Gerunds

UNIT 15: GERUNDSPART VI: Gerunds and Infinitives

Unit Overview

In this unit students will learn how to use gerunds: In every situation that nouns are used in:

subject, object, subject complement, object complement, object of preposition

After possessives In both active and passive constructions In present and past forms

Vocabulary

Perceive: to think of someone or something in a particular way.

Simplistic: treating difficult subjects in a way that is too simple.

Long since: if something has long since happened, it happened a long time ago.

Catch up on: to do something that needs to be done, that you have not had time to do before.

Counterpart: someone or something that has the same job or purpose as someone or something else in a different place.

Vocabulary

Spare someone’s feelings: to avoid doing something that would upset someone.

Awfully: very. Engage in: to take part or become

involved in an activity. Pursue: to continue doing an activity or

trying to achieve something over a long period of time.

Collapse: to suddenly sit or lied down, especially because you are very tired.

Vocabulary

Punch a time clock: to record the time that you start or finish work by putting a card into a special machine.

Put in: to spend time or use energy working or practicing something.

Karaoke: the activity of singing to especially recorded music for fun.

Jerk: someone who is stupid or who does things that annoy or hurt other people.

Wilderness: a large area of land that has never been built on or changed by humans.

Chauffer: to drive someone in your car.

Comprehension Questions

Why doesn’t the author like the traditional description of friends as either true or false?He recognizes at least six types.

What are the author’s six types of friends?Convenience friends, special-interest friends, long-time friends, cross-generational friends, part-of-a-couple friends, and “best” friends.

Why is Bill important to the author?He is a father figure and mentor.

Comprehension Questions

Who are Amanda and Gretta?The author’s wife and the wife of a friend.

Who is Ken?One of the author’s two “best” friends.

Discussion Topics

Do you think it’s possible to have a true friendship with a person of the opposite sex?

Is it possible to be “friends” with your parents? What about being friends with your teacher or sports coach?

Grammar Presentation

Gerund as Subject

Gerund (Subject) Verb Object

Kayaking involves some risks.

Swimming builds endurance.

Not inviting him will cause resentment.

Gerund as Object

Subject Verb Gerund (Object)

They enjoy kayaking.

I went swimming.

We don‘t advise not inviting him.


Gerund as Subject Complement

Subject Verb Gerund (Subject Complement)

My sport is skiing.

His problem is not exercising.

Gerund as Subject Complement

Subject Verb Object Gerund (Object Complement)

He spends time reading.

She found him not working.


Gerund as Object of a Preposition

Preposition Gerund

She insists on going out every weekend.

He’s accustomed

to giving parties.

They have a reason

for not inviting Michael.

Possessive + Gerund

Possessive Gerund

Bob and Helen worry about

Emily’s

having so few friends.her

the children’s

their


Active and Passive Gerunds

Active Gerunds Passive Gerunds

SIMPLE Inviting them to her wedding was a nice gesture on her part.

Being invited to her wedding was a great surprise to them.

PAST Having invited them to her wedding made her feel good.

Having been invited to her wedding is a fond memory for them.

Quick Pairwork

Categorize these sentences according to which patterns they represent in the charts:

I was having difficulty finding a subject for this month column. I also remembered learning a rhyme. I see that my perceiving friendship in this way was pretty

simplistic. I tried taking the bus. My brother’s passion is kayaking. We can go for months or years without contacting each other. We enjoy just catching up on each other’s activities. It’s someone who doesn’t avoid telling you what you need to

hear. Other times we just like being together without saying much

of anything.

Grammar Notes

Grammar Notes Examples

A gerund is a noun made from a verb. To form a gerund add –ing to the base form of the verb.

Gerunds and gerund phrases perform the same functions as nouns:

a. They act as subjects.b. They act as objects.c. They act as complements

(phrases that describe or explain the subject or object of the sentence).

Add not before a gerund to make a negative statement.

•Cooking is my hobby. I like eating, too.

•Talking with friends is enjoyable.•I love getting together with friends.•Our favorite activity is playing cards. (subject complement)•She has trouble making friends. (object complement)

•Not calling her was a big mistake.

Grammar Notes


Many verbs and verb phrases in English have gerunds as objects. Common examples: avoid, consider, enjoy, keep, mind.

We often use go + gerund to talk about recreational activities: go skiing, go swimming, go hiking, etc.

•I enjoy meeting new people.•You should avoid working late.

•We go skiing every weekend in the winter.

Quick Pairwork

Go to Appendix 12 on page A-7. Look through the list of verbs

followed by gerunds and choose five to base sentences on.

Write sentences and exchange them with your partner.

Grammar Notes


Gerunds act as objects of prepositions.

Many preposition combinations are followed by gerunds:

a. Verb + prepositionb. Adjective + prepositionc. expressions

BE CAREFUL! The word to can be a preposition or part of an infinitive.

•I made friends by joining a club.

•They insisted on giving us a present.•She’s good at making friends.•I’ll look forward to seeing you tonight.•I am used to having a lot of friends.

•He will adjust to working hard. (To is a preposition.)

•He tries to work hard. (To is part of the infinitive.)

Parenthesis

Review Appendix 13 on page A-7 and scan the list of adjective + preposition expressions.

Feel free to ask questions you may have about them.

Grammar Notes


In writing and formal speaking, use a possessive noun or pronoun before a gerund to show possession.

USAGE NOTE: In conversation, native speakers often use a name or an object pronoun before a gerund.

•Pete’s dominating every conversation bothers me.•His dominating every conversation bothers me.

•I don’t like Pete dominating every conversation.•I don’t like him dominating every conversation.

Grammar Notes


Gerunds can occur in simple or past form. We can use a simple gerund (without a past participle) to make a generalization.

We can use a past gerund (having + past participle) to show an action that occurred before the action of the main verb in the sentence.

NOTE: We use a past gerund to emphasize the difference in time between two actions. The simple gerund is also correct in many situations.

•Making friends is a natural thing to do.

•Having met Jane in my first week of college helped me throughout my college career.

•Having gone to college is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

OR

•Going to college is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Grammar Notes


Gerunds can occur in passive form. In the present, use being + past participle. In the past, use having been + past participle.

BE CAREFUL! Many words in English end in –ing. Do not confuse gerunds with verbs in the progressive form, or with present participles used as adjectives or in adverb phrases.

•She hates being ignored.

•She’s still angry at having been ignored.

•I’ve been making friends at work.

•Mary is enrolled in a cooking class.

•Walking on the beach, I wondered why she was angry at me.

Gerunds

Education

Transcript of Gerunds