The gerund forms

	Active	Passive
Indefinite Perfect	writing having written	being written having been written

The tense distinctions of the gerund are relative:

The Indefinite Gerund	The Perfect Gerund
denotes an action simultaneous with that of the predicate e.g. He avoided downloading unreliable information.	denotes an action prior to that of the predicate e.g. He admitted having downloaded unreliable information.

1. Prior action is not always expressed by a perfect gerund. in some cases we find an Indefinite gerund.

After the verbs: remember, excuse, forgive, thank.

After the prepositions: on (upon), after, without

e.g. I don’t remember hearing the legend before.

You must excuse my not answering you before.

Ex.7 Open the brackets using the correct form of the Gerund.

1. He remembered (cross) the road, but he didn’t remember (knock down).

2. I am still hungry in spite of (eat) four sandwiches.

3. He got into the house by (climb) through the window, without (see) by anyone.

4. He woke up at 7 a.m. in spite of (work) late.

5. He complained of (give) a very small room.

6. The baby went to sleep a few minutes after (feed).

7. Mary was chosen to fill the vacancy. She was very pleased at (choose).

8. I always treat people politely and I insist on (treat) politely.

The gerund is always used after verbs followed by prepositions:
to accuse of to agree to to approve of to be afraid of to congratulate on to depend on to dream of to feel like to inform of	to insist on to look forward to to object to to persist in to prevent from to succeed in to suspect of to thank for to think of

Ex. 8 Fill in the necessary preposition.

1. He was afraid …… playing this computer game alone.

2. I’m looking forward …… receiving email message from my friend.

3. My friend succeeded …….. buying things through shopping sites.

4. He has always dreamt ……. taking part in video conference.

5. The false network address prevented him …….. visiting the site.

6. He never agreed …… their using the software.

7. He informed ………having installed a new processor.

8. The children were accused ……… having visited unallowed site.

9. I insisted …….. being sent the complete data.

10. I object …….. your downloading music at the lesson.