The Active and Passive Gerund

Name _________________________________________________________ Group _______________

Translate into English using the Infinitive:

1. Он не хотел, чтобы его спрашивали об этом.

2. Мне трудно было сделать это быстро.

3. Я слышала, как машина ушла с час назад.

4. Она закрыла глаза, чтобы лучше сосредоточиться.

5. Стол был слишком тяжел, и я не мог его подвинуть.

6. Все понять - значит все простить.

7. Сказать по правде, для меня это не новость.

8. Очень мило с вашей стороны помочь мне.

9. Заставь его съесть суп. – Зачем, если он не хочет.

10. Она обернулась и увидела незнакомца.

11. Кажется, животных не кормили больше недели.

THE GERUND

UNIT 1. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GERUND

The Gerund is a non-finite form of the verb with both verb and noun features.

The verb characteristics of the gerund

1) can have an object (direct, prepositional, complex):

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.

There is no use arguing about trifles.

On seeing her enter he stepped behind the door.

2) can be modified by adverbs:

She likes 1 reading aloud.

3) can function as part of the compound verbal predicate:

I’ve given up smoking.

4) has the categories of voice and order:

I hate being interrupted.

I regret having asked you for help.

The noun characteristics of the gerund

1) The gerund functions in the sentence like nouns as:

a) subject:

Beating a child will do more harm than good.

b) object:

I hate writing letters.

I apologise for disturbing you. (prepositional)

c) predicative (part of the compound nominal predicate):

One of my bad habits is biting my nails.

2) may be preceded by a preposition or a noun in the possessive case:

You should check the oil before starting the car.

I’m annoyed by John’s forgetting to pay.

Ex.1. Define noun and verb characteristics of the gerund:

1. It’s natural living like this alone with Nature. 2. Keep­ing his secret won’t do any harm. 3. All I want is getting to the truth. 4. He had great difficulty in undoing his collar. 5. He did not like the idea of her staying with her father’s people in Capetown. 6. I don’t feel comfortable at Miss Brown’s leaving us so soon. 7. He was good at gathering mushrooms. 8. I kept walking quickly. 9. He was aware of Jack’s watching him attentively. 10. Raymond did not like being called Ray. 11. It was some time before I remembered having met him on the Liston plane. 12. She smiled without showing her teeth.

UNIT 2. FORMS OF THE GERUND

Voice Order	Active	Passive
Non-Perfect	(not) writing	(not) being written
Perfect	(not) having written	(not) having been written

The Active and Passive Gerund

T he Active Gerund points out that the action is directed from the subject (whether expressed or implied), while the Passive Gerund indicated that the action is directed towards the subject:

Your denying everything will get you nowhere.

Most people don’t like being criticized.

In some cases the Active Gerund can be used with passive meaning (after the verbs need, want, require, to be worth):

He needs a lot of encouraging. (NOT: being encouraged)

My shoes want repairing.

This book is worth reading.

The infinitive after these verbs will have active meaning: I need to see a lawyer.

Ex.2. Supply an appropriate form of the verbs in parentneses:

1. The chair is broken. I need (fix) it 2. The baby’s diaper is wet. It needs (change). 3. What a mess! This room needs (clean) up. We need (clean) it up before the company arrives. 4. My shirt is wrinkled. It needs (iron). 5 There is a hole in our roof. The roof needs (repair). 6. I have books and papers all over my desk. I need (take) some time to straighten up my desk. It needs (straighten) up. 7. The apples on the tree are ripe. They need (pick). 8 The dog’s been digging in the mud. He needs (wash).

Ex.3. Use the simple gerund of the verb in brackets in the ac­tive or passive voice:

1. He looked forward to (to meet) his parents. 2. You can’t be afraid of (to hurt) unless you’ve been hurt. 3. He took his time about (to answer). 4. Robinson could not live in the caves. They aren’t for (to live). They’re for (to go) through. 5. But in fear of (to recognize) she lowered her gaze. 6. So I see. You’re good at (to make) yourself at home. 7. Jack would have gone to his bedroom without (to see). 8. My sister would never leave without (to see) me. 9. Jennie sat them up to their dinner, and Jeff pres­ently stopped (to cry). 10. She couldn’t help (to like) the look in his brown eyes. 11. He had got out of the habit of (to ask) questions by demonstrators. 12. I’ve always liked (to take) risks. 13. I seem to remember (to tell) not to grumble by someone. 14. She had not even got round to (to ask) for anything yet, because she was too busy to tell him about her granddaughter. 15. At his departure Rose had continued to weep, largely through fury at (to leave) alone with Nurse Williams.

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