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Predicative constructions (complexes) with the gerund - Coggle Diagram
Predicative constructions (complexes) with the gerund
Predicative constructions (complexes) with the gerund
Jim's coming was a blessing. (subject)
The main thing is their arriving in time (predicative)
Do you mind our waiting here? (direct object)
Nobody objected to my friends being present too. (prepositional object)
There is no sense in your staying here. (attribute)
How did you get out without anybody seeing you? (adverbial modifier)
The Gerund compared with Participle I
Participle I is never used as the subject, whereas it is one of the main functions of the gerund.
In the function of an attribute the gerund is always used with a preposition:
Look at these arguing women! (Participle I)
There is no point in arguing with them. (Gerund)
In the function of an adverbial modifier Participle I is never used with prepositions; it can be
used with the conjunctions when, while, as if. The Gerund in this function is always used with a preposition:
(While) looking through the text I found several mistakes. (Participle I)
In looking through the text I found several mistakes. (Gerund)
In the combinations of an ing-form + a noun we deal with a Participle as an attribute if the
person denoted by the noun performs the action expressed by the ing-from:
a dancing girl (a girl who dances)
The Gerund in such a combination is part of a compound noun and the person (or thing) denoted by the
noun does not perform the action expressed by the ing-form:
a dancing hall (a hall for dancing)
The particle ‘not’ + an ing-form is an adverbial modifier of cause where the ing-form is a
Participle:
Not knowing her address we could not send her a telegram.
The preposition ‘without’ + an ing-form is an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances where
the ing-form is a Gerund:
He spoke without looking at me.
The Gerund compared with the Verbal Noun
The Gerund has tense and voice distinctions: writing – having written – being written – having been
written, the Verbal Noun has only one form – writing.
The Gerund is not used with an article, the Verbal Noun can be used with an article:
He stopped singing suddenly. (Gerund)
The singing stopped suddenly. (Verbal Noun)
She gave her hair a good brushing. (Verbal Noun)
The Gerund has no plural form, the Verbal Noun can be used in the plural:
I am not interested in your likings and dislikings.
The Gerund of a transitive verb takes a direct object:
Reading detective stories is his hobby.
The Verbal Noun takes a prepositional object:
The writing of the novel took him many years.
The Gerund can be modified by adverbs:
She is incapable of singing well. The Verbal Noun can be modified by adjectives:
Her wonderful singing delighted everybody.