15The gerund

128 SummaryGerund forms • 129

A gerund is an ing-form, e.g. walking.Walking is good for you.

Gerund clauses • 130

We can put an object or adverbial after the gerund.I like having friends round for coffee.

The gerund can also have a subject.I don't mind you/your having friends round.

Some patterns with the gerund •131

Finding the money wasn't easy.It wasn't easy finding the money.The difficult part was finding the money.We practised catching the ball.I don't like people bossing me around.

Preposition + gerund • 132

I apologized for being late.Are you interested in buying this car?I ran all the way home without stopping.

Determiner + gerund • 133

The dancing went on late into the night.

129 Gerund forms1 Active Passive

Simple playing being playedPerfect having played having been played

For examples of the passive, • 112.

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2 A simple gerund is the ing-form of a verb, e.g. meeting, dancing, jogging.It was nice meeting you.Dancing is not allowed.

NOTE

a There are some spelling rules for the ing-form.Leaving out e: lose losing • 292(1)Doubling of some consonants: stop stopping • 293

b An ing-form can be a gerund or an active participle, depending on how we use it in asentence.Gerund: Jogging is good for you.Participle: We watched the students jogging round the campus.But in some contexts it may be difficult to say whether an ing-form is a gerund orparticiple, and it is not always important to know the difference. Remember that using theform correctly is more important than naming it.

3 We use a perfect gerund for something before the time of the main clause.Sarah remembered having visited the place before.(The visit was before the memory.)

But we do not need to use the perfect if it is clear from the context that the timewas earlier.

Sarah remembered visiting the place before.

4 In the negative, not comes before the gerund.It's difficult not smoking for a whole day.I can't help not being amused by these silly jokes.

130 Gerund clauses1 A gerund clause can be just a gerund on its own, or there can be an object or

adverbial after it.No one likes washing the car.Going on holiday always makes me feel uneasy.

NOTE

a For letter-writing, sky-diving, • 283(3).b An adverb can sometimes come before the gerund rather than after it.

We didn't want to risk completely spoiling the evening.

2 A subject can come before the gerund.We rely on our neighbours watering the plants while we're away.I dislike people asking me personal questions.

The subject can be possessive, especially when it is a personal pronoun or a name.It's a bit inconvenient you/your coming in late.Do you mind me/my sitting here?I'm fed up with Sarah/Sarah's laughing at my accent.

The possessive is more formal, and it is less usual in everyday speech.

But we are more likely to use a possessive at the beginning of a sentence.Your coming in late is a bit inconvenient.Sarah's laughing at my accent is getting on my nerves.

131 Some patterns with the gerund

1 Gerund clause as subjectDigging is hard work. But choosing the colour won't be easy.Keeping a copy of your letters is a good idea.I think walking in the country is a lovely way to spend a day.

In subject position, the gerund is much more usual than the to-infinitive. Tochoose the colour... is possible but rather formal.

We can also use the empty subject Preferring forward to the gerund clause. • 50(5)It won't be easy choosing the right colour.

But the to-infinitive is more usual after it.It won't be easy to choose the right colour.It's a good idea to keep a copy of your letters.

The gerund is more usual as subject, but the to-infinitive is more usual after it.Heating a big house is expensive. It's expensive to heat a big house.

131 Some patterns with the gerundPAGE 161

2 Patterns with it, there and have

a Here are some patterns with it and a gerund.It's no good arguing. I've made up my mind.It might be worth taking the guided tour.It wouldn't be much use trying to stick the pieces together again.It was quite an experience going camping.It's a nuisance being without electricity.It's great fun skiing down a mountain.

NOTE

a After use, experience, nuisance and fun we can also use a to-infinitive.b There are also these patterns with worth.

It might be worth it to take the guided tour. The guided tour might be worth taking.

b We can use there with problem/difficulty and a gerund.There won't be any problem parking.

c There is also a pattern with have (= experience) and a gerund.You won't have any problem parking.We had great fun skiing down the mountain.

3 Gerund clause as complement after heJeremy's hobby is inventing computer games.What I suffer from is not being able to sleep.

4 Verb + gerund

a We can use a gerund after some verbs.Someone suggested going for a walk. Do you mind waiting a moment?I can't help feeling depressed sometimes. Imagine never having been abroad.

For a list of verbs taking the gerund or to-infinitive, •121.

b Sometimes we can use a finite clause. • 262(1)Someone suggested (that) we might go out for a walk.

But with some verbs this is not possible.NOT I've finished that I tidy my room.

5 Verb + object + gerundI hate people laughing at me.The arrangements involve you/your giving everyone a lift. • 130(2)How can they justify lives being put at risk?

We can use an object + gerund after these verbs:

avoid (not) forget love prefer riskcan't help hate mean prevent savedislike imagine mention remember stopdread involve mind resent tolerateenjoy justify miss resist understandexcuse like

NOTE

For an object + infinitive after some verbs of wanting and liking, • 122(2d).I hate people to laugh at me.

132 Preposition + gerund

1 Introduction

a A gerund often comes after a verb + preposition, an adjective + preposition or anoun + preposition. We do not use a to-infinitive in these patterns.

We believe in giving people the freedom to choose.My husband isn't very good at cooking.It's just a matter of filling in a form.

b We can also use a gerund after than, as and like expressing comparison.A holiday is nicer than sitting at a desk.Walking isn't as good for you as swimming.

We can also use a gerund after as well as, instead of without etc. • (8)

2 The pattern I succeeded in finding outJake is thinking of selling his motor-bike.Sue insists on reading the letter.Let's get on with addressing the envelopes.

We can use a gerund after these prepositional verbs:

admit to benefit from get on with rely on(dis)agree with care for insist on resort toaim at confess to object to succeed inapologize for count on pay for think of(dis)approve of depend on put up with vote forbelieve in feel like

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PAGE 163 132 Preposition + gerund

We can also use verbs with about e.g. talk about, think about, worry about.People were complaining about having to walk so far.

With most of the verbs in this pattern, the gerund can have a subject.Sue insists on everyone reading the letter.

3 The pattern They prevented me from speakingA gerund can also follow a verb + object + preposition.

I'd like to congratulate you on breaking the world record.The article accuses the government of concealing important information.

We can use:

accuse ...ofblame... forcharge... withcongratulate ...on

deter... from forgive... for stop... fromdiscourage... from prevent... from strike ...asexcuse... for punish... for thank... forexcuse... from remind ...of use... for

a We can also use verbs with about, e.g. tell, inform, warn.I warned you about leaving your money around.

b In the passive, the preposition comes directly after the verb.The government is accused of concealing important information.

4 The pattern She's keen on ridingA gerund can follow an adjective + preposition.

I'm nervous of saying the wrong thing.What's wrong with borrowing a little money?

We can use:afraid ofamazed atangry about/atannoyed about/atanxious aboutashamed ofaware ofbad atbored with

capable ofcontent withdependent ondifferent from/toexited about/atfamous forfed up withfond ofgood at

grateful forguilty ofhappy about/withinterested inkeen onnervous ofpleased about/withready for

responsible forsatisfied withsorry about/forsuccessful insurprised atused to • 100(2c)worried aboutwrong with

5 For joining and to join

a After some verbs and adjectives we can use either a preposition + gerund or ato-infinitive, with no difference in meaning.

The people voted for joining/voted to join the European Community.

We can use these expressions:aim at doing/to doamazed at finding/to findangry at finding/to findannoyed at finding/to findcontent with being/to begrateful for having/to have

pay for having/to haveready for taking/to takesatisfied with being/to bethankful for having/to havesurprised at finding/to findvote for doing/to do

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b But sometimes the to-infinitive has a different meaning from the preposition +gerund. Details are in the notes below.

NOTE

a Agree with means to think that something is right, but agree to means to make a decision.I don't agree with cutting down trees. I think it's wrong.We all agreed to meet the next day.

b We use tell... about and remind... of to report statements and thoughts.I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.

But tell/remind someone to do something reports an order or reminder.I told you to keep that card safe.Why didn't you remind me to bring a compass?

c Keen on/interested in usually means a general interest, but keen to/interested to means awish to do a particular thing.

Simon is keen on cycling/interested in cycling. He does quite a lot of it.Simon is keen to go on the trip. He's never cycled in Scandinavia before.Simon was interested to hear about your cycle tour.

d Happy about and pleased about express pleasure. We can also use a to-infinitive.Sam was pleased about winning/pleased to win a prize.

Happy to and pleased to are also often used in polite statements.I'm pleased to meet you. We shall be pleased to accept your offer.

e Afraid to can only express unwillingness caused by fear. Afraid of can have the samemeaning, or it can express fear about what might happen.

Many old people are afraid to cross/afraid of crossing the road in case they have anaccident.Many old people are afraid of having an accident when they cross the road.NOT afraid to have an accident

f Anxious to means 'wanting to', but anxious about means 'worried about'.I'm anxious to get this business settled quickly.Rodney was anxious about making a mistake.

g Ashamed of expresses shame about something. Ashamed to expresses unwillingnesscaused by shame.

I do feel rather ashamed of having told Lucy a lie.I don't think Rex can afford to pay us back, but I expect he's ashamed to admit it.

h Sorry about/for or sorry to have done expresses an apology for an earlier action. Sorry with asimple to-infinitive expresses an apology for a present action.

I'm sorry for causing/sorry to have caused all that trouble yesterday.Sorry to disturb you, but can I have a word?

We also use sorry with a simple to-infinitive to express regret about what we say or hear.I'm sorry to have to say this, but your work is far from satisfactory.I was sorry to hear your bad news.

6 To do or to doing?To can be part of a to-infinitive, or it can be a preposition.

I hope to see you soon. (hope + to-infinitive)I look forward to seeing you soon. (look forward to + gerund)

We can also put a noun phrase after the preposition to.I look forward to next weekend.

We can use a gerund (but not an infinitive) with the verbs admit to, confess to, faceup to, look forward to, object to, prefer ...to, resort to, take to; the adjectivesaccustomed to, close to, opposed to, resigned to, used to; and the preposition inaddition to.

NOTE For used to do and used to doing, • 100(2c).

132 Preposition + gerund

7 The pattern my success in finding outSome verbs and adjectives can take a preposition + gerund, e.g. succeed in doing,grateful for having. We can also use a preposition + gerund after a related noun.

I noticed Jeffs success in getting the price reduced.We expressed our gratitude for having had the opportunity.

Some other nouns can also take a preposition + gerund.How would you like the idea of living in a caravan?There's a small advantage in moving first.

We can use these expressions:advantage of/in excitement about/at possibility ofaim of/in expense of/in problem of/inamazement at par of prospect ofanger about/at gratitude for purpose of/inannoyance about/at idea of question about/ofanxiety about insistence on reason forapology for interest in satisfaction withawareness of job of success inbelief in matter of surprise atboredom with objection to task ofdanger of/in pleasure of/in work ofdifficulty (in) point of/in worry abouteffect of

8 The pattern before leaving

a Please switch off the lights before leaving.Instead of landing at Heathrow, we had to go to Manchester.The picture was hung upside down without anyone noticing it.She succeeded in business by being completely single-minded.How about coming round this evening?I still feel tired in spite of having slept eight hours.Despite your reminding me, I forgot.

We can use a gerund after these prepositions:after besides in on account ofagainst by in addition to sinceas a result of by means of in favour of throughas well as despite in spite of what aboutbecause of for instead of withbefore how about on without

NOTE

a A similar pattern is conjunction + participle. • 139(3)Although having slept eight hours, I still feel tired.

b On and in have special meanings in this pattern.On turning the corner, I saw a most unexpected sight.(= As soon as I had turned the corner,...)In building a new motorway, they attracted new industry to the area.(= As a result of building a new motorway,...)

c We cannot use a passive participle.The new drug was put on the market after being approved by the government.NOT after approved and NOT after been approved

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b We cannot use a finite clause or a to-infinitive after a preposition.NOT instead of we landed and NOT instead of to land

NOTE

a For in spite of/despite the fact that, • 246(4).b We can use a to-infinitive instead of for to express purpose. • 252(3)

These pages are for making/are to make notes on.

133 Determiner + gerund

1 The pattern the drivingWe can use a gerund after the, this, that, some, no, a lot of, a little, a bit of andmuch.

Nancy likes her new job, but the driving makes her tired.This constant arguing gets on my nerves.I'd like to find time for some fishing at the weekend.No parking. (= Parking is not allowed.)I've got a bit of shopping to do.

The + gerund is specific rather than general.The driving makes her tired. (= the driving she does in her job)Driving makes her tired. (= all driving, driving in general)

NOTE

a We can use an adjective before a gerund.My boss was fined for dangerous driving.

b A gerund is usually an uncountable noun, but we can sometimes use a/an or add a plural s.I could hear a scratching under the floorboards.The hostages suffered several beatings.

c A gerund means an action.Crossing the road here is dangerous. Building is a skilled job.

But there are also some nouns ending in ing which mean physical objects. These nounscan be plural.

We had to wait at the crossing. The square is surrounded by tall buildings.d For a driving lesson, • 283(2).e For do the shopping and go shopping, • 138(2).

2 The pattern the driving of heavy lorries

a A gerund clause can have an object.An important part of our work is keeping records.Playing ball games is not allowed.

When we use a determiner + gerund, the object has of before it.An important part of our work is the keeping of records.The playing of ball games is prohibited.

This pattern with of can be rather formal and is typical of an official, written style.

NOTE

Sometimes a noun phrase after of is the understood subject.I was disturbed by the ringing of the telephone. (The telephone was ringing.)

b Instead of a gerund, we often use other abstract nouns in this pattern. • 149(3)the management of small businesses the education of young children

Here management and education are more usual than managing and educating.

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