7.2. Герундий

(THE G E R U N D)

Формы герундия
	Active	Passive
Indefinite	writing	being written
Perfect	having written	having been written

He likes writing letters He likes being written letters. He is proud of having spoken to this outstanding person. He is proud of having been spoken to.

Ему нравится писать письма Ему нравится, чтобы ему писали письма. Он гордится тем, что поговорил с этим выдающимся человеком. Он гордится тем, что с ним поговорили.

The Gerund is always used after:

1. Such verbs as: avoid involve consider keep delay like deny love dislike prefer enjoy regret excuse risk finish start forgive stop hate suggest 2. Verbs followed by prepositions: accuse of look forward to agree to object to apologize for persist in approve of prevent from complain of rely on congratulate on stop from count on succeed in depend on suspect of feel like thank for give up think of insist on 3. Word combinations: be afraid of be guilty of be angry for be interested in be bored with be pleased at be busy be proud of be disappointed at be sorry for be engaged in be sure of be fond of be surprised at be good at be worried about be grateful for be worth can’t stand be responsible for can’t help be no use have difficulty in 4. Prepositions: after on before without instead of by in spite of

1. Stop arguing and start working. 2. I suggest taking a taxi. 3. I don’t enjoy going to the dentist. 4. Would you mind putting your pet snake somewhere else? 5. I love going to discos. 6. The children prefer watching TV to reading. 7. She risks losing all her money. 8. She denied committing the crime. 1. He is thinking of leaving his job 2. They succeeded in finding a new flat. 3. Thank you for coming. 4. He was accused of having broken the law. 5. I insisted on his coming with us. 6. I apologize for being so awkward. 7. I don’t feel like working. 8. We are looking forward to seeing you again. 9. She suspected him of deceiving her. 10. All the happiness of my life depends on your loving me. 1. She was afraid of falling. 2. He couldn’t help laughing. 3. There is no use crying over split milk. 4. She was sorry for being rude. 5. He is proud of having won in the chess tournament. 6. Do you have any difficulty in getting a visa? 7. “The Titanic” is worth seeing. 8. Mr Snow is very busy writing his memoirs. 9. She can’t stand going to discos. 10. Mike is fond of collecting stamps. 11. Jill is good at drawing. 1. They ran five miles without stopping. 2. Before going to bed she locked the door. 3. John went to his office in spite of being ill. 4. You can improve your figure by doing gymnastics.

Ex. 288. Translate the sentences from English into Russian.

1. Have you finished writing? 2. Taking a cold shower in the morning is very useful. 3. I like skiing but me sister prefers skating. 4. It looks like raining. 5. My watch wants repairing. 6. I had no hope of getting the answer before the end of the month. 7. Thank you for coming. 8. He talked without stopping. 9. Living in little stuffy rooms means breathing poisonous air. 10. Iron is found by digging in the earth. 11. Can you remember having seen the man before? 12. He was on the point of leaving the club, as the porter stopped him. 13. After being corrected by the teacher, the students’ papers were returned to them. 14. At last he broke the silence by inviting everybody to walk into the dining-room.

Ex. 289. Translate the sentences from English into Russian.

1. I avoided speaking to them about the matter. 2. She denied having been at home last evening. 3. He enjoyed talking of the pleasure of travelling. 4. Excuse my leaving you at such a moment. 5. He gave up smoking a few years ago. 6. He keeps insisting on my going to the south. 7. Do you mind my asking you a question? 8. She could not help smiling. 9. The cold weather prevented the girls from going for long walks. 10. Does your work involve meeting a lot of people? 11. If you walk into the road without looking you risk being knocked down by a car. 12. The batteries of this radio need changing. 13. Have you ever thought of getting married? 14. I had difficulty in finding a place to live. 15. Do you think this book worth reading?

Ex. 290. Use the Gerund of the verb in brackets in the active or passive voice.

1. Why do you avoid _____________________(to speak) to me?

2. She tried to avoid _____________________________(to speak) to.

3. The doctor insisted on ____________________(to send) the sick man to hospital.

4. The child insisted on _________________________(to send) home at once.

5. He showed no sign of ______________________ (to recognize) me.

6. He showed no sign of _____________________________(to surprise).

7. He had a strange habit of ______________________(to interfere) in other people’s business.

8. I was angry of _____________________________(to interrupt) every other moment.

9. So I see. You are good at __________________(to make) yourself at home.

10. He looked forward to ___________________(to meet) his parents.

11. He hated _________________(to remind) people of their duties or_____________________

(to remind) of his.

12. The operator can set the machine in motion by __________________(to push) the button or

by ______________________(to press) the pedal.

13. Raymond didn’t like ______________________(to call) Ray.

14. Do you mind ______________________(to examine) the list?

15. I appreciate ____________________________(to invite) to your house.

16. He tried to avoid _______________________________(to see).

Ex. 291. Use the Gerund of the verb in brackets in any appropriate form.

1. I don’t enjoy _________________________(laugh) at by other people.

2. Letters were no use: he had no talent for __________________(to express) himself on paper.

3. The boys were punished for ____________________________(to break) the window.

4. He suddenly stopped _________________(to read). There was no point in

____________________(to go on) now.

5. That’s an interesting question. I don’t recall ever ______________________(to ask) that

question before.

6. I’m still hungry in spite of ______________________(to eat) four sandwiches.

7. He complained of _______________________________(to give) a very small room at the

back of the hotel.

8. It’s no good ______________________(to deny) it.

9. Since Tom was his best friend he helped him without ______________________(to ask).

10. The boy was very thirsty in spite of _________________________(to drink) a big cup of tea.

11. The apples on the tree need _______________________(to pick).

12. She admitted _______________________________(to steal) the money.

13. He apologized for __________________________________(not to invite) Jack to the party.

14. The baby went to sleep a few minutes after ____________________________(to feed).

15. Try and help the nurse by _____________________(to keep) quiet and tidy.

16. In spite of _______________________________(not to prepare) his homework Nick went

to school.

17. He got into the house by __________________(to climb) through a window, without

____________________________(to see) by anyone.

18. John mentioned about __________________________(to enter) the University.

19. Mary was chosen to feel the vacancy. She was very pleased __________________________

(to choose).

20. The little girl never gets tired of ___________________(to ask) her mother questions, but

her mother often gets tired of __________________________(to ask) so many questions.

Ex. 292. Change the sentences using the Gerund after the verbs to need, to want,

to require, to deserve and the adjective worth.

Examples: You should repair your car. Your car needs repairing.

You should buy these shoes. These shoes are worth buying.

1. It’s high time to dust the carpet, Jane. ____________________________________________

2. Oh, dear! You mustn’t drink the water. Filter it first. ________________________________

3. Don’t forget to invite them to the party. ___________________________________________

4. You should polish your shoes. ___________________________________________________

5. It’s high time to have your hair cut. _______________________________________________

6. You shouldn’t speak of this matter at the meeting. ___________________________________

7. This film is rather boring. You’d better go to the cinema next week _____________________

8. You should clean your coat. ____________________________________________________

9. It’ll be useful if you see this exhibition. ___________________________________________

10. You should water the roses and cut off the dead branches. ____________________________

Ex. 293. Answer the following questions according to the example.

Example: What did they speak of? (buy a house in Spain).

They spoke of buying a house in Spain.

1. What did she accuse her maid of? (steal a golden ring)

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What are you thinking of? (move to a new flat)

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Are there any things he approves of? (play tennis and chess)

___________________________________________________________________________

4. What do you suspect him of? (tell lies all the time)

___________________________________________________________________________

5. What did she succeed in? (find a rich husband)

___________________________________________________________________________

6. What did she complain of? (be cheated in the shop)

___________________________________________________________________________

7. What are you looking forward to? (see the New Year in)

___________________________________________________________________________

8. What does he insist on? (start at once)

___________________________________________________________________________

9. What will she agree to? (spend holidays in the country)

___________________________________________________________________________

10. What is your younger brother fond of? (play computer games)

___________________________________________________________________________

Ex. 294. Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. Alice isn’t interested _________ looking for a new job.

2. You are capable _________ doing better work.

3. She was afraid __________ going on public transport.

4. He was looking forward ____________ taking the tickets.

5. Newton, the famous scientist, was sometimes engaged ______ working out difficult problems.

6. Try to avoid _________ making him angry.

7. Is there anything here worth ________buying?

8. I’m very sorry ________ being late. It was very good of you to wait for me.

9. I have no objections ________ hearing your story again.

10. We had difficulty _______ finding a parking place.

11. He surprised us all _________ going away _________saying “Good bye”.

12. Please forgive me _______ interrupting you but would you mind _________ repeating that

last sentence?

13. There’s no point ________ arriving half an hour early. We’d only have to wait.

14. I’m accused ________ having a big breakfast every morning.

15. The weather is awful tonight. I don’t blame you ________ not wanting to go to the meeting.

16. Who is responsible _______ washing dishes after dinner?

17. The angry look on his face stopped me _________ speaking my mind.

18. I wish you do something to help, instead ________ standing there giving advice.

19. I’m accustomed _________ having a big breakfast.

20. You should take advantage ________ living here.

21. He showed us how to get to his house _______ drawing a map.

22. Mrs. Grant insisted ________ knowing the whole truth.

23. In addition ________ going to school full-time, Sam has a part-time job.

24. Where should we go for dinner tonight? Would you object ______ going to an Italian

restaurant?

25. The thief was accused _______ stealing a woman’s purse.

26. I’m not very good _______ learning languages.

27. How ________ playing tennis tomorrow?

28. She must be fed up _________ studying.

29. This knife is only ________ cutting bread.

30. Tom prefers working _______ doing nothing.

Ex. 295. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Я люблю танцевать.

2. Пола бросила курить.

3. Она предложила посетить картинную галерею.

4. Я сейчас сожалею о том, что сказал это.

5. Я подумываю о том, чтобы устроить вечеринку.

6. Ты не против того, чтобы пойти в кино?

7. Они отрицали то, что украли деньги.

8. После обсуждения экономических вопросов министр перешел к разговору о политике.

9. Как ты думаешь, мой пиджак нужно почистить?

10. Энн ненавидит летать на самолете.

11. Том не возражает против того, чтобы работать ночью.

12. Тебе нравится готовить?

13. Я предпочитаю водить машину, а не ездить на велосипеде.

14. Как насчет того, чтобы поиграть сегодня в теннис?

15. Я не мог помешать ему пойти туда.

16. Он пробежал десять километров без остановки.

17. С нетерпением жду встречи с тобой.

18. Он начинает свой рабочий день с чтения газет.

19. Они настаивают на том, чтобы заплатить за еду.

20. Она не одобряет азартных игр.

21. Этого человека подозревали в том, что он шпион.

22. Ждать больше не было смысла, поэтому мы ушли.

23. Этот фильм стоит посмотреть?

24. У него не было трудностей со сдачей экзамена.

25. Я помню, что меня уже спрашивали об этом.

26. Я терпеть не могу одалживать вещи у своих подруг.

27. Он вошел в комнату, не постучав.

28. Переходить реку в этом месте опасно.

29. Он отрицал, что видел этого человека.

30. Секретарь сейчас занята перепечаткой писем.

31. Он не выносит, когда ему лгут.

32. Дождь перестал?

33. Твое пальто нужно почистить щеткой.

35. Этот вопрос стоит обсудить.

36. Больше всего она ненавидела, когда ее поучали.

37. Они продолжали гулять по саду.

38. Простите, что я потерял вашу ручку.

39. Вы не против того, чтобы открыть окно?

40. Он боялся, что его посадят в тюрьму.