The gerund may be used in various syntactic functions. A single gerund occurs but seldom; in most cases we find a gerundial phrase or a gerundial construction.
1. The gerund as a subject.
Talking mends no holes. (proverb)
.
Waiting for the Professor was a lame excuse for doing nothing. (Heym)
To, , ,
.
My answering in the affirmative gave him great satisfaction. (Dickens)
To, , .
The gerund used as a subject may follow the predicate; in these cases the sentence opens with the introductory it (which serves as an introductory subject) or with the construction there is.
Its no use talking like that to me. (Shaw)
.
There was no mistaking the expression on her face. (Collins)
.
N o t e. There is another view according to which it is the subject and the
rest of the sentence is the predicate.
2. The gerund as a predicative.
The only remedy for such a headache as mine is going to bed. (Collins)
, ,
.
3. The gerund as part of a compound verbal predicate.
(a) With verbs and verbal phrases denoting modality the gerund forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.
We intend going to Switzerland, and climbing Mount Blanc. (Ch. Bronte)
.
Joseph could not help admiring the man. (Heym)
.
(b) With verbs denoting the beginning, the duration, or the end of an action, the gerund forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.
She began sobbing and weeping. (Dickens)
In. the night it started raining. (Hemingway)
Bathsheba continued walking. (Hardy)
Tom went on whitewashing. (Twain)
She took my hand and kept on laughing. (Hemingway)
Isabella ceased speaking. (E. Bronte)
(For detailed treatment of the compound verbal predicate see Chapter XV, 16, 17.)
4. The gerund as an object.
The gerund may be used as a direct object and as a prepositional indirect
object.
I simply love riding. (Galsworthy) (DIRECT OBJECT)
.
She enjoyed singing and playing to him. (London) (DIRECT OBJECT)
.
The times were good for building... (Galsworthy) (PREPOSITIONAL
INDIRECT OBJECT)
.
Charlie did not succeed in taking things easily. (Priestley)
(PREPOSITIONAL INDIRECT OBJECT)
.
Predicative constructions with the gerund form a complex object as they consist of two distinct elements, nominal and verbal.
Perhaps you wouldnt mind Richards coming in? (Dickens) (COMPLEX
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OBJECT)
, , ?
Aunt Augusta wont quite approve of your being here. (Wilde)
(PREPOSITIONAL COMPLEX OBJECT)
, .
5. The gerund as an attribute.
In this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition.
Swithin protruded his pale round eyes with the effort of hearing.
(Galsworthy)
,
.
was born with the gift of winning hearts. (Gaskell)
.
She had a feeling of having been worsted... (Galsworthy)
, ...
...theres no chance of their getting married for years. (Galsworthy)
... , .
Presently there was the sound of the car being brought to the door. (Du
Maurier)
, .
6. The gerund as an adverbial modifier.
In this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition. It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of time, manner, attendant circumstances, cause, condition, purpose and concession; the most common functions are those of adverbial modifiers of time, manner, and attendant circumstances.
(a) As an adverbial modifier of time the gerund is preceded by the preposition after, before, on (upon), in or at.
After leaving, her umbrella in the hall, she entered the living room.
(Cronin)
, .
was to have three days at home before going back to farm. (Galsworthy)
,
.
On reaching Casterbridge he left the horse and trap at an inn. (Hardy)
, .
Mr. Bumbles conduct on being left to himself was rather inexplicable.
(Dickens)
, ,
.
Upon waking I found myself much recovered. (Swift)
(),
.
In quitting the room he paused once more at my desk. (Ch. Bronte)
, .
Clare turned at hearing her footsteps... (Hardy)
, .
N o t e. In the function of an adverbial modifier of time the gerund
sometimes competes with the participle.
George, on hearing the story, grinned. (Galsworthy)
, , .
The four girls, hearing him speak in the hall, rushed out of the library.
(Eliot)
, , ,
,
After reaching the second landing ... I heard a sound of quiet and regular
breathing on my left-hand side. (Collins)
...
.
Reaching the door of the room occupied by Cowperwood and Aileen, she
tapped lightly. (Dreiser)
, ,
.
(b) As an adverbial modifier of manner the gerund is used with the prepositions by or in.
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She startled her father by bursting into tears. (Gaskell)
, .
The day was spent in packing. (Du Maurier)
.
(c) As an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances the gerund is preceded by the preposition without.
She was not brilliant, not active, but rather peaceful and statuesque without
knowing it. (Dreiser)
, ,
, .
(d) As an adverbial modifier of purpose,the gerund is chiefly used with the preposition for.
... one side of the gallery was used for dancing. (Eliot)
... .
(e) As an adverbial modifier of condition the gerund is preceded by the preposition without.
He has no right to come bothering you and papa without being invited.
(Shaw)
,
.
(f) As an adverbial modifier of cause the gerund is used with the prepositions for, for fear of, owing to.
I feel the better myself for having spent a good deal of my time abroad.
(Eliot)
, .
I dared not attend the funeral for fear of making a fool of myself. (Coppard)
,
.
(g) As an adverbial modifier of concession the gerund is preceded by the preposition in spite of.
In spite of being busy, he did all he could to help her.
The above examples show that the gerund preceded by one and the same preposition may be used in different functions: with the preposition without, it may perform, the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances and of condition; with the preposition in, it may perform the function of an adverbial modifier of time and of manner; with the preposition for, it may perform the function of an adverbial modifier of purpose or of cause.
N o t e. The Russian + may correspond to the English
without + gerund or not + participle. It corresponds to not + participle if it is
used in the function of an adverbial modifier of cause.
He , .
Not knowing Miss Betseys address, David could not write to her. (CAUSE)
If + is used in the function of adverbial modifiers of attendant circumstances and of condition, it corresponds to without + gerund.
, .
David left London without telling anybody about it. (ATTENDANT
CIRCUMSTANCES)
-, .
The boys could not leave Salem House without asking for permission.
(CONDITION)
