THE GERUNDIAL COMPLEX

THE GERUNDIAL COMPLEX (CONSTRUCTION)

The Gerundial Complex consists of 2 parts:

• In written English:

1. A noun in possessive case (’s) or a possessive pronoun (my, your, his, her, its, our, their)

2. Gerund

Noun/pronoun _{pos. case}

Gerund

e.g. I’m surprised at their having come at all. I’m against the idea of Tom’s doing it.

• In colloquial (informal) speech

1. A noun in common case (mother, children, house) or a personal pronoun in objective case (me, you, him, her, it, us, them)

2. Gerund

   

   Gerund

   Noun _{com. case}/pronoun _obj.case

e.g. I’m against the idea of Tom doing it. The teacher insists on the task being done at once.

NB! It’s the only way to build a Gerundial Construction with inanimate things.

The Gerundial Complex is used when the actions expressed by the gerund and by the finite verb refer to different doers.

The Indefinite Gerund is used to denote an action simultaneous with the action of the finite verb.

Example:

I am upset by your writing this article.

Я расстроен тем, что ты пишешь эту статью.

The Perfect Gerund denotes an action prior to the action of the finite verb.

Example:

I am upset by your having written this article.

Я расстроен тем, что ты написал эту статью.

In a sentence the Gerundial Complex acts as one part of speech. It is translated into Russian with the help of conjunctions “то (тем), что (чтобы); как” etc.