Герундий употребляется после следующих глаголов

и словосочетаний:

to accuse of to agree to to apologize for to approve of to complain of to congratulate on to depend on to feel like to forgive for to insist on to look like to object to

to persist in to prevent from to rely on to succeed in to suspect of to thank for to burst out to give up to go on to keep (on) to put off to look forward to

to admit to avoid to deny to enjoy to excuse to fancy(imagine) to finish to mind to postpone can’t help to be (get) used to be worth

• Would you mind closing the door? (Do you mind …)

• Would you mind my closing the door?

• They succeeded in finding a good flat.

• He didn’t feel like going out.

• He burst out laughing.

• He gave up smoking 2 years ago.

Герундиальная конструкция

Герундиальная конструкция состоит из именной части и герундия. Именная часть может быть выражена:

1) притяжательным местоимением или существительным в притяжательном падеже:

• Do you mind my smoking?

• Our talk was prevented by Richard’s coming back.

Если именная часть состоит из двух или более существительных, то притяжательный падеж не употребляется.

• I object to Mary and Jane going out on such a windy day,

2) существительным в общем падеже, если обозначает неодушевленный предмет.

• Her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening gently.

Иногда именная часть герундиальной конструкции может быть выражена местоимением в объектном падеже.

• She doesn’t approve of me gambling.

На русский язык герундиальная конструкция чаще всего переводится придаточным дополнительным предложением («тем, что»; «то, что», «как»).

• Her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening gently. – Ее мысли были прерваны тем, что дверь мягко открылась.

Exercises

Ex. 1. Translate the sentences into Russian, point out the Gerund.

1. I think of spending my next summer holidays in the Caucasus. 2. Everybody was surprised at seeing him there. 3. I lost much time in looking for her. 4. We did not succeed in getting tickets for the football match. 5. On learning that my friend was ill I went to see him immediately. 6. There was little hope of winning the contest. 7. She is always afraid of catching cold. 8. Swimming in warm weather is always pleasant. 9. When will you finish reading this book? 10. Do you mind my closing the door? 11. Before leaving for London I will let you know. 12. After receiving the prize the fellow thanked the sheriff. 13. This film is not worth seeing. 14. It's no use (бесполезно) translating this ar­ticle again. It has once been translated. 15. I like the idea of organizing a shooting contest. 16. On coming home, he found a man waiting for him there. 17. He insisted on learning the truth. On learning the truth he got very angry. 18. By cutting expenses, he succeeded in making ends meet. 19. She answered me without turning her head. 20. He came without being invited. 21. At last we found the bridge by asking a soldier.

Ex. 2. Transform these sentences using gerund.

Example: When I came home, I called him up. (on) – On coming home I called him up.

1. When he entered the room, he greeted everybody (on). 2. Before we go to the club, we often call for them. (before). 3. You can improve your pronunciation if you work at it in the laboratory (by). 4. When Robin Hood received the prize, he left the town. (on). 5. You will never know English unless you learn the grammar of the language (without). 6. While you were reading the text, you made a few sound mistakes. (in). 7. Before I go to bed, I usually listen to the latest news. (before). 8. Robin Hood helped the poor because he gave them food and shelter. (by). 9. When we arrived at the station, we saw that the train had left. (on). 10. The students developed their speaking skills because they practiced their English every now and then. (through).

Ex. 3. Make up sentences using gerund.

1. Do you mind my …? 2. She insisted on … 3. It is no use … 4. The lecturer began … 5. I decided to take a short rest after … 6. The teacher went on … 7. That book is not worth … 8. Everybody was surprised at … 9. I’ll let you know before … 10. “Please go on …”, the teacher said. 11. He stopped … 12. Everybody enjoyed … 13. I don’t mind … 14. I can’t help … 15. My watch needs … 16. Yesterday I had the pleasure of … 17. Most of us disliked the idea of … 18. We had no difficulty in … 19. Our students made much progress by

to close the door to go there now to try it again to describe the event to explain the rule to read to see us there to look through to do exercises to smoke a pipe to listen to the concert to go for a walk to laugh at him to clean the room to talk to her to stay there to repair to learn the new words to work hard

Ex. 4. Complete the sentences with a suitable word. Use each verb once only.

Have, go, write, use, study, get up, see, travel, smoke, say, learn, do, work, make, look after, pay, live, watch, become, eat, stop, help, walk, go out.

Example: 1. ... is unhealthy but a lot people find it difficult to stop. - Smoking is unhealthy, but a lot people find it difficult to stop.

2. I'm fed up with ... in the city - it's too dirty and crowded. 3. I enjoy ... in the garden at weekends. 4. I ran ten kilometres without ... . 5. He left the hotel without ... his bill. 6. I was surprised that she left without ... goodbye to anyone. 7. I'm not really interested in ... to university. 8. That machine? Oh, it's used for ... toasted sandwiches. 9. They don't like ... and go everywhere by car. 10. They've given up ... meat. 11. We were able to translate the letter into English without ... a dictionary. 12. It was a very long journey. I was very tired after ... on a train for 36 hours. 13. After ... the same job for ten years, I felt I needed a change. 14. ... children can be very tiring. 15. We are looking forward to ... you. 16. They are very keen on ... how to play chess. 17. ... television seems to be our national sport. 18. I have decided to stop ... in the evenings so that I can save some money for my holidays. 19. He's an artistic person - very good at ... poetry. 20. She is going to continue ... for another two years, until her exams. 21. They hate ... early in the morning. 22. Thank you for ... me to organize the party. 23. We love ... parties.

Ex. 5. Make up sentences.

1. In the river, enjoyed, swimming, everyone. 2. Don’t mind, joining, I, his, us. 3. Insists, being, on, he, the truth, told. 4. The bank, deny, robbed, they, having. 5. Not, speaking of, is, the problem, worth. 6. Meeting, avoids, journalists, he. 7. The main part, is, forward, being given, in the play, she, looking, to. 8. At home, feel, I, staying, like. 9. Left, without, his dinner, Tom, finishing. 10. Very early, to, used, he, getting up, is. 11. Noise, can’t, they, making, help. 12. Of, the law, having, he, broken, was accused. 13. A visa, receiving, postponed, again, he. 14. Her colleagues, in, persuading, she, succeeded. 15. Laughing, at the sight of the monkey, out, the audience, burst.

Ex. 6. Complete the sentences using Gerund.

1. My doctor advised me to give up … . 2. He accuses me of … . 3. The young man didn’t feel like … . 4. After a long time we eventually succeeded in … . 5. I wonder what prevented him from … . 6. I’m getting hungry. I’m looking forward to … 7. The arrested man was suspected of … . 8. Have you ever been accused of … . 9. She apologized for … . 10. I really object to … . 11. They are used to … . 12. Don’t put off … . 13. Everybody congratulated her on … . 14. He thanked us for … . 15. My friend insists on … .

Ex. 7. Translate into English.

1. Они продолжали разговаривать. 2. Она не могла не смеяться над ним. 3. Эту книгу стоит прочитать. 4. Он бросил курить несколько лет назад. 5. Он любит плавать. 6. Они избегали разговаривать с ней об этом. 7. Перестаньте разговаривать. 8. Он настаивает на поездке в Москву. 9. Я не хочу видеть тебя. 10. Я не возражаю, если вы поможете ему. 11. Наши друзья продолжили рассказывать о своем путешествии. 12. Мы с нетерпением ждем поездки на юг. 13. Он ушел не попрощавшись. 14. Мы согласились поработать в эти выходные. 15. Все поздравили его с тем, что он успешно сдал экзамены.

Ex. 8. Answer the questions using gerunds. Speak about yourself using Gerunds.

1. Do you mind getting up at 7 o'clock every morning? 2. When did you start studying here? 3. Do you like going to dis­cos? 4. Why don't you like going there? 5. Do you like to write “thank you” letters? 6. What is a good way of keeping fit? 7. Do you prefer travelling by plane or by ship? 8. Do you enjoy being challenged by new tasks? 9. Do you prefer doing practical things to reading or creative writing? 10. Do you enjoy talking to others about their opinions? 11. Do you like working under pressure? 12. Are you good at persuading others? 13. Is there any point in worrying about your friend's problems? 14. Do you keep in touch with your faraway relatives by dropping them a line or by giving them a ring? 15. Do you usually put much ef­fort into doing the job you like? 16. Do you have any difficul­ties in fulfilling the job you don't like? 17. Do you usually postpone doing it till next time? 18. Are you good at socializing with different people? 19. Are you good at using computers and learning languages? 20. Are you for or against learning things by heart?

Ex. 9. Read and translate the text. Point out Gerunds. Speak about Gillian Forbes.

A Flying Start

Gillian Forbes is only 17 and she has just got her pilot’s licence. She is the country’s youngest girl pilot. “How do you feel, Gillian?” I asked her after her test. “Wonderful!” Gillian cried. “I enjoy flying more than anything in the world. I can't imagine letting a week pass without spending some of my time in the air”. “Why did you start flying?” I asked. “I just love travelling in planes. I started learning to fly when I was very young”. “Would you consider flying as a career?” “I might, but I've got to pass my school exams now. There are some things you can't avoid doing!” “Excuse my asking”, she said, “but does eve­ryone in your family approve of your flying?” “Of course not!” I said. “What's your greatest ambition now?” “I want to learn to drive a car!” Gillian said with a big smile.