Сложный герундиальный оборот

 

Сложный герундиальный оборот – это сочетание притяжательного местоимения или существительного в притяжательном или общем падеже с герундием, выступающее в предложении как единый (сложный) член предложения. Такие обороты обычно переводятся на русский язык придаточным предложением.

Как единый член предложения сложный герундиальный оборот может выполнять в предложении различные функции:

 

Функции Примеры Перевод
1. Сложное подлежащее John’s doing it at once is absolutely imperative. Совершенно необходимо, чтобы Джон сделал это немедленно.
2. Сложное дополнение He insisted on my returning soon. Он настаивал на том, чтобы я вернулся скоро.
3. Сложное определение There was no hope of our getting the tickets. Не было надежды, что мы получим билеты.
4. Сложное обстоятельство On the scientist’s appearing in the hall, there was loud applause. Когда ученый появился в зале, раздались громкие аплодисменты.

 

EXERCISES

 

Exercise 1. State the form of the gerund. Translate the sentences into Russian.

 

1. I don’t think the collection of essays is worth reprinting.
2. Getting several viewpoints is vital.
3. Can you recall having mentioned the fact to anyone?
4. After having been rejected by a dozen magazines, the article was published in The Globe.
5. Walking, riding, flying, dancing and so on are all familiar examples of motion.
6. We know of wood having been used as structural material in prehistoric times.
7. Apologizing for having stayed so long he asked Andrew to proceed with his investigation.

 

Exercise 2. Use the correct form of the gerund of the verb in brackets. Translate into Russian.

 

1. Why do you avoid ____ (see) me?
2. He tried to avoid ____ (see).
3. We insist on ____ (send) him there at once.
4. He insists on ____ (send) there instead of me.
5. Do you mind ____ (examine) the first?
6. The equipment must go through a number of tests before ____ (install).
7. I don’t remember ____ (ask) this question.
8. We know of the work ____ (carry out) in this laboratory.
9. He liked to do things without ____ (disturb) anyone or ____ (disturb).
10. You never mentioned ____ (speak) to them on the subject.
11. This is the result of our ____ (not specify) input or output variables for the network.
12. In spite of ____ (meet) with failure they continued experimenting.

 

Exercise 3. Join two sentences to make one sentence using the gerund. Use the following expressions: it is (of) no use, it is useless, it is (no) good, it is (not) worth (while), there is no point in.

 

Model: Don’t worry about it. It’s no use.
It’s no use worrying about it.
There is no point in worrying about it.

 

1. Don’t speak of the matter. It’s useless.
2. Consider the purpose of the investigation. It may be useful.
3. Don’t buy a second-hand car. It’s a waste of money.
4. Don’t try to escape. It’s no use.
5. Don’t learn rules without examples. It’s useless.
6. Don’t study if you are feeling tired. There is no point.
7. Think over the effects I have just described. It’s useful.
8. Don’t even try to persuade him. It’s a waste of time.

 

Exercise 4. Complete the sentences using by+the gerund. Use one of the following:

 

burst into tears strike the half-hour use a search engine
drive too fast tell the truth use blue laser light
slide down a rope use a powerful crane work regularly

 

1. You can put people’s lives in danger ____
2. You can improve you English ____
3. They escaped ____
4. You will achieve a lot ____
5. She frightened her friends ____
6. The hall clock greeted us ____
7. We were able to discharge the boat in 24 hours ____
8. DVD drives read DVD disks ____
9. You can find information on the Internet ____

 

Exercise 5. Write the correct preposition and write the correct form of the gerund.

 

1. He always depends ____ (get) help from other students.
2. Why did they insist ____ (do) everything themselves?
3. Did Mr. Johnson finally succeed ____ (solve) that problem?
4. You shouldn’t rely ____ (get) assistance from other people.
5. Our teacher doesn’t approve ____ (study) late at night.
6. He’s really quite capable ____ (complete) the work by himself.
7. She was proud ____ (finish) the work in such a short time.
8. Mr. Foster constantly worries ____ (lose) his position.
9. The bad weather prevented them ____ (leave) last Friday.
10. I’m not particularly fond ____ (attend) lectures.
11. You can access many free and legal music files ____ (download) ____ (visit) www.mp3.com.

 

Exercise 6. Here are some common set expressions with the gerund. Match them with the explanations.

 

1. It’s no use crying over spilt milk (proverb). a. No one knows/No one can tell.
2. There’s no knowing/telling (what he’ll do). b. I don’t need to tell you.
3. It goes without saying ... c. People often have strange likes and dislikes.
4. There’s no accounting for taste. d. There’s no point in making fuss about something we can’t put right.

 

Exercise 7. Match A and B. Translate the sentences.

 

  A   В
1. We very much appreciate a) my leaving till the next day.
2. He strongly denied b) their meeting that afternoon.
3. We enjoyed c) her taking more responsibility.
4. The chairman suggested d) the band’s playing very much.
5. I agreed to delay e) our postponing the question till later.
6. He should consider f) your helping us.
7. I can’t excuse g) your meeting Miss Brown!
8. You must pardon h) our escaping.
9. Would you mind i) Jim arriving so late.
10. I can’t bear j) you/your bringing me breakfast in bed.
11. They can’t prevent k) Jane practicing in the room next to yours?
12. Please forgive l) him/his whistling when I’m trying to concentrate.
13. I really miss m) her not answering our invitation.
14. Fancy n) my not getting up.

 


 

Exercise8. Below is a list of verbs which can take either the to-infinitive or the gerund with little change of meaning. Read them and translate into Russian.

 

advise bother dislike intend need prefer require
allow can’t bear encourage like neglect propose start
begin continue hate love permit recommend want

 

Exercise 9. Explain the use of the infinitive and the gerund in the following sentences.

 

1. What do you intend to do? We intended going to Rome.
2. John agreed to do it in order to please his mother. We agreed on making an early start.
3. That man is always bothering me to lend him money. Don’t bother about getting dinner for me today.
4. Ann prefers drinking tee to coffee. Would you prefer to have dinner now or later?
5. She can’t bear being laughed at. He can’t bear to see the suffering that lies in her face.
6. He neglected to write and say “Thank you”. Don’t neglect writing to your mother.
7. I hate listening to loud music when I’m reading. I hate to tell you this.
8. I would love to have a party, but my parents won’t let me. She loves sunbathing.
9. He prefers watching football to playing it. He would prefer to watch basketball.
10. She can’t bear to be alone. She can’t bear just sitting around doing nothing.

 

Exercise 10. Use the infinitive or the gerund in the following sentences.

 

1. I’d advise ____ buying/to buy your tickets well in advance if you want ____ travelling/to travel in August.
2. Students are required ____ taking/to take three papers in English literature.
3. These books are required ____ reading/to read for the examination.
4. His parents won’t allow him ____ staying/to stayout late.
5. She wants me ____ going/to go with her.
6. He didn’t need ____ reminding/to be reminded about it.
7. Does he need ____ knowing/to know?
8. He is not allowed ____ staying/to stay out late.
9. Banks actively encourage people ____ borrowing/to borrow money.
10. We do not allow ____ smoking/to smoke in the hall.
Exercise 11. Match up the beginnings and endings of the following sentences. Use the infinitive or the gerund.

 

1. Come on, you kids! Stop ____ a) (rain).
2. The car had to stop suddenly ____ b) (shout). You’re driving me crazy.
It has stopped ____ c) (avoid) crashing into a cow standing in the road.

 

4. You’ll remember____ a) (see) his face in a police identikit picture.
5. She remembered____ b) (fill) the car up with petrol, won’t you?
6. Do you remember____ c) (switch) the lightsoff before we came out?

 

7. Try ____ a) (sleep) on your back as a cure for snoring?
8. Don’t try ____ b) (knock) at the back door if nobody hears you at the front door.
9. Have you tried ____ c) (swim) across the river. It’s dangerous.

 

10. Being a doctor means____ a) (call) her but I’ve been so busy lately.
11. I didn’t mean ____ b) ( read) your letter.
12. I’ve been meaning ____ c) (work) long hours and (have) a fragmented social life.

 

13. I regret ____ a) (tell) him he was pathetic, I got a bit angry, that’s all.
14. I regret ____ b) (advise) you that the course is now full.
15. I regret ____ c) (tell) you that there is very little chance of recovery.

 

16. Having defeated the champion in the opening match, he went on ____ a) (get) a first-class degree.
17. I hope it won’t go on____ b) (rain) all day.
18. After an unsuccessful first year at university, he went on ____ c) (win) tournament.
19. Don’t forget ____ a) (take) the car to the garage on Monday – the brakes need repairing again.
20. I’ll never forget ____ b) (pay) me.
21. He has forgotten ____ c) (hear) his singing the part of Boris Godunov.

 

22. She wants ____ a) (cut).
23. Her hair wants ____ b) (go) to Italy.
24. If you truly want ____ c) (help), just do as I say.

 

  25. It needs ____ a) (be done carefully).  
  26. He needs ____ b) (rewrite).  
  27. This chapter needs ____ c) (be kept informed) about developments.  
Exercise 12. Choose the correct item.
             

 

1. They seem ____ what they’re doing.
  A. knowing B. to know C. know
2. Tell the children to stop ____ their father.
  A. bothering B. to bother C. bother
3. Experienced seamen will advise you about ____ in this weather.
  A. sailing B. to sail C. sail
4. Their fears proved ____ groundless.
  A. being B. to be C. be
5. I would rather ____ a nice pair of trousers to the dance last night.
  A. wear B. wore C. have worn
6. ____ getting lost, they should take a map and compass.
  A. Avoiding B. To avoid C. Avoid
7. I don’t intend ____ long.
  A. staying B. to have stayed C. stay
8. I hope ____ my English quickly by studying hard.
  A. improving B. to improve C. improve
9. I prefer ____ vegetables to ____ meat.
  A. eating, eating B. to eat, eat C. to eat, eating
10. Unlike baby animals, human children need many years to learn how ____ on their own as adults.
  A. living B. to live C. live

 

Exercise 13. Complete the sentences using the gerund or the infinitive of the verb in brackets. Remember the usage of the preposition toin every case.

 

1. I’m accustomed to ____ (work) hard.
2. In addition to ____ (be) a tool of science, mathematics is also an art form.
3. We are looking forward to ____ (carry out) this investigation.
4. This allows fine technological operations to ____ (automate).
5. He can’t get used to ____ (log on) with a password.
6. Our boss objects to ____ (use) any different method.
7. Are you accustomed to ____ (ask) questions you cannot answer?
8. They objected to ____ (use) greater voltage in this case.
9. A PC is powerful enough to ____ (support) high level language programming.
10. He objected to ____ (pay) expensive telephone calls for Internet access.
11. He said he wasn’t used to ____ (speak) in public.
12. Hard work is the key to ____ (pass) examinations.
13. I want to ____ (upgrade) my computer.
14. He was the first to ____ (realize) the difficulty of the situation.

 

Exercise 14. Choose the gerund or the infinitive to complete the sentences.

 

1. My friend promised ____ (return) the book very soon.
2. Most people enjoy ____ (write) letters to their friends.
3. Have you ever considered (try) something different?
4. I would appreciate ____ (hear) from you as soon as possible.
5. Would you mind ____ (wait) for 15 or 20 minutes?
6. We don’t dare ____ (suggest) that possibility to them.
7. I can’t stand ____ (listen) to his complaints any longer.
8. Don’t switch off without ____ (close down) your PC.
9. Please stop ____ (interrupt) me in the middle of a sentence.
10. Smith claims ____ (be) an expert on that particular subject.
11. You needn’t learn how to ____ (program) in HTML before ____ (design) web pages.
12. Why do you always put off ____ (write) to your friends?

 

Exercise 15. Supply the correct forms of the gerund or the infinitive. Give two forms where both are possible.

 

1. Do you remember ____ (use) a smartcard for the first time?
2. Remember ____ (post) the letters on your way home.
3. I’d prefer ____ (pretend) I didn’t hear what you just said.
4. I prefer ____ (borrow) books from the library to (buy) them.
5. Ann was afraid ____ (add) an extension board herself.
6. I’m afraid of ____ (lose) sensitive information.
7. She began ____ (test) the sample.
8. We had to postpone ____ (upgrade) his PC.
9. He tried to ____ (hack into) the system without ____ (know) the password.

 

Причастие (The Participle)

 

Причастие – это неличная форма глагола, сочетающая свойства глагола, прилагательного и наречия. Обладая свойствами прилагательного, причастие выступает в функции определения к существительному.

 

She was looking at the falling leaves. Она смотрела на падающие листья.
The engineer carrying out the experiment is a well-known scientist. Инженер, проводящий эксперимент, известный учёный.

 

Обладая свойствами наречия, причастие может быть обстоятельством и характеризовать действие, выраженное сказуемым.

 

He was lying on the sofa thinking. Он лежал на диване, раздумывая.

 

Обладая свойствами глагола, причастие может:

а) иметь дополнение:

 

Having spent all his money, he returned home. Потратив все деньги, он вернулся домой.

 

б) определяться наречием:

 

Having finished his work quickly, he left the room. Быстро завершивработу, он вышел из комнаты.

 

в) иметь формы залога и временной отнесенности:

 

Формы причастия

Tenses Действительный залог Active Voice Страдательный залог Passive Voice
Present Participle (Participle I) writing being written
Perfect Participle having written having been written
Past Participle (Participle II) – written

 

Формы Present Participle (Active и Passive)выражают действия, происходящие одновременно с действием, выраженным сказуемым.

 

I went to sleep listening to music. Я заснул, слушая музыку.

 

Perfect Participle (Active и Passive)употребляется для обозначения действия, предшествующего действию, выраженному сказуемым.

 

Having photocopied all the papers, the secretary put them back in the folder. Сделав копии всех документов, секретарь положила их обратно в папку.

 

Past Participle переходных глаголов является страдательным причастием прошедшего времени и имеет одну форму, которая совпадает с третьей формой глагола.

 

The landscape painted by my father was very beautiful. Пейзаж, написанный моим отцом, был очень красив.