое положение.

31. 31. Несмотря на то, что он был занят, она попросила его помочь ей.

32. 32. Давид уехал из Лондона, никому ничего не сказав.

33. 33. Мальчики не могли уходить из Салем-Хауса, не спросив разрешения.

 

Exercise 12.3. Insert the appropriate form of the gerund.

 

1. 1.    He did not want to go without __ by Amy. (to congratulate)

2. 2.    After __ more closely than usual and __ his hair, he took the bus uptown. (to shave, to brush)

3. 3.    On __ that Michael and Fleur were out, he did not dress for dinner. (to discover)

4. 4.    I had to sound as if I didn't mind __, as though I had no temper of my own. (to insult)

5. 5.    In the morning light, she was ashamed of herself for __ so much the night before. (to elate)

6. 6.    The house wanted __. (to repair)

7. 7.    Even a criminal must be told the nature of his crime before __. (to convict)

8. 8.    I still reproached myself for not __ open with Douglas from the start. (to be)

9. 9.    No woman looks her best after __ up all night. (to sit)

10. 10. His legs were somewhat stiff from not __ nor __ for days. (to hike, to climb)

11. 11. I'm tired of __ like a silly fat lamb. (to treat)

12. 12. I know everyone who's worth __. (to know)

13. 13. After __ this, he cursed himself for not __ the opposite. (to say, to say)

14. 14. "Your tie needs __," Mrs.Simpson said. (to straighten)

15. 15. The attempt is at least worth __. (to make)

16. 16. One could not walk or drive about Philadelphia without __ and __ with it. (to see, to impress)

17. 17. I remember __ him with her and Marner going away from church. (to see)

18. 18. When I told him that I meant to live in Paris for a while, he reproached me bitterly for not __ him know. (to let)

19. 19. Let me tell you whose house you've come into without __ or __.(to ask, to want)

 

Exercise 12.4. Make gerundial constructions and comment on the way the nominal element is expressed. Translate into Russian.

 

1. 1.    You must excuse (I, be) so breathless. I'm not really breathless, it's just the excitement.

2. 2.    These happy events occurred without (any recommendation, make) by Rainborough, and indeed without (he, inform) officially.

3. 3.    The maid said something about (the American lady, come) back to Rodnik.

4. 4.    It was easy to imagine (Cave, sit) silent.

5. 5.    She was interrupted by her father's voice and by (her father's hat, be) heavily flung from his hand.

6. 6.    He brought in a suitcase with him, which he doubted (it, be) worth while to unpack.

7. 7.    Besides, there's no danger of (it, happen) again.

8. 8.    "It's no good (you, stay) here," Jack Burton said.

9. 9.    Old Jack laughed. (They, bother) amused him.

10. 10. He was wakened by (someone, knock) at the door.

11. 11. There is something so inexpressibly absurd to me in the idea of (Caddy, be) married.

12. 12. I was not surprised by (Caddy, be) in low spirits.

13. 13. You knew young Pyle well, didn't you? I can't get over (a thing like that, happen) to him.

14. 14. She laughed at the thought of (her husband and Johnny, look) after the house.

15. 15. He felt almost a gloomy satisfaction at the thought of (all these disasters, happen) at once.

 

Exercise 12.5. Recast the following sentences so as to use predicative constructions with the gerund. Use prepositions where required.

 

1. 1.    Presently I became aware that someone was moving softly about this room.

2. 2.    I was about to suggest that you should lunch with me.

3. 3.    For my part I had never before suspected that Kate had a deep vein of superstition in her nature.

4. 4.    I cut short his weeping, by suggesting that we should start for the camp at once.

5. 5.    I like you so much because you are such a good cook.

6. 6.    I boasted that my father was different; he would understand that I was an artist.

7. 7.    She took a peculiar delight in the fact that he was Peter's son.

8. 8.    He felt proud of the fact that he had been able to win a woman whom everybody admired.

9. 9.    She gave no sign that she heard that he had slammed the door.

10. 10. She insisted that he should drop his voice.

11. 11. He was clever, no one had ever denied that he was clever.

 

Exercise 12.6. Use the gerund in the required form or the gerundial construction instead of the infinitive in brackets. Analyse the function.

 

1. 1.    "You must not mind (we, surprise)," she said.

2. 2.    (Read) is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

3. 3.    After (to mourn) for her so many years it is time that you once more enjoyed life.

4. 4.    After all I'm partly to blame for (you, miss) the train so the least I can do is to help you out of a jam.

5. 5.    From all I can learn, he's got no business, no income, and no connection worth (speak).

6. 6.    He came back to town in a poor way, and went about with pathetic attempts at (to make) the best of a bad job.

7. 7.    He spared no pains in (try) to see all.

8. 8.    He'll be afraid of (to think) ungrateful.

9. 9.    Here, they felt, was someone worth (to take) a little trouble over.

10. 10. I beg the House's pardon for (to be) so long in (to fulfil) my task.

11. 11. I couldn't stop (she, come here).

12. 12. I did ask her why she could not sleep and what kept (she, think) so much as she listened to the nightingale.

13. 13. I insisted on all relations with the Klausners (break) off.

14. 14. I remember (to go) to the British Museum one day to read up the treatment for some slight ailment.

15. 15. I seem honoured in (to permit) to draw the attention of all the parties to this.

16. 16. If you don't object to (I, accompany) you as far as the door, sir...?

17. 17. In the silence he began (hum) once again.

18. 18. Instead of (worry) he took a deep breath of the crisp air.

19. 19. It's no use (cry) over spilt milk.

20. 20. It's not much good (I, spend) half an hour writing to your uncle if he changes his mind.

21. 21. Martin Eden never looked at him without (to experience) a sense of repulsion.

22. 22. Mrs. Michael Mont, I withdraw the words concerning Miss Marjorie Ferrar contained in my letters and hereby offer a full and free apology for (to write) them."

23. 23. No one would dream of (he, be) so near at hand.

24. 24. Peter Himmel, escort to the lovely Edith, was unaccustomed to (snub), he was hurt and embarrassed.

25. 25. Sometimes Liza fell into light doze and Jim would keep very still for fear of (wake) her.

26. 26. The clothes were washed elsewhere: in here they were but aired before (to put on).

27. 27. The rain poured down without (cease).

28. 28. The whole time I was conscious of (surround) by a network of intrigue.

29. 29. Warren wants me to go home and give up the idea of (to go) on the stage.

30. 30. Well, doubtless we'll come across that in (look) through Captain Trevelyan's papers.

31. 31. What do you mean by (say) that you're my nephew?

32. 32. You do not know how I suffer; all last night I could not sleep for (think) of your peril.