Predicative constructions with Gerund

GERUND

Gerund is a non-finite form of the verb which has exactly the same form as the present participle: running, speaking etc. Gerung combines nominal and verbal features:

- nominal characteristics:

a) it can be the subject, object, and predicative of the sentence Gerund forms:

	Active	Passive
Simple	playing	being played
Perfect	having played	having been played

e.g. Reading French is easier that speaking it.

He found parking difficult.

Her hobby is painting.

b) it can be preceded by prepositions

e.g. Touch your toes without bending your knees.

He is good at driving.

c) it can be modified by a noun in possessive case or a possessive pronoun

e.g. She disapproves of Tom’s jogging.

I’m tired of your arguing.

- verbal characteristics:

a) the gerund of transitive verbs can take a direct object, e.g. This is a tool for opening tins.

b) it can be modified by an adverb, e.g. She started laughing hysterically.

c) the gerund has voice and tense distinctions, they are not absolute but relative.

We use Simple Gerund for actions simultaneous with the action expressed by the finite verb.

e.g. It was nice meeting you.

Dancing is not allowed.

We use Perfect Gerund for something before the time of the main clause.

e.g. Sarah remembered having visited the place before.

The Functions of Gerund in the Sentence

Gerund can perform the following functions:

1. subject, e.g. Heating a big house is expensive.

2. predicative, e.g. Jeremy’s hobby is inventing computer games.

3. part of a compound verbal predicate, e.g. He continued living above the shop.

4. object, e.g. They don’t allow parking.

5. attribute, e.g. She had a feeling of being left.

6. adverbial modifier (in this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition):

- of time (prepositions after, before, on, upon, in, at), e.g. On reaching the house I crashed out at once.

- of manner (prepositions by, in), e.g. The day was spent in packing.

- of attendant circumstances (preposition without), e.g. She left the room without crying.

- of purpose (preposition for), e.g. This room was prepared for eating.

- of condition (preposition without), e.g. You know, some women can’t see the telephone without taking off the receiver.

- of cause (prepositions for, for fear of, owing to), e.g. We talked in whispers for fear of disturbing her.

- of concession (preposition in spite of), e.g. In spite of starting late he arrived in time.

Predicative constructions with Gerund

The gerund can form predicative constructions in which verbal element expressed by the gerund is in predicate relation to the nominal element expressed by a noun or a pronoun, e.g. I dislike people asking me personal questions.

The nominal element of the construction can be expressed in different ways:

1. If it denotes a living being it may be expressed:

a) by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun

e.g. Do you mind my sitting here?

I’m fed up with Sarah’s laughing at my accent.

b) by a noun in the common case, e.g. I object to John speaking on this topic.

2. If it denotes a lifeless thing it is expressed by a noun in a common case or by a possessive pronoun

e.g. I mentioned about my illness being complicated.

3. It can be expressed by a pronoun which had no case distinctions, such as all, this, that, both, each, something.

e.g. I insist on both of them coming in time.

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