The gerund

NOMINAL

VERBAL

a) It can perform the functions of

subject, object and predicative

e.g. Seeing is believing.

(seeing – subject; believing- predicative)

He remembered posting the letter. (object)

b) It can be preceded by a preposition but not followed by it,

5. e.g. May insisted on calling Dick.

6. Learning foreign language is a difficult job.

c) It can be modified by a noun in the

possessive case or a possessive

pronoun,

e.g. Excuse my interrupting you.

Excuse John’s interrupting you.

4. It can perform the functions of attribute and adverbial modifier,

e.g. There is a chance of finding him in.

(attribute)

Remember to turn off the gas before leaving the house. (adv. modifier of time)

1. It can take a direct or prepositional object,

e.g. She avoided meeting him. (direct)

Mr. Black thought of leaving the town. (prepositional)

2. It can be modified by an adverb

e.g. Peter enjoys reading books slowly and thoroughly.

3. It has the category of voice,

e.g. I hate interrupting people. (active)

I hate being interrupted. (passive)

4. It has the category of correlation,

e.g. There is some hope of catching the last train. (non-perfect/common)

Paul remembered having caught the last train. (perfect)

CORRELATION

VOICE

ACTIVE

PASSIVE

NON-PERFECT (INDEFINITE/

COMMON)

I remember taking my sister to the theatre for the first time.

I remember being taken to the theatre by my parents for the first time.

PERFECT

Ted entered without having knocked at the door.

The door opened without having been knocked on.