Part of a compound verbal predicate

The phasal verbs denote the following phases of the action expressed by the gerund: 1. the beginning, 2. the continuation and 3. the end of the action.

The gerund in this predicate denotes the action itself.

1. The beginning of the action (to begin, to burst out, to start, etc)

She began reading the novel yesterday. Start doing the exercise now. The girl burst out crying.

The gerund in this function can’t be used and only the infinitive is possible:

a) when the finite verb is used in the continuous form

We are beginning to discuss the next item. Мы начинаем обсуждать следующий вопрос. It is beginning to drizzle. Начинает моросить.

b) when the subject denotes a thing, not a living being

The clock began to strike. Часы начали бить.

The water began to boil. Вода закипела.

c) with the verbs to understand and to see (in the meaning of to understand)

I began to understand the situation. Я начал понимать ситуацию.

2. The continuation of the action (to continue, to go on, to keep on)

The doctor continued examining the patient. Врач продолжал осматривать больного.

She went on dialing Richard’s telephone number. Она продолжала набирать номер телефона Ричарда.

Evelyn kept moving her lips in silent prayer. Эвелин продолжала шевелить губами в безмолвной молитве.

3. The end of the action (to cease, to finish, to give up, to leave off, to stop, etc)

When did you give up smoking? Когда ты бросил курить?

It has already stopped raining. Дождь уже перестал.

We left before the band ceased playing. Мы ушли до того, как оркестр перестал играть.

Have you finished cooking? Ты закончила готовить?

Note the difference in the meaning of stop + a gerund and stop + an infinitive.
stop + a gerund	stop + an infinitive
= to end an action, to finish doing something The gerund in this case is part of a compound verbal phasal predicate	- to stop so that you can do something The infinitive in this case is an adverbial modifier of purpose
All was clear. They stopped asking the prisoner questions. Все было ясно. Они прекратили допрос заключенного.	On the way home I stopped to buy some food. По дороге домой я остановился, чтобы купить еды.
There is also some difference in the meaning of go on + a gerund and go on + an infinitive, though it doesn’t tell on the syntactical function of the whole.
go on + a gerund	go on + an infinitive
= to continue doing	= to do something different, to do the next thing
Though it was already dark, we went on digging. Хоть было уже темно, мы продолжали копать.	We took out the weeds and went on to plant the flowers. Мы вырвали сорняки и стали сажать цветы.

Exercise 47. Point out the gerund used as part of a compound verbal phasal predicate. Translate the sentences into Russian.

MODEL: He started arguing with his wife. Он стал спорить с женой.

1. The detective started questioning her about the car accident. 2. They kept on talking about this and that. 3. At last he gave up taking drugs. 4. The children burst out crying. 5. The student went on writing the test. 6. We ceased working at the project. 7. Dan began translating the poem. 8. Jane stopped doing her morning Exercises. 9. They continued laughing at him. 10. Andy kept on moaning. 11. She went on playing the violin. 12. Pat finished washing the baby. 13. We left off reading the text on page five. 14. Joe started eating the steak.

Exercise 48. Complete the sentences using the gerund as part of a compound verbal phasal predicate.

MODEL: She started ... (to learn English). She started learning English.

1. Mary continued ... (to practise her French in Paris). 2. The song was so amusing that she burst out ... (to laugh). 3. They have just started ... (to learn German). 4. The child stopped ... (to cry at once). 5. The factory ceased ... (to produce electrical goods). 6. The scientist began ... (to decipher a medieval manuscript). 7. We have already finished ... (to read «The Man of Property»). 8. They kept on ... (to walk for a while in silence). 9. His wife started ... and gave up ... (to slim; to eat bread). 10. I can’t remember where we left off ... (to copy out the text). 11. Brian gave up ... (to play the chello).

Exercise 49. Insert an infinitive or a gerund used as part of a compound verbal phasal predicate. Sum up the difference in the use of the gerund and the infinitive.

MODEL 1: He began playing tennis when a boy. When Andy left she began to play the piano.

MODEL 2: It’s beginning to snow.

MODEL 3: She began to see how to do it.

MODEL 4: They stopped talking.

MODEL 5: They stopped to talk to her.

MODEL 6: He went on speaking about it.

1. She started (swim) when she was five. 2. My friends are beginning (make) a film. 3. Jim stopped (phone) the receptionist. 4. He continued (drink) strong drinks. 5. She got up and started (recite) a poem. 6. Look! It’s beginning (rain). 7. Stop (make) such noise. 8. The actors began (rehearse) the scene. 9. The boy went on (Explain) the problem. 10. We began (understand) each other. 11. She stopped (look) into his eyes. 12. The alarm-clock began (ring). 13. We continued (read) his novels while we were second-year students. 14. When her husband came she continued (watch) TV. 15. His father began (understand) that he was lying. 16. The children couldn’t stop (laugh).

Exercise 50. Translate the sentences into English using the gerund as part of a compound verbal phasal predicate.

1. Мы перестали писать им после войны. 2. Они продолжали ссориться. 3. Больной бросил принимать лекарство. 4. Она начала регулярно делать зарядку. 5. Я продолжала ходить в бассейн. 6. Начни ежедневно есть овощи и фрукты. 7. Он прекратил обсуждать эту тему. 8. Мебельная фабрика перестала выпускать круглые столы. 9. Я рассмеялся и перестал задавать ему вопросы. 10. Мы продолжали вести светский разговор (to make small talks). 11. Прежде чем ты начнешь спорить со мной, подумай. 12. Перестань терять попусту время. 13. Он начал играть в шахматы, когда ему было семь лет. 14. Продолжайте исследовать эту проблему. 15. Он решил бросить курить, когда стал понимать, что это действительно вредно.

Unit 6