Gerund in English is the part of speech that includes the properties of a verb and a noun. It is not difficult to find it in the text - as a rule, it is a verb word, but with the ending "-ing". However, this is not a verb in a long form - the gerund is designated rather as a noun. And not only. By the way, this form of the verb is used in many languages, but there is no equivalent in Russian grammar.
Definition
Gerund is a modified form of a verb that ends in "-ing". It has the properties of a noun, that is, it can answer the questions "who?" or "what?" According to the rules for a gerund in English, this verb has an impersonal form, that is, it does not change in number, person, or declension. In addition, the gerund is used without an article.
If you make a transfersentences with a gerund, in some cases it will sound more like a noun, although it is characterized as a verb. For example, the phrase "I don't like getting up early, but I have to" can be translated as "Early rises are not for me, but I don't have to choose," or "I don't like getting up early, but I have to." This is an example of a simple active gerund as its most common form.
Problems for verbs ending in “-ing”
In English, the functions of the gerund are quite varied and wide. In order to visually designate them, we will give their definitions and some examples.
1. Subject
When a gerund in a sentence is the subject, it is translated as a noun, that is, it answers the question "who? what?". In addition, the gerund can answer the question "what to do?" in the context of a phrase or phrase. Remembering the lessons of Russian grammar, a predicate is a part of a sentence that denotes a certain action or state of objects. Here are examples of gerunds in English with subsequent translation.
| Original | Translation |
| Learning a Japanese is not easy. | Learning Japanese is not easy. |
| Problem solving is a part of almost every person's daily life both at home and in the workplace. | Problem solving is a part of almost everyone's daily life - both at home and in the workplace. |
| Overcoming these scientificprejudices is beyond the scope of this reply. |
Overcoming these scientific prejudices is beyond the scope of this answer. |
2. Definition
When using a gerund as a definition, it is placed after or before the word being defined. In this case, the preposition "for" or "of" is used. As a definition, the gerund is most often translated as a noun.
| Original | Translation |
| The school adopts a method of transliterating the English words with Greek characters. | The school uses the method of transliterating English words with Greek characters. |
| He didn't like the idea for going on river trip. | He didn't like the idea of going on a river trip. |
| Mastering audio requires years of training and practice. | Mastering sound requires years of study and practice. |
| He wondered about the implications of using this approach in the energy services sector as compared with other services sectors. |
He raised the implications of this approach for the energy services sector compared to other industries. |
3. Circumstance
When the gerund functions as a circumstance, it is always preceded by prepositions of time or mode of action. More common in bookish than spoken language.
Gerund, functioning in the text as a circumstance, is translated as a noun or as a special form of the verb - a gerund.
| Original | Translation |
| After reading a book, Ryan puts it down for about 2 weeks. | After reading the book, Ryan puts it away for two weeks. |
| The RFID chip is sewn inside a label that very clearly says "Please remove before wearing". | The RFID tag is sewn onto a label that says "Please remove before use". |
| How to cut back on sugar without noticing? | How to cut sugar without realizing it? |
4. Supplement
Gerund-addition in sentences is translated as a noun or a verb and is placed after the predicate. It complements the phrase, as if explaining the verb preceding it.
| Original | Translation |
| He mentioned having read it in the magazine. | He mentioned that he read it in a magazine. |
| I suggested watching the next episode. | I suggested watching the next episode. |
| Have you finished explaining the rules? | Have you finished explaining the rules? |
Also, a verb with the ending "-ing" is used in cases where after the verb an addition with the preposition "from" is required:
- Theyare not prevented from using these pages, but it is very inconvenient for them. - They are not prohibited from using these pages, but it is very inconvenient for them.
- Journalists were banned from attending any unauthorized demonstrations. - Journalists were banned from attending any unauthorized demonstrations.
5. The nominal part of the compound predicate.
In this case, the verb with the ending "-ing" is placed after the verb "to be".
| Original | Translation |
| Her hobby is bodybuilding. | Her passion is bodybuilding. |
| I enjoy playing jazz. | I like to play jazz. |
Gerund Forms
| Valid/Active Collateral | Passive/Passive | |
| Indefinite | 1) verb + "-ing" | 2) being + 3rd form verb |
| Perfect | 3) having + verb in 3rd form | 4) having been + verb in 3rd form |
As shown in the table, the gerund changes in tenses and has 4 types. Forms of the gerund in English can be divided into two subspecies: in active and passive voice.
- The form in indefinite tense is most often used and means an action that occurs at the same time as the main verb-predicate: I like singing inthe rain. - I like to sing in the rain.
- The second form indicates some kind of action that the object or thing is experiencing: A great deal of work is being done to enhance the skills of law-enforcement officials. - A lot of work is being done to improve the skills of law enforcement officers.
- The third form expresses some action that happened before the action that conveys the predicate. For example: She regretted now having made this call. She regrets now that she made that call. Sequence: first she called, then she regretted it.
- The fourth form of the gerund expresses the action that preceded the action and is used in the passive voice. That is, the action was tested on the object/subject. For example: We remember having been shown the picture. - We remember that we were shown this picture.
When is both the gerund and the infinitive used?
There are parts of speech denoting action, for which the use of both an infinitive verb (to do - what to do) and a verb with the ending "-ing" is allowed. These universal verbs include:
- to continue - continue;
- to begin - start;
- to learn - to learn;
- to start - start/start;
- to need - need;
- to try - try;
- to mean - to mean, to mean;
- to love - to love;
- to neglet - to neglect.
For example, "I tried to jump over puddle"will be the same in meaning as "I tried jumping over puddle". Translation: "I tried to jump over a puddle."
It will also have the same value if you use the sentence "It started to snow" or "It started snowing". Translation: "It started snowing".
Gerund or infinitive in different meanings
In sentences after the verb "to stop" the use of the infinitive and gerund in English is allowed, but their meaning is different. Consider two such cases:
- When a gerund is used after "stop": They stopped talking when teacher came in. - They stopped talking/stopped talking when the teacher came in; I stopped eating dairy a month ago - I stopped eating dairy a month ago.
- When an infinitive is used after the word "stop": They stopped to talk a little - They stopped to talk a little; The driver stopped to make way for an elderly woman - The driver stopped to let an elderly woman through.
In these examples, you can see that when the gerund is used, the execution of any action stops. If an infinitive verb is used after the word "stop", then the action stops to start another action.
In addition to the verb "to stop", the meaning of the following verbs also changes:
- to remember - remember;
- to forget - to forget;
- to regret - regret;
- to go on -continue.
When to use the gerund and when to use the infinitive?
In English, the gerund or the indefinite form of a verb is used in a variety of ways. More precisely, a number of verbs are supposed to be used only with a gerund, others - with an infinitive. Some verbs allow both of these forms. To more accurately understand the meanings of these verb parts of speech, we present a comparison table.
| Gerund | Infinitive |
| A more generalized action, and longer: Grass began sprouting up a week ago. - The grass started sprouting a week ago. | Indicates a more precise and shorter action: He managed to get to the exam on time. - He managed to get to the exam on time. |
| Gerund denotes a long action that is associated with the present and past tenses: I regret having had to speak in such general terms. - I'm sorry that I had to speak in such general terms. | In the infinitive form, the action refers more to the future tense: But we hope to see some tangible progression the weeks to come. - But we hope to see tangible progress in the coming weeks. |
| The verbs "forget" - "forget" and "remember" - "remember", in gerunds are used when there is a narration about the performed action. For example: Nicole forgot meeting me in Italy. - Nicole forgot to meet me in Italy. I remember buying a new phone at thesupermarket. - I remember buying a new phone from this supermarket. | The verbs "forget" - "forget" and "remember" - "remember" are used in the infinitive if some action is not performed, but is remembered, or if it is forgotten. For example: Emily forgot to call me back. Emily forgot to call me back. Just remember to show us your eyes and exit stage left. - Just don't forget to show us your eyes and remember that the exit from the stage is to the left. |
Gerund exercises in English
To consolidate our knowledge, let's do a short test with several options:
1. Do you like_serials on TV? (Do you like watching TV?)
- watch
- watched
- watches
- watching
2. Thank you for _ me. (Thank you for helping me)
- helping
- help
- to help
- helped
3. I'm afraid of _ mistakes. (I'm afraid to make mistakes)
- to make
- made
- make
- making
4. It is important _. (Important to note)
- to note
- noting
- note
- noted
5. Student: This task is too hard. I can't solve it. Teacher: Is it really too difficult for you _? (Student: This problem is too difficult. I can't solve it. Teacher: Is it really too difficult for you to solve this problem?)
- solving
- solve
- to solve
- solved
Answers to the gerund exercise in English:
1-d; 2-a; 3d; 4a; 5-c.
Gerund formation exercise
In this exercise, you need to form a gerund from the word in brackets and practice translating sentences. For example: Blowing bubbles is fun! - Blowing bubbles is fun!
- _ too much TV gives Crabster a headache. (watch)
- _ to loud music is bad for your ears. (listen)
- I think _ stamps is an interesting hobby. (collect)
- _ is the activity of trying to catch fish. (fish)
- _ is the most preventable cause of cancer in the world. (smoke)
Conclusions
So, to summarize:
- Gerund in English is a kind of intermediate concept between a noun and a verb. It is difficult to name just a noun from the verb gerund, since this part of speech has temporary forms, active and passive voice, can be used in sentences as an adverb.
- Gerund can be called a multifunctional verb - it can be subject, circumstance, object, attribute and predicate. It depends on the prepositions used in the phrase.
- Of course, the gerund may not be used as often in colloquial speech, especially its complex forms. However, it happens that native speakers use gerunds in their speech.
- Gerund and infinitive can be translated in the same way. However, some verbs are only used with a gerund, andsome are infinitive. There are also general verbs that allow the use of two verb groups, as well as verbs that change their meaning, for example, the verb "to stop", "to forget", "to remenber".
