- •Contents
- •The infinitive
- •1. The forms and categories of the Infinitive. The use of ‘to’-Infinitive and the Bare Infinitive. ‘To’ without the Infinitive.
- •Exercises
- •2. The Infinitive in the function of the Subject
- •Exercises
- •3. The Infinitive in the function of Part of the Predicate
- •Exercises
- •4. The Infinitive in the function of Object
- •Exercises
- •5. The Infinitive in the function of Attribute
- •Exercises
- •6. The Infinitive in the function of Adverbial Modifier and Parenthesis
- •Exercises
- •Of purpose:
- •Of consequence:
- •7. The Complex Object, the For-Complex and the Complex Subject
- •The Complex Object
- •The Complex Subject
- •Exercises
- •Revision of the Infinitive
- •I meant to call
- •Test yourself Test on the Infinitive
- •State the functions of the Infinitive.
- •Paraphrase the sentences using the Infinitive.
- •Find and correct an error.
- •Translate into English.
- •(Keys, p.125) the gerund
- •8. The forms and categories of the Gerund.
- •Exercises
- •9. The Gerund in the functions of Subject, Predicative, Part of Compound Verbal Predicate.
- •Exercises
- •Translate into English:
- •10. The Gerund in the function of Object.
- •Exercises
- •Direct Object:
- •Prepositional Object:
- •11. The Gerund in the function of Attribute
- •Exercises
- •12. The Gerund in the function of Adverbial Modifier
- •Exercises
- •The alternative use of the Infinitive and the Gerund. The Gerund and the Verbal Noun.
- •13. The choice between the Gerund and the Infinitive after some Verbs.
- •Exercises
- •14. The Gerund and the Verbal Noun compared.
- •Exercise
- •Revision of the Gerund
- •The Titanic
- •Test yourself Test on the Gerund
- •I. Define the function of underlined gerunds.
- •II. Complete these sentences with the correct preposition and a verb form to express the ideas in brackets. Make all necessary changes.
- •III. Find and correct errors.
- •IV. Translate the sentences into English.
- •V. Read the news items below and complete what you might say using the gerunds:
- •(Keys, p.126) the participles
- •15. The forms and categories of the Participles
- •Exercises
- •16. Participles in the functions of Attribute, Predicative, and Parenthesis.
- •17. Participles in the Functions of Adverbial Modifier.
- •Exercises
- •Attribute:
- •Predicative:
- •Adverbial modifier:
- •Parenthesis:
- •18. Participle I and the Gerund compared.
- •Exercises
- •19. Complex Object with the Participles
- •20. Complex Subject with the Participles
- •21. Absolute Participial Constructions
- •Exercises
- •Revision of the Participles
- •Test yourself Test on Participles
- •I State the functions of the Participles:
- •II Paraphrase the sentences using Participial constructions (where possible):
- •III Translate into English. Mind the use of Participles:
- •IV Translate into Russian:
- •(Keys, p.127) Revision of the Verbals
- •I. State the functions of the Infinitive.
- •II. Paraphrase the sentences using the Infinitive.
- •III. Find and correct an error.
- •IV. Translate into English.
- •I. Define the function of underlined gerunds.
- •II. Complete these sentences with the correct preposition and a verb form to express the ideas in brackets.
- •III. Find and correct errors.
- •IV. Translate the sentences into English.
- •I State the functions of the Participles:
- •II Paraphrase the sentences using Participial constructions (where possible):
- •III Translate into English:
- •IV Translate into Russian:
11. The Gerund in the function of Attribute
11.0. In the function of Attribute GER modifies nouns and is positioned either in front of the noun or after it.
11.1. Mainly abstract nouns are modified by GER with prepositions (mostly of), e.g.
The composition of poetry differs from that of prose in the manner of mixing long and short syllables together. One of the means of pacifying a baby is feeding it. I am deeply interested in mental problems – and I am not without some skill in solving them. She was a mistress of the art of dressing well yet inexpensively. She had a style of luxury far above her own manner of living.
The GER modifying abstract nouns discloses their meaning by saying what kind of manner/art/chance, etc. is described.
The choice for the preposition may be determined by the requirements of the N, i.e. due to its lexical meaning or derivational relation to a V or an Adj. Here are some useful examples:
Art, manner, fear, awareness, chance, purpose, means, need, capability, intention, opportunity |
of |
skill, experience, interest |
in |
capacity, talent, hope |
for |
anger, annoyance, nervousness |
about |
surprise, amazement |
at |
keenness |
on |
objection |
to |
satisfaction |
with |
apology, excuse, thankfulness |
for |
precaution |
against |
method |
of/for |
|
|
11.2. Single Gerunds modifying concrete nouns are mostly used in front of them: running shoes (=shoes for running), a dancing lesson (=a lesson of dancing), a boiling kettle (=a kettle for boiling water), a smoking car (=a railway car for smokers), a driving test (a test in driving), etc.
One can come across abstract nouns with the GER preceding it, e.g. teaching experience, shooting skills, speaking abilities, etc.
Note that only single Gerunds can precede the modified nouns, not the gerundial phrases: *teaching young children experience is ungrammatical and should be rephrased as experience in teaching young children.
The difference in the use of gerunds and participles in the function of Attr. will be observed in discussing the Participle (e.g. such phrases as dancing couples/dancing lesson, a boiling kettle/boiling water, etc.).
Exercises
Ex.1. COMPLETE the following sentences using the Gerund in the function of the Attribute. MIND the prepositions:
1. There was no opportunity … . 2. The hope … disappeared. 3. You robbed me of the pleasure … . 4. If we put our heads together we can decide on the best method … . 5. Mrs. Emerson was always full of objections … . And we had to agree. 6. I have the impression … . I didn’t mean that. 7. Naturally I had no intention … . 8. The idea … didn’t appeal to me at all. 9. His habit … irritated Carter. 10. I appreciate her art … .
Ex.2. STATE whether the Gerund is used in the objective or attributive function. TRANSLATE the sentences into Russian:
1. She might have been in the habit of marrying as frequently as a woman of fashion. 2. I couldn’t help feeling a pang as I thought of all the years that had passed since I inhabited that room and of all that had happened to me. 3. To tell you the truth, I was thinking of coming out to visit you for a few days, if you have time. 4. There didn’t seem to be much advantage in standing there waiting for Mrs. Bradley. 5. I didn’t like to run the risk of being seen with people whom my uncle and aunt wouldn’t at all approve of. 6. You see, I don’t wonder at your asking that. 7. You see, Messieurs, the best way of hiding a thing is by sending it away by the post. 8. From her childhood upward Ruth Van Aldin had been accustomed to having her own way. 9. Silas was looking forward to finding the keystone and giving it to the teacher. 10. It was a wolf manner of fighting, to strike and leap away.
Ex.3. TRANSLATE the sentences using the Gerund in the function of Attribute:
1. Я ненавижу даже саму мысль о том, что кто-нибудь может пожертвовать собой ради меня. 2. Только страх остаться совсем одной в этом огромном, неуютном доме заставил ее вернуться к Тому. 3. Мысль о том, что ему пришлось солгать, не давала Дику покоя. 4. У Салли исчезла последняя надежда получить хоть какие-нибудь деньги за последние непроданные цветы. 5. У нее странная манера разговаривать с людьми – надменно, холодно, безразлично. 6. Сейчас не время выяснять отношения. 7. Когда у меня появится возможность перечитать русскую классическую литературу, я обязательно это сделаю. 8. Эмма обладала несомненным талантом превращать самые пустяковые ситуации в огромную неразрешимую проблему. 9. Всякий раз, когда у неё возникали проблемы по поводу воспитания детей, она обращалась за советом к Майку. 10. Его неспособность мыслить логично и при этом настаивать на своем мнении раздражала всех.