Complexes with the Gerund (or the Half-Gerund)

Exercise 1 p. 221. Find syntactical complexes in the following sentences and state whether the second element is expressed by a gerund or half-gerund.

1. Sir Robert. But it is worth while my wiring to Vienna, is it not? (Wld) 2. Arthur laughed softly to himself at the thought of the Burtons searching for his corpse. (V.) 3. What can be the possible use of Larry's learning dead languages? I hate the idea of Larry making such a mess of his life. (M) 4. M a b 1 e. Of course, you understand that after your breaking your appointment I am never going to speak to you again. (Wld) 5. "Well, Ellen, I'm so afraid of you being angry," she said. (Ch.B) 6. How unfortunate that his (Clyde's) lack of training would not permit his being put to office work or something like that upstairs. (Dr) 7. Steerforth, very much amused at my having been put into room forty-four, laughed again .... (CD) 8. "I was sorry for Jolyon losing his boy. It might have been Val," said Winifred. (Gls.) 9. He was conscious of extreme quietude, broken by a clock chiming four as if with the voice of Time itself. (Gls.) 10. (Eliza takes off her jewels) Will you take these to your room and keep them safe? I don't want to run the risk of their being missing. (Sh) 11. Yes! There she was! Only about a hundred yards away from the car, and trying to approach without his seeing her. (Ab) 12. "I don't believe Gil likes the idea of any other fellow in Lycurgus having the same name and looking like him," suggested Bella. (Dr)

Exercise 2 p. 221. Change the construction of the following sentences so as to use complexes with a gerund or half-gerund.

1. Don't forget to remind them that they have to come a bit earlier. 2. That he had been away for so many years made him feel quite a stranger in that big city. 3. I couldn't bear the idea that anybody should interfere with what I thought to be my personal affair. 4. We were all surprised that the project had not yet been put into practice. 5. The writer confessed that he had never dreamt his book would be so successful with the general reader. 6. Will you have anything against it if Alec brings a friend of his to the party? 7. Did he say anything of the kind? I don't remember. 8. Mother will be terribly disappointed if Harry doesn't get the job. 9. It suddenly occurred to Rita that she must be going; her parents might be worried if she stayed out later than usual. 10. My whole future depended on whether I should not lose possession of myself at that moment. 11. His friends considered him very practical though he was so young.

Exercise 3 p. 222. Replace the gerund by a complex with a gerund or half-gerund.

Model: You are responsible for doing this work in time. You are responsible for this work being done in time.

1. They objected to applying this method into practice. 2. The director of the library insisted on binding the books before they were given out to the readers. 3. We don't mind mentioning the fact. 4. She was quite unaware of being watched by the people. 5. He never confessed to having sent the letter. 6. Father hated being contradicted by any one of us. 7. She never referred to having been assisted by anybody. 8. When a small boy, he liked being taken out hunting by his father. 9. During an airraid some prisoners of war managed to escape without being noticed by the guards. 10. She was distressed at having spoilt all the fun by one silly remark.

Exercise 4 p. 222. Construct complexes with a gerund or a half-gerund out of the elements given in brackets. Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. We were surprised ... (he, to take) the whole affair into his own hands. 2. There is a committee meeting there tomorrow. I count ... (Mr. Dunne, to come). ... (he, to be) there will carry more weight. 3. If it were not ... (Rivera, to render) financial aid to the Junta, it might have failed to organize the uprising. 4. Emily was confused ... (we all, to observe) her, and hung down her head. 5. Ratterer's idea ... (Clyde, to go) to his uncle Samuel not only pleased but also annoyed him. 6. It is not worth while ... (you, to worry). 7. I understand perfectly ... (the girl, not to want) to leave. 8. I heard ... (the committee, to turn down) the proposal. 9. The functioning of the mechanism depends ... (it, to handle) properly. 10. I won't stand ... (anybody, to talk) to Mother like that. 11. David was in constant fear ... (his stepfather, to punish) him for something. 12. You must forgive ...(the bоу, to be so curious). 13. She won't believe ... (I, to interest) you in the matter.

Exercise 5 p. 223. Translate into English.

1. Мать Ленни гордилась тем, что ее сын был образованным человеком. 2. Долгое время Герт был против того, чтобы Сэри •виделась со старой Тант. 3. Ленни не возражал против того, чтобы Мейбл уехала, так как он понял, что это был для нее единственный выход. 4. Сама мысль о том, что Ленни собирается открыть школу в Стилвелде, раздражала Герта. 5. Фиета была уверена, что Ленни тайком встречается с Сэри, и боялась, за них. 6. Все эти годы она жила надеждой, что ее сын скоро вернется. 7. Возвращение сына совершенно изменило жизнь в доме. "8. Нас больше всего удивило, что ребенок так хорошо помнил все эти события. 9. Не могу понять, почему они не перепи­сываются. Я хорошо помню, что они расстались друзьями. 10. После того как он нарушил свое обещание, мы не можем ему больше доверять. 11. Вполне естественно, что его так резко критиковали. 12. Профессор предложил нам взять новую тему для исследования. 13. Мы не смогли с ним спокойно поговорить: не проходило и пяти минут, чтобы его не вызывали к телефону. 14. Мы не заметили, чтобы за наше отсутствие произошли какие-либо изменения. 15. Все знали, что он очень добрый человек, несмотря на то, что он выглядел суровым.

Exercise 6 p. 223. Insert a pronoun where necessary.

1. I am against ... being sent there alone is not experienced enough. 2. His strong capable hands showed no signs of ... being used, for hard manual work. 3. She forgot ... promising to call and kept them waiting. 4. She forgot ... promising to call and didn't wait for them. 5. He thought of how he could explain to his family ... being delayed so long. 6. He was proud of her and her fame and proud of ... being seen with her. 7. They blamed him for ... missing such an opportunity. 8. I don't remember ... mentioning that they had moved to another flat. 9. He never spoke of ... being reprimanded for it. 10. Excuse ... calling you at their hour. 11. Excuse me for ... calling you at this hour. 12. I object to ... interfering in the conflict. 13. I object to ... interfering in my work. 14. We could not prevent ... happening. 15. Nothing could prevent them from ... gossiping. 16. They were very keen on ... winning the bet.

Exercise 7 p. 223. Translate what is given in brackets using a complex with gerund or a half-gerund where necessary.

1. I don't remember а) (чтобы он сказал); b) (чтобы я сказал) anything of the kind. 2. She suggested а) (связаться с ним); b) (чтобы мы связались с ними). 3. What annoyed us most was (то, что им отказали в визах); b) (то, что нам отказали в визах). 4. I count on а) (что скоро вас увижу);b) (что мы скоро с вами встретимся). 5. (То, что его назначили) to a post of such importance a) was received with satisfaction; b) encouraged him. 6. She brought her apologies for а) (что причинила им так много беспокойства); b) (что ее ребенок причинил им так много беспокойства). 7. Не was conscious of а) (что его ввели в заблуж­дение); b) (что он ввел их в заблуждение); с) (что эти слова ввели их в заблуждение); d) (что они ввели его в заблуждение). 8. The new assistant is unable to prepare everything for the experiment а) (если его не проинструктируют); b) (если вы его не проинструктируете). 9. а) (Несмотря на то, что им было очень холодно); b) (Несмотря на то, что было очень холодно), they would not stop their observations. 10. We are greatly thankful to them for а) (что нам была предоставлена); b) (что мы имели); с) (что они предоставили нам) such ample opportunity. 11. They could not Forgive me а) (что потеряли из-за меня столько времени); b) (что я зря потерял столько времени).

Exercise 8 p. 224. Translate into English.

1. Можем ли мы рассчитывать на то, что вы пришлете эти сведения вовремя? 2. Мы рассчитываем, что получим эти сведения вовремя. 3. Они, должно быть, рассчитывали, что им пришлют эти сведения вовремя. 4. Вам не следует рассчитывать на то, что нам пришлют все эти сведения вовремя. 5. Трудно раcсчитывать на то, что эти сведения будут присланы вовремя. 6. Он настаивал на том, чтобы его туда послали. 7. Он настаивал на том, чтобы нас туда послали, 8. Он настаивал на том, чтобы мы его туда послали. 9. Он настаивал на том, чтобы послать туда кого-нибудь. 10. Не могу себе представить, чтобы вам отказали. 11. Он боялся, что вы ему откажете. 12. Она не привыкла, чтобы ей в чем-либо отказывали. 13. Не стоит повторять все сначала. 14. Я думаю, нам не стоит повторять все сначала. 15. Больной не соглашался, чтобы его оперировали. 16. Родители согласились, чтобы ребенка оперировали.