Like all the verbals the gerund can form predicative constructions in which the verbal element expressed by the gerund is in predicative relation to the nominal element expressed by a noun or a pronoun. The nominal element of the construction can be expressed in different ways:
a) by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun.
He likes Mary's reciting poetry.
, .
I remember his saying it.
, .
Do you mind my smoking here?
, .
b) by the noun in the common case.
John's mother spoke with pride of her son being a pilot. , .
They objected to the conference being held in May.
, .
) by a pronoun which has no case distinctions, such as all, this, that, both, something.
I insist on both of them coming in time. , .
Occasionally the nominal element of the construction is expressed by a pronoun in the objective case.
She doesn't approve of me gambling.
, .
A gerandial construction is nearly always rendered into Russian by a subordinate clause, introduced by ", "; ", "; "", etc.
His being a foreigner and an ex-enemy was bad enough.
To. . , , .
We relied on your helping us.
, .
Never thought of his coming so soon.
, .
was against my going there alone.
, .
/ was very much surprised at his being so worried about it.
, .
NOTE: in formal English possessive + gerund can be used:
/ have no objection to your arriving late.
, .
We are concerned about the company's trading in oil.
, .
In conversational English the possessive is not used: the object form is used instead:
/ don't mind him coming late.
, .
We are worried about Jane working so hard.
, .
Practice
1. Read and translate the sentences with gerundial constructions.
1. Some parents don't approve of their children watching a lot of television.
2. I was annoyed because the decision was made without anybody telling me.
3. You can't stop me doing what I want.
4. I'm worried about Jayne getting to the airport on time.
5. I can't imagine your mother's approving of what you are doing.
6. He is often late. I don't mind him (his) being late.
7. I don't enjoy John's teasing.
8. Please excuse his not writing to you. (or) Please excuse him not writing to you.
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9. Listen to those kids. Fancy them (their) being able to speak Spanish as well as that.
10. The job will entail (involve) your travelling to different parts of the country, often at short notice.
11. The teacher said that he wouldn't tolerate my arriving late every day.
12. The question is so trivial, it hardly justifies our taking up any more time.
13. His lawyer insisted on his dropping the case, since it was unlikely to succeed.
14. I vaguely remember him saying something like that.
15. Will the new job involve your being away from home a lot?
16. The public authorities should prohibit people begging in the streets.
17. I strongly resent your telling me to mind my own business.
18. Forgive my mentioning it, but don't you miss your friends now while you are living in England?
19. The headmaster suggested my trying the examination again the following year.
20. I don't recollect his actually promising to help you.
2. Supply both the possessive and object form of the words provided. Translate into Russian.
Model: I don't like... asking him to stay, (you)
I don't like your asking him to stay.
I don't like you asking him to stay.
1. Do you mind... smoking? (I)
2. They tried to stop... singing, (we)
3. They don't understand... leaving home when he did. (John)
4. I'm worried about... taking so much money, (she)
5. I didn't like... lending the car to him. (you)
6. What do you think about... resigning? (Tom)
7. I'm bored with... complaining, (they)
8. Do you know the reason for... stopping work, (they)
9. Who told you about... being sacked, (he)
10. What do you think of... leaving the country like that, (they)
11. I can think of no reason for... saying that, (she)
12. I don't like... being out so late, (he)
13. She's worried about... being arrested, (we)
14. The firm doesn't mind... arriving at ten o'clock. (I)
3. Match A and B. Translate the sentences.
A
1. We very much appreciate
2. He strongly denied
3. We enjoyed
4. The chairman suggested
5. I agreed to delay
6. He should consider
7. I can't excuse
8. You must pardon
9. Would you mind
10. I can't bear
11. They can't prevent
12. Please forgive
13. I really miss
14. Fancy
a) my leaving till the next day.
b) their meeting that afternoon.
c) her taking more responsibility.
d) the band's playing very much.
e) our postponing the question till later.
f) your helping us.
g) your meeting Miss Brown! h) our escaping.
i) Jim arriving so late, j) you / your bringing me breakfast in bed.
k) Jane practising in the room next to yours?
l) him / his whistling when I'm trying to concentrate,
m) her not answering our invitation,
n) my not getting up.
4. Write the story, put in the correct forms. Speak about Gillian Forbes.
A Flying Start
Gillian Forbes is only 17 and she has just got her pilot's licence. She is the country's youngest girl pilot. "How do you feel, Gillian?" I asked her after her test. "Wonderful!" Gillian cried. "I enjoy (fly) more than anything in the world. I can't imagine (let) a week pass without spending some of my time in the air". "What started (you / fly)?" I asked. "I just love (travel) in planes. I started (learn) to fly when I was very young". "Would you consider (fly) as a career?" "I might, but I've got to pass my school exams now. There are some things you can't avoid (do)!" "Excuse (me / my / ask)", she said, "but does everyone in your family approve of (you / your / fly)?" "Of course not!" I said. "What's your greatest ambition now?" "I want to learn to drive a car!" Gillian said with a big smile.
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The Participle
