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Predicative Constructions with the Gerund

Like all the verbals the gerund can form predicative constructions, i.e. constructions in which the verbal element expressed by the gerund is in predicate relation to the nominal element expressed by a noun or a pronoun, e.g.:

I don’t like your going off without any money.

Note: Some grammarians recognize the existence of the two separate constructions:

the Gerundial Construction – the nominal element of which is expressed by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun and

the Half-Gerundial Construction – the nominal element of which is expressed by a noun in the common case, a pronoun in the objective case, or a pronoun which has no case distinctions.

The nominal element of the construction can be expressed in different ways:

1. by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun, e.g.:

Do you mind Jack’s (his) smoking?

I insist on Mary’s (her) going there.

The Gerundial Construction

2. by a noun in the common case, e.g.:

#Fancy David courting Emily!

The Half-Gerundial Construction

Note: Thus in Modern English there are two parallel constructions of the type:

Fancy David’s courting Emily!

Fancy David courting Emily!

3. by a pronoun in the objective case, e.g.:

I hope you will forgive me disturbing you.

The Half-Gerundial Construction

4. by a pronoun which has no case distinctions, such as all, this, that, both, each, something, e.g.:

I insist on both of them coming.

The Half-Gerundial Construction

A gerundial construction is nearly always rendered in Russian by a subordinate clause, generally introduced by те, що; тим, що; як, etc.

His being a foreigner, an ex-enemy, was bad enough.

Her thoughts were interrupted at last, by the door opening gently.

I began to picture to myself … my being found dead in a day or two, under some hedge.

Functions of the (Half)-Gerundial Constructions

Complex subject:

Your going there won’t help much.

It was quite unexpected his coming back so soon.

Complex predicative:

What annoyed me most of all was his accepting their proposal quite readily.

Complex direct object

Do you mind my opening the window?

Complex prepositional object

I rely on your coming in time.

Complex attribute

I don’t like the idea of our living here.

Complex adverbial modifier of time

Fix everything before my leaving the town.

Complex adverbial modifier of condition

There’s no teaching at school without your loving children.

Complex adverbial modifier of cause

They couldn’t come to an agreement because of his being stubborn.

He felt better for Mary’s having written the letter.

Complex adverbial modifier of attending circumstances

That’s where we can talk without anybody’s hearing.

Complex adverbial modifier of concession

In spite of it being cold, we went for a walk.

Complex adverbial modifier of manner

He was wakened by someone knocking at the door.

Complex adverbial modifier of comparison

She was not sure why it was so awful, even more awful than Hugh’s knowing that she had returned.

Infinitive or gerund

NOTE

INFINI-TIVE

VERB

GERUND

NOTE

= wish, have a desire

I want to have a haircut.

WANT

My hair wants cutting.

= require, be in need of

= to be + Ven

The subject

= be under a necessity or obligation

He didn’t need to be remind -ed about it.

NEED

This chapter needs rewriting.

= want,

require

of the

sen-tence is mostly lifeless.

= demand, insist upon as a right or by authority (often passive)

You are required to be there by nine o’clock.

REQUIRE

This flat requires whitewashing.

= need, depend on for success, fulfillment, etc.

= intend, have in mind as a purpose or plan; “to have + Ven” is used to denote an action which was not carried out in the past

I meant to leave tomor-row.

I meant to have left yesterday but fell ill.

MEAN

This illness will mean going to hospital. It’ll require that treatment.

= signify

= run that risk, be in a position where one is likely to win

What do we stand to gain by the agreement?

STAND

She can’t stand being kept waiting.

= can’t bear, endure

= don’t want

I hate to trouble you.

HATE

She hates getting to the theatre late.

= can’t bear, have a strong dislike on/for smth.

a particular/singular action

I’d like to go to the South this year.

LIKE

PREFER

I like going to the South each year.

= a general/ recurrent action

= worried, filled with apprehension

She is afraid to wake her husband. He may get angry.

BE AFRAID

She is afraid of waking her husband. He is ill.

= doubtful/anxious about the consequences

= want to do very much, have a great desire

I am anxious to hear your news.

BE ANXIOUS

I am anxious about leaving Jimmy alone in the house.

= afraid of the consequences

= attempt, use one’s utmost efforts; “try + to V” is often replaced by “try and + Vinf”, esp. in the Imperative.

Try to behave better. Try and behave better.

TRY

Try knocking at the back door if nobody hears you at the front door.

= make that experiment and see whether it is satisfactory

= put an end to the movement or progress of a person, thing, activity for some purpose

We stopped to have a talk.

STOP

We stopped talking.

= cease, give up

The action of the Infinitive takes place after the act of remembering, forgetting, or regretting.

Remem-ber to close the window.

I forgot to close the window before leaving.

I regret to inform you that it is impossible.

REMEM-BER

FORGET

REGRET

Do you remember closing the window before leaving?

I shall never forget closing that window. I broke it.

I bitterly regret having told her that.

The action of the Gerund took place before the act of remembering, forgetting, or regretting.

= having + Ven

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