Gerundial complexes as secondary predication constructions are formed by a noun in the genitive case (rarer in the objective case) or a possessive pronoun (a pronoun in the genitive case cf. somebody's) plus the gerund in any of its paradigmatic forms. For example: Ann's/her reading (being read), somebody's reading (being read/having been read), etc.
The choice of the way of translation of a gerundial complex greatly depends on the paradigmatic form of its gerundial component, its lexical meaning and on the lexical meaning of its nominal/secondary subject component. Besides, the function of such a gerundial complex in the sentence may influence its translation as well.
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Thus, when used as a complex subject, this secondary predication construction may be rendered depending on the paradigmatic form and meaning of its gerundial component, through the following Ukrainian syntactic units of the same function:
1) As a subordinate noun word-group or a subordinate clause:
Tom's coming was a blessing.
(Fitzgerald) /.
Her being ill will spoil every- ft /
thing. (Christie) .
It's no good your flying in tern- , -
ger. (Maugham) / .
The gerundial complex subject of this type may sometimes have two or more faithful versions in Ukrainian:
... Annett's being French might upset him a little. (Galsworthy)
1) , - 2) -
, - -
. .
2) When used as a complex predicative or part of a compound
verbal predicate, the gerundial complex may be translated into Ukrain
ian with the help of a functionally and semantically equivalent part of
the compound verbal aspect predicate expressed by an infinitive or
noun (as in the second sentence below):
The dollar at the Moscow Ex-
change began its climbing up
again. (M. News) / .
It was Shchedrvk's singing that
made it well-known in Poland and
now in France. (News from ,
Ukraine) .
3) When used as a complex object, the gerundial construction
may have various semantic, functional and partly structural realiza
tions in Ukrainian. The most often employed are the following:
a) The object subordinate clause:
/ didn't like his hearing such ,
stupid things. (Fitzgerald) .
Tom and Daisy were afraid of ,
finding out the truth. (Ibid.) .
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b) An object subordinate clause or a noun phrase, the choice of which rests with the translator, who suggests the most fitting lexical and structural equivalent (substitution) for the gerundial complex in Ukrainian. Thus, the gerundial complexes in the sentences below may have two equally faithful realizations in Ukrainian - either a subordinate clause or a noun:
She was wakened by someone knocking at the door. (S. Ross)
1) , / 2)
, .
think everybody looked forward to his coming back.
(Maugham)
1) , , 2) -,
. .
4) When used in the attributive function the gerundial complex may be translated in some ways, which are predetermind by the lexical meaning and structural form of the gerundial component. These ways are as follows:
a) An attributive subordinate clause:
... she was tortured by the... ,
thought of Michael's unhappiness
and her baby being looked after ,
by strangers. (Ibid.)
b) An attributive infinitival word-group or an infinitive:
There's always the chance of ͳ
her having a baby... (Ibid.) ( )
.
or: .
... there was no chance of their ...
being left even for a moment by
themselves. (Ibid.) /
.
5) When used in an adverbial function, the gerundial complex may respectively be translated as an adverbial modifier expressed by diyepryslivnyk or as a functionally corresponding subordinate clause (of time, cause, purpose and attending circumstances:
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On my being settled a t Doctor Strong's I wrote to her again... (Dickens).
1) ϳ , 2)
, .
. .
The gerundial complex expressing the adverbial function of purpose is translated by means of the corresponding subordinate clause:
Instinct made him step on the ³
accelerator with the purpose of ,
Daisy and Wilson leaving behind,
(Fitzgerald) ³.
The gerundial complex expressing the attendant circumstances may be translated into Ukrainian with the help of the corresponding subordinate clause or an adverbial (or substantival) word-group:
Dusk dropped down without his noticing... (Galsworthy)
ꠠ
(), ... ...
could know it without your telling me. (B. Sha w)
1) , 2) /
. .
