The gerund
The Gerund is a non-finite form of the verb which is derived from the form of the infinitive with the help of the suffix – ing (to work – working) and carries two sets of features – verbal and nominal.
The Active and Passive Forms of the Gerund
|
ACTIVE |
PASSIVE |
SIMPLE |
doing |
being done |
CONTINUOUS |
_____________ |
____________ |
PERFECT |
having done |
having been done |
PERFECT CONTINUOUS |
________________ |
_________ |
The use of tense and voice forms of the gerund
The simple active or passive forms of the gerund are used to express:
an action or state simultaneous with the action expressed in the sentence:
I had the pleasure of having dinner with him last night (formal).
an action or state prior to the action expressed in the sentence after certain verbs:
He has categorically denied being involved in the fraud.
I distinctly remember Jane saying that the show started at eight.
an action or state following the action expressed in the sentence:
In the extremely unlikely event of my husband being sent to prison, and your remaining outside, any money would stop immediately.
Can you imagine sitting in your law office one day and suddenly realizing that you’d hit upon the formula for millions?
Priority as well as the succeeding character of an action expressed by the simple form of the gerund often becomes transparent when there is an adverbial modifier of past time (future time for a succeeding action) in the sentence:
She remembers seeing him leave an hour ago.
You’re excused from doing the washing up tonight.)
The perfect gerund is used to express actions prior to the action expressed by the verb in the finite form in the sentence:
Orange Grove showed no signs of ever having hosted citrus trees.
Functions of the gerund in the sentence
Since the gerund possesses both verbal and nominal features, it demonstrates them in various syntactic functions in the sentence. The nominal feature of the gerund is realized in the functions of subject, object, predicative, attribute, adv.mod; the verbal nature of the gerund is shown in the only function of a part of a compound verbal predicate (modal and aspective). Let us consider them in more detail:
The Subject (the gerund usually begins the sentence or is used in the
constructions with the introductory ‘it’ or ‘there’):
Setting down clear rules from the start will save arguments later on.
Being invited to the party pleased Mary immensely.
It was not an easy job being an untouchable in a world where both sides, the law and the outlaws, despised you.
It’s worth talking to your financial adviser before making your final decision.
There was no denying the lie fascinated the jury.
The use of the gerund with the introductory ‘there’ is restricted to negative sentences:
She realized there was no use arguing with him.
The gerund after the introductory ‘it’ or ‘there’ is used in a few idiomatic expressions such as ‘it is no good’, ‘it is no use’, ‘there is no use’, ‘there’s no use in …’, ‘it is worth’, etc.:
It’s no use asking me what I don’t know.
It’s no good trying to persuade her to come with us (not useful or effective)
The gerund is mainly used in its simple forms in this function.
The Predicative (the gerund is used after linking verbs which can be
followed by the preposition ‘like’):
The most exciting activity at camp is swimming in the lake.
The vicar was a charming elderly scholar whose principal pleasure was finding some apposite comment from the classics.
Talking to him was like playing upon an exquisite violin.
Part of a compound verbal predicate (the gerund is used after aspective
verbs such as ‘commence, finish, stop, keep (on), get, burst out, set about, etc.’ and a few verbs of motion or position such as ‘come, go, stand, etc.’, can’t help, intend, try, demand, need, want):
I almost burst out laughing when I saw what she was wearing.
If you carry on spending money like that, you’ll end up in debt.
The truck kept going and disappeared from view.
It’s time you got cracking on that assignment (inf.: start).
All the glasses came crashing onto the floor.
Two jet fighters went racing across the sky.
A man in a suit stood smoking in the doorway and looking out toward the river.
There is no unanimous approach to the function of the gerund as part of a compound verbal predicate after aspective verbs. Some argue that the gerund after such verbs is used as object.
The Object (the gerund is used after transitive verbs of saying, thinking,
liking, disliking, avoidance, necessity and some other verbs; transitive prepositional verbs or linking verbs which take adjectives followed by a preposition):
Davis admitted causing death by careless driving.
I want to avoid speaking to him.
Do you think I should risk sending him a letter?
I object to paying that much for milk.
Word had it that members of the gang planned on killing him before he could testify.
They’re responsible for cleaning the engine.
He’s clever at concealing his feelings about her.
The simple active gerund is common in this function; the simple passive
gerund is also possible but not so common:
Harvey was afraid of being detected making secret visits to Tessa.
She loves being inconvenienced and persecuted.
And this is the best table in the room. Good for seeing from. And being seen at.
The simple gerund denotes an action which is simultaneous with that of the finite verb:
I can’t bear seeing food thrown away.
Why do you insist on leaving your dirty clothes all over the floor?
I’m sick and tired of listening to you whine.
Or it is prior to the action expressed by the finite form of some particular verbs:
They were trying to please us but just succeeded in offending everyone.
‘Good,’ said Cecily lightly, ‘Thank you for coming.’ ‘I’m loving it. Thank you for asking me.’
The Perfect gerund is rare in this function but when used, it emphasizes the
idea of priority or does away with the ambiguity of a simple form:
He reported having seen Gorman pass his place that night.
Cassia tried and failed to remember Harry having used the word “sorry” during the past ten years.
The Attribute (the gerund always follows a noun with a preposition):
Why go to the trouble of washing them by hand?
Vaccination is one of the most effective methods for preventing disease.
Brownstein is an expert at cooking as well as gardening.
The use of a preposition is associated with the noun it follows. Some nouns require the use of ‘for’ (cause, excuse, gift, reason, etc.) after them, some – ‘in’ (advantage, experience, participation, etc.), some – ‘at’ (amazement, attempt, surprise, etc.), etc.:
My primary motivation behind buying a car was that I refused to be driven around town in a car with red and blue lights on top.
In most cases, it is the preposition ‘of’:
Rescuers refused to give up all hope of finding more survivors.
The simple gerund (active or passive) tends to express actions simultaneous with, occasionally preceding or following the action of the predicate verb:
He took great pleasure in pointing out my mistakes.
He had real cause to fear, first, for the privilege of being allowed to stay in this country, and then, later, for his own life.
They have adopted an alternative method of financing the scheme.
The perfect form is not often used in this function. However, it is used when
it is necessary to avoid ambiguity or focus on completeness or priority:
The vicar never required acknowledgement of his sonorous Latin, his pleasure in having found an apt quotation was its own reward.
That did not seem like reality, his guilt for having been cruel to Lucas when he was a child.