1.4. The gerund vs other non-finite forms

Criteria

Gerund

Infinitive

1. DOUBLE NATURE

+

+

Nominal properties

Similar

The same syntactical functions (the Subject, the Predicative, the Direct Object, The Attribute, The Adverbial Modifiers of Purpose, Manner and Attended Circumstances)

different

1. The Gerund can be proceeded by PREPOSITION

2. The Gerund can be modified by POSSESSIVE PRONOUN or NOUN IN THE POSSESSIVE CASE

3. The Gerund can be modified by POSSESSIVE PRONOUN or NOUN IN THE POSSESSIVE CASE

4. The Gerund can be modified by POSSESSIVE PRONOUN + NOUN or NOUN+ NOUN combinations

Verbal properties

similar

the categories of tense, aspect and voice

The SIMPLE Gerund Active and Passive expresses actions simultaneous with the action of the finite verb, and may refer to the present, past or future

The PERFECT Gerund Active and Passive express actions prior to the action of the finite verb

different

1. The Gerund of the transitive verb can take THE DIRECT OBJECT

2. The Gerund can be modified by an ADVERB

2.FORMS

4 (2 active; 2 passive)

6 (4 active; 2 passive)

Active

different

Doing(simple)

Having done ( perfect)

To do(simple)

To be doing (continuous)

To have done (perfect)

Passive

different

Being done (simple)

Having been done (perfect)

To be done (simple)

To have been done (perfect)

3. USAGE

Perfect

different

After verbs REMEMBER, EXCUSE, FORGIVE, THANK + prepositions ON, UPON, AFTER, WITHOUT the prior action is expressed by SIMPLУ GERUND

e.g. I don’t REMEMBER hearing the legend before. — Я не помню, чтобы СЛЫШАЛ эту легенду раньше

After verbs MEAN, EXPECT INTEND, HOPE (taken in the Past Simple) the PERFECT Infinitive shows that the hope or intention wasn’t carried out.

e.g. I meant to have gone there. — Я собирался туда пойти (но не пошел)

No perfect form in the Complex Object after verbs of sense perception

Passive Voice

different

After verbs NEED, WANT, DESERVE, REQUIRE + adjective WORTH, the gerund ACTIVE is used to express THE PASSIVE MEANING.

e.g. The child deserves praising – Ребенок заслуживает того, чтобы его похвалили.

No passive meaning

a) in the Complex Object(verbs of sense perception)

b) with causative verbs have, get, let

c) in the Continuous and Perfect continuous

4. FUNCTIONS

The Subject, the Predicative, The Object, The Attribute, The Adverbial Modifiers.

The Subject

similar

Taking first position in the sentence

Just gerund(infinitive)

e.g. To do morning exercise is healthy = Doing morning exercises is healthy.

The Predicative

(compound nominal predicate)

different

1. to be like+ Gerund

2. feel like+ Gerund

3. mean+ Gerund

To be+ inf

To be+adj+ inf

ThePredicative

(compound verbal modal predicate)

different

1. Intend+ Gerund

2. Cant help + gerund

1. modal verb+ inf)

2. had better + inf

3) would rather + inf

Predicative

(compound verbal aspect predicate)

similar

Verbs of beginning, duration and end of acton + the verbal;

Direct object

different

Admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, cant help, cant stand, cant bear, consider, delay, deny, dislike, enjoy, excuse, feel like, finish, forgive, give, imagine, keep on, mention, mind, miss postpone, prevent, put off, resent, resist, risk, suggest

1) After verbs denoting sense perception

2) After verbs denoting mental activity such as to know, to think, to consider, to believe, to suppose, to expect, to imagine,

3) After verbs of declaring: to pronounce, to declare, to report.

4). After verbs denoting wish and intention: to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend, etc.

5). After verbs and expressions denoting emotions: to like, to dislike, to love, to hate, cannot bear

Propositional object

different

1. After the following verbs

Aim at, apologize to smb for smth, complain about, count on, (dis)approve of, dream of, forget about, insist on, look forward to, object to, persist in, put up with, rely on, succeed in, think of\ about; worry about, accuse of, blame smb for, congratulate smb on, discourage smb from, forgive smb for, prevent smb from, suspect smb of, threaten smb with;

2. After the following adjectives

Angry with; annoyed at; ashamed of; concerned about; content with; delighted at; excited about; famous for; fond of; good at; grateful for; grateful to smb for smth; (in)capable of; interested in; (dis)pleased with; responsible for; sorry about; sure of\about; surprised at; tired of; to be \get used to; worried about;

Attribute

different

After the following nouns:

The custom of ; to have difficulty in; excuse for; aal in favour of; for fear of; in the habit of; harm in; the idea of; interest in; to take the precaution of; point in; the prospect of; reason for; to run the risk of; the thought of; the way of;

1) indefinite pronouns+ inf (some, any, no + derivatives, much, little, one)

2)nouns+ inf

3. ordinal numerals + inf (+the last, the next, the only)

3. adjective in the superlative degree+ inf the best, the youngest)

Adverbial modifiers

different

1)Time (after, before, on, upon, in, at + gerund)

2) Manner (by, in + gerund)

3) Condition(without(=

if) + gerund)

4) Cause ( for, for fear of, owning to +gerund)

5)Concession (in spite of+gerund)

6) Purpose (for+ gerund)

7) Attendant circumstances

without + gerund)

1)Result

Too+adj(adj+ enough)+ inf

2) Comparison

As if + inf

3) Purpose In order to, so that+inf

4) Attendant circumstances

Specific translation

5. VERBAL CONSTRUCTIONS

Different

1. The gerundial Complex Object

2. The gerundial Complex Subject

1) The for-to Infinitive construction

2)The Complex Object

3) The Complex Subject

6. VERBS

With both verbals

begin, start, end, finish

2)Allow, encourage, permit, recommend +gerund

2) Allow, encourage, permit, recommend +object+ inf

With both but in different meanings

1. TRY DOING (make an experiment to find out how

some new method works)

E. g. To keep fit, he tried jogging.

TRY TO DO(make an effort; make an attempt)

Many people tried to keep fit.

2. LIKE DOING (as the whole process, taken in general)

e.g. I like studying English =

LIKE TO DO (the activity taken separately)

I like to read English books, to watch English programmes, to write essays, to discuss different points, etc

3. HATE DOING (the process or activity)

e.g. I hate eating fish and working hard.

HATE TO DO (conversational formulas)

I hate to say I won’t be able to join you tomorrow.

4. PREFER DOING (as the general statement)

e.g. I prefer drinking coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings

PREFER TO DO (as a separately taken occasion)

But I prefer not to drink it tonight.

5. CONTINUE DOING (without breaks)

e.g. She continued complaining about her misfortunes, I started to think she will never leave me in peace.

CONTINUE TO DO

(periodically)

They continued to return to this discussion again and again.

6. PROPOSE DOING (idea)

e.g. Jack proposed opening the window to get some fresh air.

7. CAN(CAN’T) AFFORD DOING(physically, in general)= NEGLECT

We cant afford flying to Paris for breakfast.

PROPOSE TO DO (=offer a material object)

Mary proposed to buy a book as a Christmas present.

CAN(CAN’T) AFFORD TO DO(at the very moment)

I cant afford to buy these shoes, but I will do that next week.

8. REGRET DOING(feel sorry about having said or done something in the past).

I regret having gone yesterday without a word.

REGRET TO DO (conversational formulas)

I regret to say this but you cant pretend on this post.

9. REMEMBER DOING

(that have already done something)

e.g. Не remembers paying the bill. Он помнит, что оплатил счет.

REMEMBER TO DO

(not forger to do)

Не always remembers to pay his bills. Он никогда не забывает оплатить счета

10. FORGET DOING

(an action is forgotten after it takes place)

e.g. I forgot posting the letter.

Я забыл, что отправил письмо.

FORGET TO DO

(the action doesn't take _place)

I forgot to post the letter.

Я забыл отправить письмо.

11. STOP DOING

(interrupt an action at all)

e.g. Не stopped buying newspapers. Он перестал покупать газеты

STOP TO DO

(stop for the purpose of accomplishing a task)

Не stopped to buy a newspaper. Он остановился, чтобы купить газету.

12. MEAN DOING

(with an impersonal subject

only!)

e.g. Getting this job would mean getting up early.

Если согласиться на эту работу, придется вставать рано.

MEAN TO DO

(intend to do something)

I meant to get up early.

Я собирался встать рано.

13. GO ON DOING

(continue doing the same thing)

e.g. Не went on studying medicine though his father objected.

Он продолжал изучать медицину, несмотря на возражения отца.

GO ON TO DO

(finish to change the activity)

On graduating from high school he went on to study at Harvard. Окончив школу, он продолжил учебу в Гарварде.

14. TO BE AFRAID DOING

(to be afraid that what is referred to what (gerund) may happen

e.g. I am afraid of being asked this question

Я боюсь, что мне зададут этот вопрос

TO BE AFRAID TO DO

(not to have courage to do something)

I am afraid to ask her this question.

Я не решаюсь задать ей этот вопрос.

15. TO BE ASHAMED DOING

(to feel ashamed because of

already done)

I am ashamed of borrowing money again.

Мне стыдно, что я снова занял деньги.

TO BE ASHAMED TO DO

(to feel ashamed but still do)

I am ashamed to borrow money. Мне стыдно брать деньги взаймы

With one of the Verbals only

Admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, cant help, cant stand, cant bear, consider, delay, deny, dislike, enjoy, excuse, feel like, finish, forgive, give, imagine, keep on, mention, mind, miss postpone, prevent, put off, resent, resist, risk, suggest;

Aim at, apologize to smb for smth, complain about, count on, (dis)approve of, dream of, forget about, insist on, look forward to, object to, persist in, put up with, rely on, succeed in, think of\ about; worry about, accuse of, blame smb for, congratulate smb on, discourage smb from, forgive smb for, prevent smb from, suspect smb of, threaten smb with;

Cant (can) afford, agree, appear, arrange, attempt, claim, decide, demand, expect, fail, happen, hope, learn (how to do smth, manage, need(=must), offer, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, tend, turn out, threaten, want, wish