The functions of the gerund in the sentence
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.
Talkingmends no holes. (proverb)
Разговоры не помогают в беде.
Waiting for the Professor was a lame excuse for doing nothing. (Heym)
To, что мы ждали профессора, было слабым оправданием тому, что мы
ничего не делали.
My answering in the affirmative gave him great satisfaction. (Dickens)
To, что я ответил утвердительно, было ему очень приятно.
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.
It’s no use talking like that to me. (Shaw)
Бесполезно говорить со мной в таком тоне.
There was no mistaking the expression on her face. (Collins)
Выражения ее лица нельзя было не понять.
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)
Единственное средство от такой головной боли, как у меня, — это лечь
спать.
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)
Мы хотим поехать в Швейцарию и подняться на Монблан.
Joseph could not help admiring the man. (Heym)
Джозеф не мог не восхищаться этим человеком.
(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)
Я просто обожаю кататься верхом.
She enjoyed singing and playing to him. (London) (DIRECT OBJECT)
Ей доставляло удовольствие петь и играть для него.
The times were good for building... (Galsworthy) (PREPOSITIONAL
INDIRECT OBJECT)
Время для постройки дома было самое подходящее.
Charlie did not succeed in taking things easily. (Priestley)
(PREPOSITIONAL INDIRECT OBJECT)
Чарли не удавалось смотреть легко на вещи.
Predicative constructions with the gerund form a complex object as they consist of two distinct elements, nominal and verbal.
Perhaps you wouldn’t mind Richard’s coming in? (Dickens) (COMPLEX
OBJECT)
Может быть, вы не будете возражать против того, чтобы вошел Ричард?
Aunt Augusta won’t quite approve of your being here. (Wilde)
(PREPOSITIONAL COMPLEX OBJECT)
Тетя Августа будет не очень довольна тем, что вы здесь.
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)
Суизин широко открыл свои бесцветные круглые глаза, стараясь
услышать разговор.
Не was born with the gift of winning hearts. (Gaskell)
Он родился с даром покорять сердца.
She had a feeling of having been worsted... (Galsworthy)
У нее было чувство, что над ней одержали верх...
...there’s no chance of their getting married for years.(Galsworthy)
...нет никакой надежды на то, что они смогут скоро пожениться.
Presently there was the sound of the car being brought to the door.(Du
Maurier)
Вскоре послышался шум автомобиля, который подъезжал к двери.
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)
Оставив зонтик в передней, она вошла в гостиную.
Не was to have three days at home before going back to farm.(Galsworthy)
Он должен был пробыть три дня дома, прежде чем возвратиться на
ферму.
On reaching Casterbridgehe left the horse and trap at an inn. (Hardy)
Приехав в Кастербридж, он оставил лошадь и экипаж в гостинице.
Mr. Bumble’s conduct on being left to himselfwas rather inexplicable.
(Dickens)
Поведение мистера Бамбля, когда он остался один, было не совсем
понятно.
Upon wakingI found myself much recovered. (Swift)
Когда я проснулся (проснувшись), я почувствовал себя значительно
лучше.
In quitting the roomhe paused once more at my desk. (Ch. Bronte)
Выходя из комнаты, он еще раз остановился у моего письменного стола.
Clare turned at hearing her footsteps... (Hardy)
Услышав ее шаги, Клэр оглянулся.
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)
Джордж, услышав эту историю, усмехнулся.
The four girls, hearing him speak in the hall, rushed out of the library.
(Eliot)
Все четыре девочки, услышав, что он говорит в передней, выбежали из
библиотеки,
After reaching the second landing... I heard a sound of quiet and regular
breathing on my left-hand side. (Collins)
Дойдя до второй площадки лестницы... я услышал с левой стороны
спокойное и ровное дыхание.
Reaching the door of the roomoccupied by Cowperwood and Aileen, she
tapped lightly. (Dreiser)
Дойдя до двери комнаты, которую занимали Каупервуд и Эйлин, она т
ихонько постучала.
(b) As an adverbial modifier of manner the gerund is used with the prepositions by or in.
She startled her father by bursting into tears. (Gaskell)
Она напугала своего отца тем, что расплакалась.
The day was spent in packing. (Du Maurier)
День прошел за упаковкой вещей.
(c) As an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstancesthe gerund is preceded by the preposition without.
She was not brilliant, not active, but rather peaceful and statuesque without
knowing it. (Dreiser)
Это была женщина не блестящая, не энергичная, но она была очень
спокойна и величественна, сама того не зная.
(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)
...одна сторона галереи использовалась для танцев.
(e) As an adverbial modifier of conditionthe gerund is preceded by the preposition without.
He has no right to come bothering you and papa without being invited.
(Shaw)
Он не имеет права приходить и беспокоить вас и отца, если его не
приглашают.
(f) As an adverbial modifier of causethe 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)
Я чувствую себя лучше оттого, что долго прожил за границей.
I dared not attend the funeral for fear of making a fool of myself.(Coppard)
Я не смел присутствовать на похоронах, так как боялся поставить себя в
глупое положение.
(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 не + деепричастие 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 зная адреса мисс Бетси, Давид не мог ей написать.
Not knowing Miss Betsey’s address, David could not write to her. (CAUSE)
If не + деепричастие is used in the function of adverbial modifiers of attendant circumstances and of condition, it corresponds to without + gerund.
Давид уехал из Лондона, никому ничего не сказав.
David left London without telling anybody about it. (ATTENDANT
CIRCUMSTANCES)
Мальчики не могли уходить из Салем-Хауса, не спросив разрешения.
The boys could not leave Salem House without asking for permission.
(CONDITION)