1.3. The Gerund.
The gerund is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb and the noun. Similar to the infinitive, it serves as the verbal name of a process, but its substantive quality is stronger than that of the infinitive as the gerund can be modified by a noun in the possessive case or its pronominal equivalents and it can be used with prepositions.
The formal sign of the gerund is homonymous with that of the present participle: it is the suffix -ing added to its grammatically (categorially) leading element.
The gerund is a categorially changeable/variable/demutative form; it has two grammatical categories, sharing them with the finite verb and the present participle:
the aspective category of retrospective coordination (perfect in opposition),
the category of voice (passive in opposition).
The categorial paradigm of the gerund of the objective verb includes four forms:
the simple active taking
the perfect active having taken
the simple passive being taken
the perfect passive having been taken
The gerundial paradigm of the non-objective verb includes two forms.
going having gone.
The perfect forms of the gerund are used, as a rule, only in semantically strong positions.
The combinability of the gerund is dual (noun and verb features):
1) verb-type combinability: it combines with nouns expressing the object of the action; modifying adverbs; certain semi-functional predicator verbs (other than modal).
2) noun-type combinability: with finite notional verbs as the object of the action; finite notional verbs as the prepositional adjunct of various functions; finite notional verbs as the subject of the action; nouns as the prepositional adjunct of various functions.
The syntactic features of the gerund: the subject, the object, the predicative, the attribute, the adverbial modifier.
1.4. The Present Participle
The present participle is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with those of the adjective and adverb. It serves as the qualifying-processual name.
The outer form of the present participle is homonymous with the gerund. It distinguishes the same grammatical categories of retrospective coordination and voice.
The present participle is triple in its lexico-grammatical properties, which is displayed in its combinability and syntactic functions.
Combinability:
verb-type combinability with 1) nouns expressing the object of the action; 2) nouns expressing the subject of the action (in semi-predicative complexes); 3) modifying adverbs; 4) auxiliary finite verbs (word-morphemes) in the analytical forms of the verb.
adjective-type combinability with 1) modified nouns, 2) some modifying adverbs (adverbs of degree).
adverb-type combinability with: modified verbs.
Syntactic functions:
It performs the functions of the predicative (occasional use, and not with the pure link be), the attribute, the adverbial modifier of various types.
It can build up semi-predicative complexes of objective and subjective types. A peculiar use of the present participle is seen in the absolute participial constructions of various types, forming complexes of detached semi-predication.