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Verbs followed by either the gerund or the infinitive.




to have to forget to intend to like (dislike) to plan to prefer to remember to regret   cant bear cant afford*

* On the difference between the use of the gerund and the infinitive with some verbs see 127.

I cant bear your (you) being so sad.

We cant afford going to the cinema too often now, we are revising for our exams.

I prefer walking home (to taking a bus).

 

After verbs taking an object and an objective predicative the gerund, or rather a gerundial phrase or construction, is preceded by an introductory object it.

 

I find it strange our going without you.

I think it no use your (you) arguing about trifles.

 

As a prepositional object the gerund may follow (a) monotransitive prepositional verbs, (b) ditransitive verbs taking a direct and a prepositional object, (c) adjectives and statives and (d) participle II, generally when used as a predicative.

     
 


a)

to agree

to object

to look forward

 

  to to count to depend to rely   on
  to hear to learn to think  

 

of

   

to persist

to consist

to succeed

 

in

   
             

 

We all agree to your opening the discussion.

Happiness consists largely in having true friends.

All depends on the doctor being sent for in time.

They are thinking of doing something for him.

     
 


b)

to accuse

to suspect

of

to thank

to blame to praise to punish

to sentence

 

 

for

to prevent to stop

from

to assist

to help in

to have no difficulty

  in

 

 

to congratulate smb. on

             

 

Roy accused me of disliking him.

What prevented you from becoming a professional actor?

Who will help me in hanging these pictures?

You should blame yourself for getting such a low mark.

I had no difficulty in getting the tickets for the concert.

 

  Note:   As is seen from above a prepositional for-object has a shade of causal meaning.  

 

c)

to be afraid

to be aware

to be conscious

to be capable

to be fond

 

 

of

to be ignorant to be proud to be sure   of
 

to be responsible for

to be sorry about

to be keen on

 

I dont have the TV too loud, because Im afraid of disturbing the neighbours.

We are all proud of our citizens getting the first prize.

Ned will be responsible for arranging the farewell party.

Dont be sorry about missing the first scene, it was rather dull.

 

d)

to be accustomed

to be used

to

to be (dis)pleased with (at)

to be surprised at

to be tired of

to be absorbed to be engrossed

in

         

 

Im not used to being talked to in that rude way.

The teacher was displeased with the boys being noisy.

We were surprised at your leaving the party.

A teacher shouldnt get tired of explaining things to his pupils.

 

The gerund as attribute

 

125. When used as an attribute, the gerund modifies nouns, mainly abstract nouns. It is always preceded by a preposition, in the vast majority of cases by of, as in the following combinations: the art of teaching, the habit of speaking, a certain way of walking, a chance of seeing somebody, a hope of getting a ticket, an idea of going to the cinema, an intention of learning another foreign language, etc.

 

There is a chance of catching the train.

Professor N spoke about new methods of teaching English to foreign students.

The idea of him being in Paris was not a pleasant one.

Lucy had the impression of being carried upstairs.

Isnt there any hope of your being able to go with us at all?

 

In some cases the choice of the preposition depends on the requirements of the modified noun, as in surprise at, experience in, skill in, apology (excuse) for, objection to.

 

The boy showed his skill in building model boats.

Imagine his surprise at seeing me.

 

When a gerund modifies a concrete noun it is preceded by the preposition for and the whole gerundial phrase as attribute expresses the purpose or destination of the thing mentioned.

 

The barometer is an instrument for measuring the pressure of the air.

 

A gerund as attribute may precede the noun it modifies in phrases bordering on a compound noun. A premodifying attribute is used without a preposition, as in a dancing master, a diving suit, a reading lamp, a spending habit, a working method, a writing career, a swimming pool, a walking stick, etc.*

* See 132.

 

The gerund as adverbial modifier

 

126. Owing to the variety of prepositions which may precede the gerund in the function of an adverbial modifier, a gerund may have different meanings.

 

1) As an adverbial modifier of time it may characterize the main verb from the viewpoint of priority, simultaneity, or posteriority. It may also indicate the starting point of the action. The prepositions used are on, after, in, before, since.

 

One day, on returning to his hotel, he found a note in his room.

At first he couldnt understand. After thinking it over he hit upon the explanation.

And Ill wash the dishes and clean up before coming to bed.

I had had a lot of thoughts since leaving the office.

 

2) As an adverbial modifier of reason it is introduced by the prepositions because of, for, from, for fear of, on account of, through.

 

So you see I couldnt sleep for worrying.

We lost ourselves through not knowing the way.

He (Jolyon) took care not to face the future for fear of breaking up his untroubled manner.

 

3) As an adverbial modifier of manner the gerund generally occurs with the prepositions by or without.

 

You will achieve a lot by felling the truth.

She dressed without making a sound.

 

4) As an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances it requires the preposition without.

 

They danced without speaking. (= They danced and didnt speak)

The door opened without having been knocked on.

 

5) As an adverbial modifier of concession it is preceded by the preposition in spite of:

 

I dont ask any questions in spite of there being a lot of questions to ask.

 

6) As an adverbial modifier of condition it takes the prepositions without, but for, in case of.

 

You wont enrich your vocabulary without making use of an English dictionary. (= if you dont make use

of...)

But for meeting John, I shouldnt have become an English teacher.

 

7) As an adverbial modifier of purpose it is introduced by the preposition for, though this pattern is rather rare.

 

They took her to the station for questioning.

 





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