The Gerund

Exercise 1 p. 156. Find gerunds in the following sentences and state their noun and verb characteristics. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Travelling abroad can be exciting enough, but just now it is more exciting being here. 2. She stopped answering my letters and I wondered what the matter might be. 3. Can you recall having mentioned the fact to anyone? 4. Thorpe was terrified, terrified of having to touch something, and even more, of being touched. (S.H.) 5. Young Jolyon, on the point of leaving the club, had put on his hat, and was in the act of crossing the hall, as the porter met him. (Gls.) 6. After having been rejected by a dozen magazines, they (the stories) had come to rest in The Globe office. (Ldn) 7. I wonder at Jolyon's allowing the engagement. (Gls.) 8. I understand perfectly your wanting to leave. (Ft) 9. People will talk, there is no preventing it. (Shr) 10. The host broke the awkward silence by inviting the guests to proceed to the dining-room. 11. This is laying the blame at the wrong door. 12. On being told the news she gave a gasp of surprise. 13. The idea is worth considering.

Exercise 2 p. 157. Open the brackets using the gerund of the given verb

a) in the active or passive voice (non-perfect form):

1. Why do you avoid (to see) me? 2. He tried to avoid (to see). 3. We insist (to send) him there at once. 4. He insists on (to send) there instead of me. 5. Do you mind (to examine) the first? 6. He showed no sign of (to know) them. 7. She showed no sign of (to impress). 8. He had the most irritating habit of (to joke) at the wrong moment. 9. I was annoyed at (to interrupt) every other moment. 10. He hated (to remind) people of their duties or (to remind) of his. 11. On (to introduce) they easily fell to (to talk). 12. In (to discuss) the problem they touched upon some very interesting items. 13. The equipment must go through a number of tests before (to install). 14. The operator can set the machine in motion by (to push) the button or (to press) the pedal. 15. The water requires (to filter). 16. The matter is not worth (to speak of).

b) in any appropriate form:

1. Excuse me for (to give) you so much trouble. 2. You never mentioned (to speak) to them on the subject. 3. He was proud of (to award) the prize. 4. I don't remember ever (to see) you. 5. I don't remember (to ask) this question. 6. The boys were punished for (to break) the window. 7. The boy was afraid of (to punish) and hid himself. 8. He was quite serious in (to say) that he was leaving the place for good. 9. She seemed sorry for (to be) rude to me 10. He confessed to (to forget) that he was to come on Friday. 11. The old man could not stand (to make) fun of. 12, Letters were no use: he had no talent for (to express) himself on paper. 13. After thoroughly (to examine) by the doctor, the young man was admitted to the sports club. 14. Soon she could not help (to attract) by the fact that she was being looked at. 15. The camera wanted (to adjust). 16. They accused me of (to mislead) them. 17. She was so eagerly looking forward to (to give) the leading part to play that she was greatly disappointed at not even (to offer) it. 18. She reproached me for not (to keep) my promise. 19. After (to look) through and (to sort) out, the letters were registered and filed. 20. He liked to do things without (to disturb) anyone or (to disturb).

Exercise 4 p. 158. Complete the following using gerunds

a) as subject or predicative:

Model: (He liked to read books.)

a)... was his favourite pastime.

b) His favourite pastime was....

a) Reading books was his favourite pastime.

b) His favourite pastime was reading books.

1. (Why go into every detail?) I think it's no use....2. (Now you keep strict hours of meals.)... must do you a lot of good. 3. (The children watched the monkeys go through different tricks.) It was such fun.... 4. (We could not get in that night.) All tickets were sold out, there was no.... 5. (I see you are going to assemble your bicycle.) Is it worth while... so long before the beginning of the season? 6. (It was so very pleasant to be free and alone.) What I enjoyed most in that quiet corner after the noise of the city and the strain of the last two months was.... 7. (The boy cried over the broken toy.) "Is it any good...?" the mother said to the child. "Tears are no help in sorrow." 8. (I did not expect to find you there.) It was quite unexpected.... 9. (You distort facts and turn things upside down.) This is..., it is.... 10. (He liked to collect postage stamps.) a)... was a hobby with him. b) His hobby was.... 11. (When one reads without paying attention to the language, one robs oneself of great intellectual pleasure.)... is.... 12. (Did he realize what risk he was running when he tried to land the plane on such a small clearing in the wood?) He knew only too well that... was..., but there was no alternative.

b) as part of a compound verbal predicate:

1. Has it stopped...? 2. We must go on.... 3. The guide began.... 4. The doctor continued.... 5. When will you finish...? 6. When the motors ceased.... 7. Before the band started.... 8. The boy kept on....

c) as a non-prepositional object:

1. Don't put off....2. You should avoid.... 3. He hates.... 4. The book (poem, picture, film, proverb) is worth... 5. She does not seem to mind.... 6. I don't think he remembers.... 7. I don't regret.... 8. Do you intend...? 9. Everyone enjoyed.... 10. The car (stockings, house, shoes) wants (want)... 11. They denied.... 12. The father suggested.... 13. He never mentioned....14. Just imagine.... 15. They don't seem to have attempted....

d) as a prepositional object:

1. He never thought of....2. The boy is very clever at.... 3. I don't insist on.... 4. Does anyone object to...? 5. His friends accused him of... 6. Children ought to be prevented from.... 7. I am not used to....8. Nobody suspected us of.... 9. He was quick in.... 10. Did he confess to...? 11. We were tired of.... 12. Why do you persist in...? 13. We are most grateful to our guide for.... 14. Who would have thought him capable of...? 15. Did you succeed in...? 16. I found them engaged in.... 17. Who is responsible for...?

e) as an attribute:

1. It was very kind of you to have taken the trouble of.... 2. The idea of... was extremely exciting. 3. I can't make out the reason for.... 4. There was little hope of.... 5. He is well known for his skill in... 6. In summer you will have the chance of.... 7. Do you have any objections to...? 8. At the party I had the pleasure of.... 9. He displayed no interest in.... 10. He very quickly got into the habit of.... 11. You should have seen her surprise at.... 12. They snatched at the opportunity of.... 13. I've got no experience in.... 14. We took precautions against... 15. This is the most perfect instrument for.... 16. What is the most effective method of...?

f) as an adverbial modifier:

1. His outlook has broadened after.... 2. In... she missed a line. 3. She took far too much upon herself by....4. He produced his pass on.... 5. I don't want to raise false hopes by.... 6. You will have to take my words on faith before.... 7. He was so much irritated that on... he banged down the receiver without.... 8. In …the geological party struck upon a new oil deposit. 9. He could tell the funniest joke without.... 10. In spite of... the sportsman pulled through to the finish. 11. He was afraid he might upset all their plans by.... 12. But for... the play would not have enjoyed such popularity. 13. On... the young man did not trouble himself to reply. 14. Take your time before....15. On... she suddenly felt her nerves were at breaking point. 16. The matter cannot be so easily dismissed without....

Exercise 5 p. 160. Translate into English using the gerund

a) as subject or predicative:

1. Бесполезно звонить ему: его в это время никогда не бывает дома. 2. Сон на открытом воздухе очень полезен. 3. Он не только хороший певец, но и прекрасный актер; его стоит послушать в опере. 4. Нет смысла делать перерыв, нам всего на полчаса работы. 5. Переходить реку в этом месте опасно. 6. Когда после долгого подъема достигаешь вершины горы, испытываешь чувство необычайного удовлетворения. 7. Спорить с ним -- это только понапрасну терять время. 8. Так приятно встречаться со старыми друзьями! 9. Слушать его рассказы — это еще раз переживать волнующие события тех дней. 10. Я не вижу вэтом логики; по-моему, это все равно что ставить телегу впереди лошади.

b) as part of a compound predicate:

1. Когда вы кончите одеваться? Ведь мы можем опоздать. 2. Дождь пошел, как раз когда мы выходили из дому. 3. Клайд продолжал лгать матери, говоря, что у него мало денег, хотя он знал, как она нуждалась в его помощи. 4. После ухода миссис Чивли, Мейсон стал тушить свечи в гостиной. 5. Услышав кашель Сэма, мистер Потт перестал читать газету и посмотрел в его сторону.

с), d) as an object (prepositional or non-prepositional):

1. Простите, что я опять напоминаю вам об этом. 2. Секретарь сейчас занята перепечаткой срочного материала. Не позвоните ли вы минут через двадцать? 3. Не полагайтесь на то, что достанете билеты накануне; лучше закажите их заранее. 4. Надеюсь, вы не возражаете, если ей все расскажут? 5. Все сердечно поздравляли пилота с установлением нового рекорда. 6. Мы очень благодарны вам, что вы избавили нас от стольких хлопот. 7. Я не привыкла, чтобы со мной так обращались. 8. Забудьте об этом; не стоит из-за этого так огорчаться. 9. Когда Роберта пришла на почту, она была очень расстроена тем, что не нашла там письма от Клайда. 10. Клайд не хотел признаваться, что убил Роберту из боязни, что она может помешать ему жениться на Сондре Финчли, и пытался отрицать, что он имел какое-либо отношение к ее гибели.

e) as an attribute:

1. Его опыт вождения машины пригодится ему в будущей работе. 2. Он никак не мог свыкнуться с мыслью, что ему придется пробыть там еще полгода. 3. В такое время года есть только одна возможность добраться туда — это самолетом. 4. Он очень обрадовался перспективе поработать несколько лет под руководством такого известного ученого. 5. Представьте себе их восторг, когда они узнали, что он получил первую премию за свой проект. 6. Он пытался найти удобный предлог, чтобы уйти пораньше. 7. Истинная причина столь поспешного возвращения миссис Чивли в Лондон заключалась в ее личной заинтересованности в том, чтобы сэр Роберт снял свой доклад в парламенте. Она понимала, что только страх быть разоблаченным может заставить его согласиться на это. 8. Метод обучения мистера Броклхерста убивал у детей всякую инициативу и желание учиться.

f) as an adverbial modifier:

1. Он вышел из зала, не дожидаясь окончания спектакля. 2. Увидев приближающийся поезд, мы поспешили на платформу. 3. Просматривая журналы, он натолкнулся на очень интересную статью по экономике Англии. 4. Прежде чем писать об этих событиях, он решил съездить в те места, где они происходили. 5. Мы уговорили его прийти, сказав, что особенно не задержим его. 6. Проверяя годовой отчет, бухгалтер обнаружил ошибку. 7. Он ушел, не сказав ни слова, даже не простившись. 8. Не буду утомлять вас перечислением всех деталей. 9. Он выглядел бодрым и веселым как всегда, несмотря на то, что провел бессонную ночь у постели больного. 10. Мы бы до сих пор не решили все эти вопросы, если бы с ним не было так легко работать. 11. Он начал с рассказа о том, как он добрался сюда. 12. Вы бы меня очень обязали, если бы передали посылку по адресу. 13. Увидев почтовый ящик, я остановился, вспомнив, что уже два дня ношу с собой письмо. 14. Грампластинки не могут быть посланы по почте без соответствующей упаковки. 15. Услышав крик ребенка, мать вскочила и бросилась в детскую. 16. При объяснении этого физического явления преподаватель продемонстрировал несколько опытов.

Exercise 6 p. 162. Change the structure of the sentences so as to use the construction there is no + gerund.

1. Once he started talking on his favourite subject, nothing would stop him. 2. No one would have denied the strength of the argument. 3. You can never tell what he may do next. 4. When they are together they must quarrel, and it is impossible to avoid it. 5. She is so unbalanced. It is hardly possible to account for her moods. 6. The old man is very shrewd. You won't deceive him. 7. He is too stubborn. Don't even try to persuade him. 8. He was ready to gratify her every wish, but she was not to be easily satisfied.

Exercise 7 p. 162 Complete the following by translating what is given in brackets using the gerund in the function of an object. Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. They prided themselves... (что первые выдвинули эту теорию). 2. We counted... (что застанем его на месте). 3. I can't recall... (чтобы меня с ним когда-нибудь знакомили). I even don't remember... (что видел его). 4. Не couldn't get used... (чтобы его называли дедушкой). 5. She was quite unconscious... (что пришла в неудачный момент). 6. Excuse me... (что я вошел не постучав). 7. I'm really ashamed... (что так давно вам не писал). 8. Не is upset... (что ему приходится начинать все снова). 9. She denied... (что обещала что-либо подобное). 10. We hope he will succeed... (найти свое место в жизни). 11. Why do you avoid... (называть вещи своими именами)?

Exercise 10 p. 163. Complete the following:

1. The children couldn't help …. 2. The audience burst out... 3. He has given up.... 4. There is nothing like.... 5. I don't feel like....6. It's no use.... 7. If it were not for.... 8. We were for....9. He was against.... 10. There is no harm in.... 13. 1 can see no sense in.... 12. She hesitated to say it for fear of.... 13. Far from..., they.... 14. Besides..., the play.... 15. I... instead of.... 16. Far from..., the book....