II. Grammar: the Gerund and Structures with the Gerund

1) The gerund as a subject:

Launching a new product is always costly. Keeping ahead of competitors is a difficult task.

2) There is no use / sense/ point (in) doing it (нет пользы, смысла, необходимости делать ч-л)

There is no use asking the management for help. (Бесполезно просить администрацию о помощи). There is no point in undertaking this program. (В организации этой программы нет смысла).

3) Start/ begin/ continue/ go on/ keep on/ stop/ finish + doing smth

Shareholders started negotiating the CEO’s pay package. The company continues participating in this controversial court case.

4) avoid

enjoy, love, (dis)like, hate

suggest doing smth

consider

mind ( в отриц. и вопрос. предл-х)

We are trying to avoid hiring inexperienced workers. The remuneration committee suggests reconsidering the size of the severance deal. I hate saying it, but are you sure you’ll be able to meet the deadlines? Do you mind answering some questions? We don’t mind your arranging the meeting.

5) be worth doing smth

The risk of causing the shareholders’ discontent is not worth taking.

6) succeed in (преуспеть в)

object to (возражать)

insist on (настаивать на)

look forward to (с нетерпением ожидать ч-л) doing smth

thank for (благодарить за)

think of (думать о)

warn against (предупреждать о)

The company succeeded in underselling the rivals. We do not object to striking this deal. The head of the department insists on extending the deadline.

7) be good at (хорошо разбираться в ч-л)

be interested in (быть заинтересованным в ч-л)

be afraid of (бояться ч-л)

be responsible for (быть ответственным за ч-л)

be tired of ( устать от ч-л) doing smth

be proud of (гордиться ч-л)

be sure of (быть уверенным в ч-л)

be surprised at (удивиться ч-л)

Our company is interested in expanding its business. We are sure of succeeding. He is good at negotiating. CEOs are responsible for earning bigger profits for their companies.

8) The idea / hope/ thought/ way of doing smth

We left the idea of doubling our profits this year. They discussed different ways of joining the campaign.

9) Without doing smth

He went to the meeting without saying a word about it to anyone. (Он пошел на собрание, не сказав об этом никому).

10)* Compare: the Gerund and the Verbal Noun (отглагольное существительное):

Conducting a feasibility study is important. || The conducting of a feasibility study is important.