CONTENT

Bibliography 18

Cited literature: 19

19

20

INTRODUCTION 2

Chapter I Gerund in English grammar 4

1.1 History

1.2 Gerund as non-finite form of the verb 6

1.3 The usage of Gerund in Moder English 16

CHAPTER II Syntactical functions of Gerund 18

2.1 The functions of Gerund in the role of subject18

2.2 The functions of the Gerund as object19

2.3 Predicative functions of Gerund 20

2.4 Gerund functions as an Adverbial Modifier 21

2.5 . Functions of Gerund as Attribute 23

CONCLUSIONS 24

Bibliography 26

Cited literature: 26

1.1 History

The gerund is a descendant of the Old English verbal noun and the present participle; hence its double nature and its noun and verb characteristics. In the Old English period the verbal noun had the endings -ing, -ing; in Middle English the ending was -ing(e). The present participle in Old English had the ending -ende which in Middle English was replaced by -inge as the result of a confusion of constructions with the verbal noun and the participle. .Thus the verbal noun and the participle became merged into one form –ing(e), the modern –ing. As the result of the blending of the two forms, the verbal noun in -ing began to develop verbal characteristics under the influence of the participle. In constructions where in Middle English and in Early Modern English the verbal noun, like any other noun, was preceded by the definite article and followed by the preposition of (He thanked him for the saving of his life. Compare: He thanked him for the preservation of his life.), the article as well as the preposition of were gradually dropped, the ing-form taking the noun following as its direct object (He thanked him for saving his life), thus crystallizing into a new form, the gerund. The following example; show the gradual transition from the verbal noun to the gerund; the ing-noun still retains the article, but the preposition has already disappeared: E.g.: It’s there for the talking.

The hardest part is the waiting.

Later on the gerund, becoming more and more verbal, developed tense distinctions and the passive voice, and preserving still its syntactical characteristics of a noun assumed largely the dynamic force of a verb. The gerund has both verb and noun characteristics.[4:268]

1.2 Gerund as non-finite form of the verb

The gerund is the non-finite form of the verb, which combines the properties of the verb with those of the noun. The gerund serves as the verbal name of a process and its substantive quality is strongly pronounced. Name­ly, the gerund can be modified by a noun in the possessive case or its pronominal equivalents (expressing the subject of the verbal process), and it can be used with prepositions. [1:108].

Here it is appropriate to make a comparison with the infinitive in order to understand better gerund characteristics as non-finite verb.

The gerund cannot perform the func­tion of the paradigmatic verbal head-form, because first it is more detached from the finite verb than the infinitive semantically, tending to be a far more substantival unit categorially. Then, as different from the infinitive, it does not join in the conjugation of the finite verb. Unlike the infinitive, it is a suffixal form, which makes it less generalized than the infinitive in terms of the formal properties of the verbal lexeme (although it is more abstract in the purely semantic sense). Finally, it is less definite than the infinitive from the lexico-grammatical point of view, being subject to easy neutralizations in its opposi­tion with the verbal noun in -ing, as well as with the present participle. Therefore, the gerund is no rival of the infinitive in the paradigmatic head-form function. [1:108]

The general combinability of the gerund, like that of the infinitive, is dual, sharing some features with the verb, and some features with the noun. The verb-type combinability of the gerund is displayed in its combining, first, with nouns expressing the object of the action; second, with modifying adverbs; third, with certain semi-functional predicator verbs, but other than modal. Of the noun-type is the combinability of the gerund, first, with finite notional verbs as the object of the action; second, with finite notional verbs as the pre­positional adjunct of various functions; third, with finite notional verbs as the subject of the action; fourth, with nouns as the prepositional adjunct of various functions.

The gerund, in the corresponding positional patterns, performs the functions of all the types of notional sentence-parts, i.e. the subject, the object, the predicative, the attri­bute, the adverbial modifier. [1:109]

E.g.. : Knowing at what time his wife did her shopping, he… (Gerund subject position)

… if he denied bringing the pictures to Dirk Stroeve. (Gerund direct object position)

She could not give her mind to pressing wild flowers in Pauline's botany book. (Gerund addressee object position)

David began by drawing our attention to that serious matter. (Gerund prepositional object position)

Seeing is believing. (Gerund pred­icative position)

Fancy the pleasant prospect of listening to all the gossip they have in store for you! (Gerund attributive position)

He could not push against the furniture without bringing the whole lot down. (Gerund adverbial of manner position)

One of the specific gerund patterns is its combination with the noun in the possessive case or its possessive pronom­inal equivalent expressing the subject of the action. This gerundial construction is used in cases when the subject of the gerundial process differs from the subject of the governing sentence-situation, i.e. when the gerundial sentence-part has its own, separate subject. [1:109]

E.g.: Mr. Barkis's wooing, as I remember it, was altogether of a peculiar kind.

How can she know about the Richard' being related with this immoral affair?

The possessive with the gerund displays one of the dis­tinctive categorial properties of the gerund as such, estab­lishing it in the English lexemic system as the form of the verb with nounal characteristics. As a matter of fact, from the point of view of the inner semantic relations, this com­bination is of a verbal type, while from the point of view of the formal categorial features, this combination is of a nounal type. It can be clearly demonstrated by the appropriate trans­formations, i.e. verb-related and noun-related re-construc­tions. [1:110]

Eg.: I can't stand his criticizing artistic works that are beyond his competence. (T-verbal ->He is criticizing artistic works. T-nounal—» His criticism of artistic works.)

Besides combining with the possessive noun-subject, the verbal ing-form can also combine with the noun-subject in the common case or its objective pronominal equivalent.

E.g.: I read in yesterday's paper about the hostages having been released.

This gerundial use as presenting very peculiar features of categorial mediality will be discussed after the treatment of the participle.

The formal sign of the gerund is wholly homonymous with that of the present participle: it is the suffix -ing added to its grammatically (categorially) leading element.

Like the infinitive, the gerund is a categorially change­able (variable, demutative) form; it distinguishes the two grammatical categories, sharing them with the finite verb and the present participle, namely, the aspective category of retrospective coordination (perfect in opposition), and the category of voice (passive in opposition). Consequently, the categorial paradigm of the gerund of the objective verb in­cludes four forms: the simple active, the perfect active; the simple passive, the perfect passive.

E.g.: taking — having taken — being taken — having been taken.

The gerundial paradigm of the non-objective verb, cor­respondingly, includes two forms.

E.g.: going — having gone.

The perfect forms of the gerund are used, as a rule, only in semantically strong positions, laying special emphasis on the meaningful categorial content of the form.

1.3 The usage of gerund in Modern English

In Modern English the gerund is widely used and often competes with the infinitive.

In the following cases only the gerund is used:

1. With the verbs and verbal phrases: to avoid, to burst out, to deny, to enjoy, to excuse, to fancy (in imperative sentences as an exclamation of surprise), to finish, to forgive, to give up, to go on, to keep (on), to leave off, to mind (in negative and interrogative sentences), to postpone, to put off, cannot help, and some others.

He avoided looking at Savina. (Wilson)

Он избегал смотреть на Сабину.

When the Committee had finished deciding on its politics, he had gone

home. (Heym)

Когда комитет кончил разрабатывать свой план действий, он пошел

домой.

Willoughby gave up singing and looked at Karen and Yates from under

drooping eyelids. (Heym)

Уиллоуби перестал петь и исподлобья посмотрел на Карен и Йейтса.

Doctor keeps coming and having a look at me. (Priestley)

Доктор продолжает (не перестает) навещать меня и осматривать.

Do you mind my asking you one or two more questions? (Collins)

Мы могли бы отложить осмотр дома.

She couldn’t help smiling. (Mansfield)

Она не могла не улыбнуться.

2. With the following verbs and verbal phrases used with a preposition: to accuse of, to agree to, to approve of, to complain of, to depend on, to feel like, to insist on, to look like, to object to, to persist in, to prevent from, to rely on, to speak of, to succeed in, to suspect of, to thank for, to think of, to give up the idea of, to look forward to, not to like the idea of, to miss an (the) opportunity of and some others.

They accuse me of having dealt with the Germans. (Heym)

Меня обвиняют в том, что я имел дело с немцами.

It was clear now... that Abraham never had agreed to their being married to-

day. (Stone)

Теперь было ясно, что Авраам никогда не соглашался на то, чтобы они

поженились сегодня.

You did not approve of my playing at roulette. (Eliot)

Вы не одобряли того, что я играла в рулетку.

All the happiness of my life depends on your loving me. (Eliot)

Все счастье моей жизни зависит от того, полюбите ли вы меня.

I don’t feel like going out. (Wilson)

Мне не хочется выходить.

I don’t want to bore you with all this, but I feel like talking. (Priestley)

Я не хочу надоедать вам всем этим, но мне хочется поговорить.

I insist on being treated with a certain consideration. (Shaw)

Я настаиваю на том, чтобы ко мне относились внимательнее.

It looks like raining.

Похоже, Что будет дождь.

I object to his having any acquaintance at all with my sister. (Dickens)

Я против того, чтобы он был знаком с моей сестрой.

I rushed out to prevent her from seeing this dreadful sight. (Conan Doyle)

Я выбежал, чтобы не дать ей увидеть это ужасное зрелище.

...you may rely on my setting matters right. (Collins)

...вы можете рассчитывать на то, что я все улажу.

My medical adviser succeeded in saving my life... (Collins)

Моему врачу удалось спасти мне жизнь...

You suspect me of stealing your diamond. (Collins)

Вы подозреваете меня в том, что я украл ваш брильянт.

I resolved not to think of going abroad any more. (Defoe)

Я решил больше не думать о путешествиях.

I really thank you heartily for taking all this trouble. (Hardy)

Я сердечно благодарен вам за то, что вы взяли на себя все эти заботы.

So he returned his straitened means to his pocket and gave up the idea of

trying to buy the boys. (Twain)

Он снова убрал свое жалкое состояние в карман и отказался от

намерения постараться подкупить мальчиков.

I think everybody looked forward to his coming back. (Maugham)

Я думаю, все с нетерпением ждали того момента, когда он вернется.

Не did not like the idea of being hunted down by Butler. (Dreiser)

Ему не улыбалась мысль, что Батлер будет его преследовать.

Don’t miss the opportunity of hearing this pianist.

He упустите случая послушать этого пианиста.

3 With the following predicative word-groups (with, or without a preposition): to be aware of, to be busy in, to be capable of, to be fond of, to be guilty of, to be indignant at, to be pleased (displeased) at,¹ to be proud of, to be sure of, to be surprised (astonished) at, to be worth (while), and some others.

If the word-group to be pleased (displeased) is followed by a noun or pronoun the preposition with is used;

I am pleased with you (with your paper).

Sir Pitt Crawley was not aware of Becky’s having married Rawdon.

Сэр Питт Кроули не знал, что Бекки вышла замуж за Родона.

I felt physically incapable of remaining still in any one place and morally

incapable of speaking to any one human being. (Collins)

Я чувствовал, что я физически не в состоянии, оставаться на одном

месте и морально не в состоянии говорить с кем бы то ни было.

I am very fond of being looked at. (Wilde)

Я очень люблю, когда на меня смотрят.

You are really guilty of having connived with a German officer to help his

escape. (Heym)

Вы действительно виновны в том, что способствовали побегу немецкого

офицера.

Mr. Osborne was indignant at his son’s having disobeyed him. Мистер

Осборн был в негодовании от того, что сын его ослушался.

...she was not pleased at my coming. (Hichens)

...она была недовольна, что я пришел.

Miss Crawley was greatly displeased at Rawdon’s having married Becky.

Мисс Кроули была очень недовольна, что Родон женился на Бекки.

...nobody knows better than I do that she (Mrs. Copperfield)... is proud of

being so pretty. (Dickens)

...уж я-то знаю: она... гордится тем, что она такая хорошенькая.

Are you quite sure of those words referring to my mother? (Collins)

Вы совершенно уверены, что эти слова относятся к моей матери?

The bridal party was worth seeing. (Eliot)

Свадьбу стоило посмотреть.

CHAPTER II Syntactical functions of Gerund