GRAMMAR. A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun

1.Study the following rules.

Gerund

A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. It has both nominal and verbal properties.

The nominal characteristics of the gerund are as follows:

1.In the sentence the gerund can be used as subject, object, predicative:

as subject: Travelling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

as direct object: They do not appreciate my singing.

as the complement of the verb 'to be': The hardest thing about learning English is understanding the gerund.

2.The gerund can be used with a preposition (before writing, after writing)

3.It can be modified by a possessive pronoun (Mary’s coming) or a noun in the possessive case (His reading the letter was a mistake).

The verbal characteristics of the gerund are as follows:

1.The gerund can take a direct object (writing a letter)

2. It can be modified by an adverb (writing slowly, speaking fast)

3. The gerund has tense and voice forms:

Tenses of the Gerund
	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Present	offering	being offered
Perfect	having offered	having been offered

The Gerund is used:

1.as a noun

Eating vegetables is good for your health.

2.after certain verbs (admit (to), avoid, consider, continue, delay, deny, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy, finish, forgive, imagine, involve, look forward to, mention, mind, miss, object to, practise, prevent, report, resist, risk, save, stand, suggest, understand etc)

He admitted (to) stealing the painting.

3.after love, like, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer (to express general preference)

He likes cooking (in general).

4.after I’m busy, it’s no use, it’s (no) good, it’s (not) worth, what’s the use of, can’t help, there’s no point (in), can’t stand, be/get used to, be/get accustomed to, have difficulty (in)

It’s no use complaining.

5.after “go” for physical activities

They go skiing every winter.

6.after spend/waste time

He wasted his time playing video games.

7.after prepositions

He entered without knocking at the door.

Complexes with the Gerund

A gerundial complex consists of a noun in the Possessive Case or a possessive pronoun and a gerund which stands in predicate relation to the noun or pronoun. The first part of the gerundial complex can also be expressed by a noun in the Common Case or a personal pronoun in the Objective Case.

They told us of Mary’s coming here.

Do you mind my smoking?

I object to Jane going out on such a windy day.

2.Define the form, noun and verb characteristics of the gerund. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1.He could work all day not feeling tired.

2.Hunting takes a lot of qualities.

3.It’s no good taking advantage of people’s weakness.

4.I don’t mind being helped by my sister.

5.She felt better for having spoken frankly.

6.He gave up smoking last year.

7.He disliked being disturbed after dinner.

8.I remembered having met him at the station.

9.Writing quickly tires my hand.

10.He was good at gathering mushrooms.

3.Complete the sentences using the gerund of the following words: eat, follow, increase, lend, meet, smoke, speak, travel.

1.The Prime Minister said he was looking forward to..... the US President.

2.He should be accustomed by now to..... English food.

3.Do you think your father would object to..... me some money?

4.He said he wasn’t used to..... in public.

5.He tried to limit himself to..... ten cigarettes a day.

6.Manufacturers were asked to devote all their energies to..... exports.

7.We won’t join you. My wife doesn’t feel up to..... so far.

8.The committee could see no alternative to..... the plan in its original form.

4.Fill in the appropriate form of the gerund.

1.I can’t help (feel) worried about the situation in the Middle East.

2.I think most people prefer (ride) in comfortable cars (walk).

3.She loves (swim) in the lake.

4.There’s no (deny) that he enjoys (listen) to his own voice.

5.Don’t keep on (shout) like that; you will wake up your mother.

6.I enjoy (rest) in the afternoon after (try) to finish (do) my English homework.

7.She likes (begin) pieces of knitting but hates (finish) them.

8.I dread (take) examinations for fear of (fail).

9.I couldn’t resist (buy) the lovely apples.

10.I wouldn’t miss (see) that lovely film for the world!

5.Choose the correct variant.

1.My big grey cat Fluffy is good..... catching mice.

a)to; b)at; c)in

2.David found a small frog..... walking near the pond in his garden.

a)by; b)without; c)while

3.Len was looking out of the window..... listening to what his wife was saying.

a)instead of; b)through; c)by

4.Helen seemed genuinely pleased..... seeing me.

a)with; b)at; c)on

5.I wish the weather would get better. I am tired..... having to be indoors all the time.

a)about; b)at; c)of

6.It started to drizzle and we hoped it would cease soon, but..... stopping the rain increased.

a)for; b)instead of; c)by

7...... looking out of the window, they noticed a fire in the opposite building.

a)after; b)on; c)at

8.Lorna intended to help him..... lending him some money.

a)on; b)while; c)through

9.She was a motherly soul. She asked me to come in and insisted..... my taking a cup of tea with the family.

a)in; b)on; c)at

10.He is fond ….. cracking jokes.

a)of; b)in; c)at

6.Paraphrase the following sentences using the gerund.

1.I want very much to get a letter from you. (I am looking forward to.....)

2.It gave me much pleasure to see this performance. (I enjoyed.....)

3.I am sorry that I trouble you. (Excuse me for.....)

4.I am sorry that I went home without waiting for you. (Excuse me for.....)

5.I was his student and I am proud of it. (I am proud of.....)

6.They went home. They did not wait for me. (They went home without......)

7.I translated the text. I did not use the dictionary. (I translated the text without.....)

8.I was busy. I was preparing my report. (I was busy.....)

9.This book is interesting. I advise you to read it. (This book is worth.....)

10.She insisted that she should go to the library. (She insisted on......)

7.Read a sentence and then write a second sentence with the same meaning. Each time begin in the way shown.

M O D E L: I phoned Ann and then I went out. – After phoning Ann I went out.

1.Bill is a very good cook. – Bill is very good at.....

2.The plane took off and soon afterwards it crashed. – Soon after.....

3.Tom went to bed but first he had a hot drink. – Before.....

4.We didn’t eat at home. We went to a restaurant instead. – Instead of.....

5.You put people’s lives in danger if you drive dangerously. – You put people’s lives in danger by.....

6.He hurt his leg but he managed to win the race. – In spite of..

7.George took more exercises and so lost weight. – By.....

8.He was angry with me because I was late. – He was angry with me for......

8. Make up five sentences from each table. Point out complexes with gerund in each sentence.

I	insisted on	my	visiting them.
He	looked forward to	his	being sent to the conference.
She	thought of	her	coming back.
We	objected to	our	going to the disco.
You	dreamed of	your	being invited to the party.
They		their	returning home.

I	am	pleased with	my	leaving so soon.
He	is	sure of	your	having said it.
She	are	surprised at	his	having been praised.
We	was	proud of	our	playing so well.
You	were		their	being late.
They			Jane's	having passed all exams.

9.Complete the following sentences using the gerundial complexes.

1.I didn’t mind.....

2.They objected to.....

3.She prevented.....

4.I don’t remember.....

5.He entered the room without.....

6.I don’t like the idea of.....

7.She hated.....

8.It was no good.....

10.Change the construction of sentences using gerundial complexes.

1.He was afraid that I would change my mind.

2.I regret that I gave you so much trouble.

3.After he had brushed his teeth and shaved, he went into his dressing room.

4.Doctor insisted that the patient should be isolated.

5.I did not like that you walked home by yourself.

6.When you quarrel, I dislike it.

7.I can’t imagine that he will manage to do it.

8.My mother insists that you should be present at the party.

11.Translate into English using the gerund or gerundial complexes.

1.Дякую тобі, що допоміг мені дістати квитки. 2.Пробачте, що я за­пізнився. 3.Учитель заперечував проти того, щоб ми сьогодні пішли в кіно. 4.Замість того, щоб іти до нього, ви можете зателефону­вати йому. 5.Цей фільм варто подивитися. 6.Він наполягав на тому, щоб усі прийшли завтра о 8 годині. 7.Мій товариш зайнятий ремонтом телевізора. 8.Я з нетерпінням чекаю, коли буду працювати на заводі. 9.Вона пішла з дому, не вимкнувши телевізора. 10.Мене дивує, що вона робить так багато орфографіч­них помилок.

Unit 9 CEREALS Cereals Flour Bread Pasta GRAMMAR Infinitive or gerund?