Герундиальный оборот

Когда перед герундием стоит одно из притяжательных местоимений (my, his, her, its, our, your, their) или существительное (неодушевленное – в общем падеже, одушевленное – в притяжательном – ‘s), он образует герундиальный оборот.

Герундиальный оборот, как и простой герундий, в предложении может выполнять любую функцию. На русский язык всегда переводится придаточным предложением, в котором подлежащим является притяжательное местоимение или существительное, стоящее перед герундием, а герундий переводится личной глагольной формой сказуемого.

Союз, которым присоединяется это придаточное предложение к главному, определяется по падежному вопросу к сказуемому. В основном, это такие союзы как: то, что; о том, чтобы; для того, чтобы; против того, чтобы и т.п.

• Her having left Moscow so unexpectedly surprised us very much. (подлежащее) – То, что она так неожиданно уехала из Москвы, нас очень удивило.

• The news of his having returned form the expedition is known to everybody (определение) – Новость о том, что он вернулся из экспедиции, известна всем.

• I rely upon his doing the work properly (предложное дополнение) – Я рассчитываю на то, что он выполнит работу как следует.

• She insisted on her husband’s being examined by a physician. – Она настаивала на том, чтобы ее мужа осмотрел терапевт.

Exercise 18. Determine the function of the Gerund in the following sentences and translate the sentences into Russian:

1. Einstain’s having been awarded the Nobel prize in physics soon became widely known.

2. However, he again ruled out the possibility of criminal charges being brought against any of the MPs, even if the committee were to find them guilty of “improper conduct”.

3. Russia has made it clear that аnу amendments to the SALT-2 treaty would not bе acceptablе, and would result in the agreement being scrapped, leading to а new spiral of the nuclear arms raсе.

4. In Bangkok and Calcutta, efforts to restrict the supply of opium have resulted in drug users injecting heroin instead.

5. If the Russian forces should leave, we have по objections to their place being taken bу Caucasian peacekeeping contingents, and particularly bу the Confederation of Caucasian Peoples.

Exercise19. READER.

English meals

An Englishman's day begins when he sits down to breakfast with his morning paper. As he scans the headlines there is nothing he likes better than his favourite breakfast of cornflakes with milk and sugar or bacon and eggs, toast and marmelade, tea or coffee.

Round about 11 in the morning some Englishmen who work have their tea or coffee break. They never call it a meal, of course. Tea or coffee is usually brought to the factory bench or office desk.

Then at mid-day, everything is stopped for lunch. Most offices and small shops are closed for an hour, say, from 1 to 2, and the city pavements are full of people on their way to cafes. Factory workers usually eat in their canteens.

The usual mid-day meal consists of two courses. First a meat course is served with plenty of vegetables. It may be potatoes, peas, beans, cabbage or cauliflower. This is followed by a sweet dish, perhaps fruit pudding with tea to follow.

Most Englishmen like what they call “good plain food”. Usually it is steaks, chops, roastbeef, Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips.

They are not over-fond of soup. It doesn’t leave enough room for the more important meat courses. Those who eat home (dine in) usually call their mid-day meal dinner and make it the substantial one of the day. It consists of three or four courses.

The first course is soup. Then comes fish or meat served with various vegetables. As a change they sometimes eat chicken or duck. Then the table is cleared and laid for dessert. This is jelly or fruit: apples, pears, oranges, plumps and nuts.

In the afternoon, at about five o'clock nearly everybody has tea. It is a cup of tea with bread-and-butter and cakes or biscuits.

Assignments to the text.