The adverbial modifier of time
Due to the meaning of the prepositions preceding the gerund it may indicate:
priority (after, on/upon, since);
After taking a few steps about the room Tom blinked and looked away. Сделав несколько шагов по комнате, Том моргнул и посмотрел в сторону.
On recognizing the servant I whistled softly to him. Узнав слугу, я тихонько ему свистнул. In this case on denotes immediate priority.
I’ve called him several times since coming home. Я уже звонил ему несколько раз с тех пор, как вернулся домой.
simultaneity (in, at);
In crossing the street one should be careful. Переходя улицу, надо быть осторожным. (При переходе улицы...)
At hearing some steps Robert turned round. Услышав какие-то шаги, Роберт повернулся.
posterity (before).
She stared at him for several seconds in disbelief, before speaking to Tom. He веря своим глазам, она несколько секунд смотрела на Тома, прежде чем заговорила с ним.
In this function the gerund may be replaced by participle I:
Hearing the steps Robert turned round.
While crossing the street one should be careful.
Having sent them a telex we expected them to come.
In this case there can be no preposition, but the conjunctions while or when are possible.
Exercise 102. A. Point out the gerund or the gerundial phrase used as adverbial modifier of time. Note the prepositions preceding the adverbial modifier of time and say whether the gerund following it denotes priority, simultaneity or posterity. Translate the sentences into Russian.
Before giving him a call think the whole matter over. Прежде чем позвонить ему, все обдумай. Перед тем как ... (posterity)
After having a talk with him, give me a ring. После разговора с ним ... После того как ты поговоришь с ним, ... Поговорив с ним, ... (priority)
At seeing the sweets in her mother’s hands the girl smiled. Когда девочка увидела конфеты ... Увидев ..., (simultaneity)
1.
After coming back home she had a snack and then a nap. 2. Switch on
the signal before turning left. 3. He stopped talking immediately on
hearing her voice. 4. Since getting his last letter we haven’t
heard from him. 5. In crossing the street look out. 6. At seeing the
policeman he ran downstairs to open the door. 7. Before sending
her daughter to Germany she asked her friends to look after her
there. 8. The Hindu vegetarian impressed me and after talking with
him I decided to become a vegetarian too. 9. Think twice before
accepting this proposal. 10. At hearing his father’s steps he
rushed out to meet him. 11. After failing his first year exam at
university, he moved away to a small town in the South. 12. Since
riding a horse when a boy he hasn’t done it again. 13. On finding
the right paper she got the necessary information.
B. Choose the sentences where a gerund used as adverbial modifier of time indicates: 1) priority, 2) simultaneity, 3) posterity.
1. At seeing him in Moscow I could hardly recognize him. 2. On entering the sports club I saw my old friend. 3. Since selling his dog her grandpa has never had any pets. 4. Before digging his garden he bought some rare kinds of roses and apple-trees. 5. In telling tales about his pals he was never ashamed. 6. After being warned of possible danger they may try to avoid it. 7. On hearing his enemy he felt his heart leap with terror. 8. Since working in a shop she has changed several jobs.
Exercise 103. Paraphrase the following sentences. Replace participle I by an adverbial modifier of time expressed by a gerund or a gerundial phrase.
MODEL: While crossing that bridge one has to walk and not drive. – In crossing that bridge one has to walk, and not drive.
1. Turning the light on he saw a stranger in the room. 2. Hearing the song she remembered her childhood. 3. While watching the comedy they laughed a lot. 4. Having heated the boiler she took a bath. 5. When listening to the radio he was interested mostly in news programmes. 6. Having found the house he rang the doorbell. 7. Switching off the television he went to bed. 8. Having taken the medicine the old woman felt much better. 9. While talking with him she felt excited. 10. Having thought for a moment the man agreed to lend me a hand. 11. Seeing that the strap of her roller skate was loose she bent down and tightened it.
Exercise
104.
Translate
the sentences into Russian. Note the gerundial construction used as
adverbial modifier of time. Note that the nominal element of the
construction denoting the doer of the action doesn’t coincide with
the subject of the sentence.
MODEL: Before his going to the club she asked him to come back as soon as possible. Перед тем как он пошел в клуб, она попросила его вернуться как можно скорее.
1. Before her being sent a fax they usually send her a contract by mail. 2. After Tim’s meeting Leslie in Africa she travelled all over the world. 3. On my coming back from work my wife gave me a strange letter. 4. Since my seeing him when I was a little boy he has never appeared. 5. After Nick travelling to Europe his life changed a lot. 6. Before our buying a big black poodle they offered us a toy poodle. 7. After their getting divorced their elder son married and lived on his own. 8. You can take him for a long walk to get some peace and quiet after his working on his PC for hours on end. 9. Since their going on expeditions to the Urals he has been to Mount Everest twice.
Exercise 105. Say what you haven’t done since ... Denote the starting point of an action by an adverbial modifier of time expressed by the preposition since + a gerund, a gerundial phrase or a gerundial construction.
MODEL: I haven’t seen my classmate since ... I haven’t seen my classmate since her calling on me a year ago.