The characteristics of the gerund and the verbal noun

Forms Grammatical characteristics	The gerund	The verbal noun
MORPHOLOGY	Voice and perfect	being done, having done	---
The plural form	---	sufferings, comings and goings
S Y N T A X	Direct object	I like doing morning exercises.	---
Of-phrase and adjectival attributes	---	The doing of morning exercises was very good for me. The regular doing of morning exercises
Adverbs as a modifier	Doing morning exercises regularly will improve your health.	---
Articles	---	The doing of morning exercises. The acting was perfect.

From the table we can see that the distinctive features of the gerund are its verbal categories in the sphere of morphology and its verbal combinability. The distinctive features of the verbal noun are its nominal category of number and its noun combinability. It must be taken into consideration that a verbal noun is an abstract noun, and the use of the article and the plural form is determined by the requirements of the meaning and context.

It is more difficult to discriminate between a gerund and a verbal noun in cases where the verbal characteristics of the gerund are not apparent. This happens mainly when an -ing form is used as a single word without any modifiers or with such modifiers as occur with both the gerund and the verbal noun (His coming was unexpected. Her acting was perfect). In such cases the meaning of the form should be taken into account. Thus a gerund suggests a process, an activity, whereas a verbal noun denotes kinds of occupation (skating as compared to hockey), an art form (acting, painting), a branch of knowledge (engineering, spelling as opposed to pronunciation and as a synonym for orthography).

It goes without saying that an -ing form is a pure noun when it denotes an object, often the result of activity (a building - a house; a drawing, a painting - a picture). In such cases a noun unlike a gerund, may also combine with numerals, as in two drawings, four buildings, etc.

Exercises:

1. Use the indefinite gerund of the verb in brackets in the active or passive voice:

1. He looked forward to (to meet) his parents. 2. You can't be afraid of (to hurt) unless you've been hurt. 3. He took his time about (to answer). 4. But in fear of (to recognize) she lowered her gaze. 5. So I see. You're good at (to make) yourself at home. 6. Jack would have gone to his bedroom without (to see). 7. My sister would never leave without (to see) me. 8. He had got out of the habit of (to ask) ques­tions by demonstrators. 9. I seem to remember (to tell) not to grumble by someone. 10. At his departure Rose had con­tinued to weep, largely through fury at (to leave) alone with Nurse Williams.

2. Make up sentences, using gerundial phrases according to the model:

Model: (a) be tired of, (b) argue

I am tired of arguing.

1. (a) be good at, (b) make friends; 2. (a) be busy, (b)arrange an exhibition of the best photos of the year; 3. (a) be proud of, (b) be a pilot; 4. (a) be tired, (b) quarrel with smb; 5. (be afraid of, (b) catch a cold; 6. (a) be ashamed of; (b) be impolite to smb; 7. (a) be sure of, (b) be ill; 8. (a) be fond of, (b) dance; 9. (a) be worth, (b) remember.

Note: No preposition is used after “be busy” when it is followed by the gerund, e.g.: He is busy looking through the morning mail. Compare: I am busy with my work.

3. Make one sentence out of the following pairs of sentences by using gerundial phrases. The part in bold type is to become the predicate:

1. He is clever. There is no doubt about it. 2. Why waste time on such things? There is no sense in that? 3. He solves crossword puzzles very well. He is good at it. 4. He likes to talk music. He gets pleasure out of it. 5. The child usually drinks milk before going to bed. He is used to it. 6. He has an annoying habit. He mispronounces names. 7. You were running a risk. You might have caught cold. 8. You can’t treat him like a child. It’s no use.

4. Use the gerund in the appropriate form instead of the infinitive in brackets:

1. Here, they felt, was someone worth _______ (to take) a little trouble over. 2. “Of course,” I said, disappointed at _________ (to give) such a trifling commission. 3. So I got out my Norfolk suit which already had the appearance of ___________ (to put) away for a long time. 4. Women told one another that __________ (to photograph) by Mulliner was like (to undergo) some wonderful spiritual experience. 5. He couldn’t recollect ever _________ (to see) that man before in his life. 6. I don’t think I was unduly sensitive; in my opinion most people mind _______ (to laugh) at more than ever. 7. Mother jumped to the conclusion that the girl had gone out for the evening without ____________ (to tell) anybody.

5. Use the required form of the gerund and insert prepositions where necessary:

1. Good – bye, and thank you ever so much … (to come) with me. 2. She was afraid … (to go) on public transport. 3. She began to have frightful pains all over her, and she held her breath to prevent herself … (to cry) out and (to wake) her mother. 4. This was Daphne’s only chance … (to tell) them of her college life. 5. She had the local habit … (to place) the word “eh” at the end of her remarks, questions and answers alike. 6. I was aware … (to plunge) into a network of fresh difficulties. 7. His mother would not like the idea … (to eat) fruit unwashed. 8. “It seems to me an awfully selfish way … (to look) at things,” said Philip. 9. “I don’t see the use … (to read) the same thing over and over again,” said Philip. 10. Sandy could not remember … (to ask) about it. 11. I had not asked for advice, I was quite capable … (to advise) myself. 12. That’s no reason … (to give up). 13. It would be better to wait for him on the terrace where she was fond … (to sit) toward evening (to enjoy) the view of which she was never tired. 14. Dad would not dream … (to say) such a thing to anyone. 15. Miss Brodie was greatly taken aback and suffered greatly from a sense … (to betray). 16. He was looking forward … (to take) the tickets. 17. Are you thinking, Sandy, … (to do) a day’s wash­ing? 18. And then a minute or two afterwards someone else entered the room and expressed his surprise … (to find) Griffiths there. 19. She was on the point … (to obtain) permission to go for walks alone. 20. Jane, your nose wants … (to blow).

6. Use the correct form of the Gerund:

1. I think I’ll have a chance of (introduce) you to my friends. 2. I’ve just had the pleasure of (introduce) to your sister. 3. Everybody was surprised at her (leave) so soon. 4. I am tired of (treat) like a child. 5. You’ve changed so much that he might be excused for not (recognize) you. 6. She had to leave the house without (see) by anybody. 7. I remember (be) on friendly terms with him. 8. This matter wants (clear up). 9. She is a wonderful dancer. I couldn’t help (impress). 10. Boys always enjoy (swim). 11. The children were annoyed at (tell) to leave. 12. She looked upset. We suspected him of (tell) her the sad news.

7. Answer the following questions, using gerundial phrases according to the model:

Model: (1) How did he manage to calm her? (promise to return soon)

He managed to calm her by promising to return soon.

(2) How did they listen to her? (not interrupt)

They listened to her without interrupting.

1. How did you learn to speak the language so well? (speak) 2. How did the committee accept the terms? (not argue) 3. How did the teacher find the way to the child’s heart? (treat kindly) 4. How did he leave? (not say good – bye) 5. How did she learn to play the piano so well? (practise a lot) 6. How did he tell you about the accident? (not go into details) 7. How did they manage to get such excellent results? (use a new method) 8. How did the delegate manage to get there in time? (take a plane)

8. Change the construction of the sentences using the gerund:

Model : She laughed but she did not reply .

She laughed without replying .

1. She bowed her head but she did not speak. 2. I like when I do eve­rything myself. 3. I’m so tired because I sit at home. 4. She insisted that she should be called Joyce Emily. 5.Within less than a minute , after she apologized to her guest, she was in express lift to the main floor. 6. When he returned she went immediately into the dining-room. 7. I don’t remember that I met him in London. 8. After he examined the patient he said it was simply a case of nerve strain. 9. I am still a little afraid to be late. 10. I suggested that I should visit the Smiths. 11. She glanced round the comfortable consulting room before she answered . 12. He went on and didn’t pay any attention to her inter­ruption . 13. After he left his friends at the Institute he bought copies of the early editions of the post . 14. Tom realized that he had seen Jane before but he did not recog­nize her. 15. When he realized this his first thought was to leave the vicinity of the house as quickly as possible .

9. Replace adverbial clauses of time by gerundial phrases:

1. When he arrived at the airport he went to the left – luggage office first thing. 2. When he was looking through the documents he came across a very interesting paragraph. 3. After he had packed all the things he phoned for a taxi. 4. She hesitated before she enter-ed the room. 5. When I was passing their house I noticed that all the windows were dark. 6. After they settled down they started enjoying the place. 7. When I learned the results of the competition I rushed to the telephone booth. 8. When he reached the village he slowed down. 9. Before she rose from the table she made me a sign to follow her. 10. When she left school she got a job at the post – office.

10. Supply the missing prepositions to suit the syntactic function of the Gerund:

1. I stopped ___ opening the door. 2. This time he felt no surprise ___ meeting his friend. 3. ___ washing up she settled down in a comfortable armchair before the TV. 4. What did she mean ___ being busy? 5. He tore the note into pieces ___ reading it. 6. The Gadfly couldn’t run the risk ___ being seen. 7. I insist ___ remaining here. 8. The child nodded his head ___ replying. 9. I kept her ___ falling down. 10. ___ washing she broke a cup.

11. Translate the following sentences, using the Gerund in the function of an adverbial modifier:

1. Он включил меня в список экскурсантов без лишних разговоров. 2. Она уговорила меня ехать, сказав, что она присоединится ко мне через неделю. 3. Тем, что ты будешь надоедать ему, ты только рассердишь его еще больше. 4. Она уладила этот вопрос, не поднимая лишнего шума. 5. Проснувшись, я не сразу понял, где нахожусь. 6. Проходя мимо их дома, он решил зайти. 7. После окончания школы она стала работать секретарем. 8. Не вдаваясь в подробности, он сразу перешел к существу дела. 9. Упаковывая вещи, он вдруг вспомнил, что совершенно машинально (не думая) вместе с документами упаковал и билет. 10. Мы чувствовали себя бодро, несмотря на то, что были очень голодными. 11. Перед тем, как лечь спать, он решил написать письмо домой.

12. Analyse the ing - form stating whether they are gerunds or verbal nouns:

1. I hate the idea of your wasting your time. 2. I was afraid of being called upon to give evidence against her. 3. The twins devotedly gave up their day to the cutting of sandwiches. 4. She was put out by being kept waiting. 5. I sat in the sun, extremely tired in my bones after the crossing of the mountain on the previous day. 6. She was angry at being put beside Tom. 7. He was engaged in overwhelming Helen with reproaches for not having told him of Jack’s change of sleeping quarters. 8. It was hot walking through the town but the sun was starting to go down and it was very pleasant. 9. Godfrey felt guilty at having gossiped to Olive about Lettie’s changes in her will. 10. It was good walking on the road. But it was lovely walking in the woods. 11. Poirot lost no time in visiting M. Hautet. 12. He crossed back into the doorway, and, slowly, to keep down the beating of his heart, mounted the single flight of stairs and rang the bell. 13. There was a tramping of feet. 14. No one ever thought of protecting Isabel. 15. He walked to the edge of the terrace, and looked down into the darkness; he could just see the pow­dering of the daisies on the unknown lawn. 16. Raising good cotton, riding well, dancing lightly were the things that mattered. 17. It was a habit with him to tell the doings of his day. 18. He liked dancing quickly. 19. Lewis had offices in Zurich and London, and his comings and goings were casual. 20. “I’m not very clever at guessing people’s ages,” she said coldly.

13. State the syntactic functions of the gerundial complexes. Translate the sentences into Russian:

1. She turned round on his entering the room. 2. She can’t bear thinking of it or speaking of it. And your saying that reminded her. 3. But of course some­one might have gone to the table without your noticing? 4. It was no good your doing things by halves. 5. I was too absorbed in my crying. 6. He com­plained, “I don’t like the idea of you all going off from early morning till late at night. I don’t like being alone, quite frankly.” 7. She changed the style of her dancing, her feet moved very quickly, and did not keep so strictly to the ground. 8. I can’t bear the thought of your deserting your post when your presence is so necessary.