The Gerund

The Gerund is formed by adding the suffix ing to the stem of the verb, and
thus, coincides in form with Participle I. That is why these two forms are often
referred to as ing-forms. The Gerund is the non-finite form of the verb, which like
the Infinitive, combines the properties of the verb and the noun as it developed
from the verbal noun.

The nominal characteristics of the Gerund are as follows:

1. It has nominal syntactical functions of:

a) Subject

Driving out here got my appetite up.

It’s awfully hard doing nothing.

b) Object
She regrets making so much trouble about that case.
I feel like advising John to sell the furniture.
c) Predicative

His first idea was finding out the truth.

His idea is constructing summer cottages.

2. It can be preceded by a preposition.

When he spoke he gave the impression of being nervous.

Did she seem to object to your visiting the house?

On arriving at the hotel he found all the rooms occupied.

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 3. It can be modified by a noun in the genitive case or a possessive pronoun.

You remember how shocked he was at Meg’s leaving her

husband.

I hope you don’t mind my coming.

The verbal characteristics of the Gerund are as follows:

1. It can take a direct object.

I suggest attending a swimming pool.

The boy denied having taken the wallet.

2. It can be modified by an adverb.

I kept on chuckling away quietly at the mere idea of it.

We enjoyed walking slowly along the silent streets.

3. It has tense and voice distinctions.

Indefinite/ Simple Perfect

Active
taking having taken

Passive being taken having been taken

The category of the tense denotes the relation of the action either to the
moment of speaking or to some definite moment in the past or future.

The category of tense of the gerund is not absolute but relative.

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 The Simple Gerund expresses an action simultaneous or following the
action expressed by the finite form, thus, it may refer to the present, past or future.

I insist on your doing it properly (following action).

He is/was/ will be tired of reminding him about his duties

(simultaneous action).

The Perfect Gerund expresses an action prior to that of the finite form.

He denied having been here before.

He was accused of having deserted the ship.

She was ashamed of having lied to her parents.

Note: The Simple Gerund may denote priority when used after

1) the following verbs (to apologize, to excuse, to forget, to forgive, to

remember, to punish, to reproach, to thank).

He reproached me for not sending out the mail.

She will never forgive your letting her down.

2) the following prepositions: on, upon, after, without.

After hesitating a moment or two he knocked at the door.

She went away without saying a word.

The voice distinction of the Gerund is seen in the opposition of active and
passive forms.

I hate interrupting and being interrupted.

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 He was punished by being sent to bed without any supper.

He enjoyed being needed.

Note: Active gerund is used in passive meaning after the adjective worth and the
verbs to need, to require, to want.

His collection of stamps was worth seeing.

Lentils do not require soaking before cooking.

The house needs reconstructing or to be reconstructed.

The plant wants watering or to be watered daily.

The Gerund and the Verbal Noun

Both the Gerund and the Verbal Noun are formed by adding the suffix - ing
to the stem of the verb. However, they are not identical and the following
differences can be singled out.

Unlike the gerund the verbal noun has only a nominal character, i.e.

1) it may be used with an article.

She started the loading of the ship.

He could feel that he was very close to a beginning of some

sort.

2) it may be used in the plural.

He took part in the settings of the board.

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 3) it cannot take a direct object but it can take the prepositional object with the
preposition of.

It was perfectly still, save for the rustling of the leaves.

4) it may be modified by an adjective or pronouns such as: some, any, a lot of

etc.
We did everything to avoid any misunderstanding.
She had to do a lot of cleaning and washing.

Syntactic Functions of the Gerund

The gerund can perform the following syntactic functions:

1. subject.

As a rule, the gerund in this function occupies the front position.

Knowing about it beforehand gives it an extra thrill when it

happens to oneself.

Arguing over trifles is a waste of time.

The gerund in this function may also occupy the post position in sentences
introduced by introductory it, or by the construction there is.

“It is curious your asking me that”, said Mr. Pyne

There is no accounting for his strange behavior.

It is good talking to him.

Is it any use expecting them to be on time?

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2. a predicative (as a part of compound nominal predicate).

What annoyed me most of all was his accepting their proposal

quite readily.

Seeing is believing.

3. a part of a compound verbal predicate.

a) with verbs and phasal verbs denoting 1) the beginning (to start, to begin,
to burst out) 2) the continuation (to go on, continue, to keep) and 3) the
end of the action (to stop, to finish, to cease, to give up, to leave off).

In the morning he started moving to the room downstairs.

In spite of the rain we went on waiting.

She kept asking me the same question.

We left before the team ceased working.

b) with modal verbs and expressions (can’t help, intend).

He couldn’t help laughing when he heard that funny story.

What do you intend doing on returning home?

4. object

Oh, how I dislike being interrupted. (direct object)

I should insist on being paid for my work. (prepositional

object)

I appreciate your father’s sending me his card. (complex object)

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 5. attribute

Edith had no intention of going anywhere else.

This new way of talking seemed strange to me.

There will be no difficulty in arranging this interview.

He had a gift for playing eight musical instruments.

6. adverbial modifier

Like a noun in this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition, the
choice of which depends on the meaning of the adverbial modifier. It can perform
the syntactic function of the following adverbial modifiers of

a) manner

In this function it is preceded by the prepositions by or in.

He spent all his free time in sorting out letters.

Well, it began by my being hard up.

You spoilt the cake by adding too much sugar.

b) attendant circumstances

In this function the gerund is preceded by the proposition without, besides, instead
of.

Without knowing anything about you, I am sure I can trust you.

Besides sending her flowers, he wrote her letters, and gave her
presents.

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 Instead of saying anything to her, Paul just nodded in
agreement.
c) condition
The gerund is preceded by the prepositions without, but for, in case of, in the event
of.
He couldn’t answer the teacher’s question without my
prompting him.
You can’t act without having the necessary information.
In the case of the contract being checked by the expert you may
sign it.
But for the book being translated we wouldn’t have read it in
Armenian.
d) time
In this function the gerund can be preceded by the prepositions after, before, on
(upon), at, in.

He hesitated a moment before crossing the bridge.

On arriving at the place I was glad to find that I knew everyone.
On reading the letter he had a feeling of disappointment once
more.
e) cause or reason
As an adverbial modifier of cause the gerund is preceded by prepositions for, for
fear of, owing to, because of, from, on account of, through.
She didn’t say a single word for fear of being asked a lot of
questions.
I felt embarrassed for having been caught in a lie.
He felt much better because of having taken the pills.

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 f) concession
In spite of/Despite having all the necessary qualifications, they
didn’t offer me the job
g) purpose
The gerund in this function follows the preposition for, for the purpose of, for the
object of, with the view of.
This area is used for planting exotic trees.
The hall was redecorated for the purpose of celebrating the
occasions.
The city council passed a law with the object of improving the
city transport system.

Gerundial Complexes

The Gerund, like all the verbals, can form predicative constructions or complexes,
in which the gerund (the verbal element) is in predicate relation to a noun or a
pronoun (the nominal element).
Nominal element verbal element
Your being so indifferent irritates me a great deal.
It is rendered into Armenian by
1) ստորադասական նախադասություն ներկայացված
հետևյալ շաղկապներով թե ինչպես, որ, այն որ
I don’t like you/your scolding everybody.
Ինձ դուր չի գալիս, որ/թե ինչպես եք դուք բոլորին
նախատում: (խնդիր երկրորդական
նախադասություն)

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 I like the idea of our spending the weekend together.
Ինձ դուր է գալիս այն գաղափարը, որ մենք
միասին ենք անց կացնելու հանգստյան օրերը:
(որոշիչ երկրորդական նախադասությում)
Your complaining about everything so much annoys everyone.
Այն, որ դու անընդհատ բողոքում ես,
բարկացնում է բոլորին: (ենթակա երկրորդական
նախադասություն)
2) անորոշ դերբայ:
Do you mind me/my smoking so much?
Դուք դեմ չեք իմ այսքան շատ ծխելուն:
The nominal element of the gerundial complex can be expressed differently.
1) If it denotes a living being it may be expressed by:
a) a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun to stress the verbal
element of the construction.
Can we rely on your assistant’s doing it?
I don’t approve of his neglecting his duty.
b) a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case used in spoken
and less formal English to stress the nominal element of the construction.
I dislike my mother interfering with my personal affairs.
I can’t bear the thought of the children/them staying there
alone.

When the nominal element of the gerundial complex consists of two or more nouns
it is always used in the common case.
What is the point of Karen and Sam staying with them any
longer?
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 I can’t imagine Frank and Mabel paying so much for a piano.
2) If it denotes an inanimate thing it may be expressed by:
a) a noun in the common case.
There is very little hope of the work being done in time.
She was startled by the noise of the outer door being opened.
b) by a possessive pronoun.
He often asked for tea and insisted on its being made correctly.
3) The nominal element may be expressed by such pronouns as all, this, that,
both, each, someone, something with no case distinction.
He suddenly became conscious of someone standing beside his
desk.
There could be no danger of anything happening.
I insist on each of you attending the event.

The Use of the Gerund

The gerund is used after
Some verbs are followed only by the Gerund with or without prepositions.
admit delay dislike fancy involve miss resist

appreciate deny enjoy feel keep (on) postpone risk

like

avoid detest escape finish mention practice suggest

can’t help discuss face give up mind put off understand

apologize for prevent accuse of

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 from

approve of thank for complain of

insist on object to rely on

succeed in think of depend on

look forward to persist in suspect of

Some adjectives or nouns + prepositions.

happy about to be surprised at

bored with to be pleased at

fond of proud of to be capable of

good at sure of to be busy in

alternative to similarity/similar to to be used to

close/closeness to the idea/ thought of to be alternative to

dedication to objection to to be similar to

opposition/opposed to chance of to be accustomed to

Is there any chance of there being a vacancy in this hotel?

I was afraid he was considering resigning.
I knew he was not capable of making decisions.
My father often accused me of treating the house as a hotel.

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Some verbs are followed only by an infinitive.
able arrange choose fail manage prepare seem would
like

afford ask decide happen offer pretend tend learn

agree attempt encourage help plan promise threate

n

appear beg expect hope deserve refuse wish

There are some verbs, which take Infinitive or Gerund without change of meaning.
Verbs taking infinitive or gerund without change of meaning
а) begin, start, continue, cease
b) can’t bear
d) intend

a) With begin, start, continue, cease, bother either infinitive or gerund may be
used without any difference in meaning, but the infinitive is more usual with verbs
of knowing and understanding and the verb matter:
I began working/ I began to work.
He continued living/to live above the shop.
Don’t bother locking/to lock the door
But:
I am beginning to understand/see/realize why he acted as he did.
It ceased to matter whether or not he sold his work.
She never ceased complaining/to complain about prices.
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b) After can/could bear (chiefly used in the negative) either gerund or infinitive
can be used: I can’t bear waiting/to wait; but when the infinitive refers to a
deliberate action the expression implies that the subject’s feelings prevent(ed)
him from performing the action:
I couldn’t bear to tell him. (so I didn’t)
There are some verbs and expressions, which take the Infinitive or Gerund with
some change of meaning.
c) After intend an infinitive is more usual than a gerund.

I intend to sell it.

I intend selling it.
The infinitive is necessary when we have intend + object. This is found only in
formal English:
I intend him to take over the department.

 With advise, recommend, allow and permit.

If the person concerned is mentioned, we use the infinitive:
He advised me to apply at once.
She recommends housewives to buy the big tins.
They don’t allow us to park here.

But if the person is not mentioned, the gerund is used:

He advised applying at once.
She recommends buying the big tins.
They don’t allow parking.

 it needs/requires/wants can be followed either by the gerund or by the

passive infinitive, the gerund being the more usual:

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 The grass wants cutting or
The grass needs to be cut.
 be ashamed of + gerund or be ashamed of yourself etc. for + gerund
The gerund here refers to a previous action:
You should be ashamed of lying to him or
You should be ashamed of yourself for lying to him.
In be ashamed + infinitive, the infinitive usually refers to a subsequent action:
I’m ashamed to tell you what this carpet cost.
would be ashamed + infinitive often implies that the subject’s feelings (will)
prevent him from performing the action:
I’d be ashamed to ask for help. (So I won’t/wouldn’t ask)

 Like can be followed by the Gerund or the Infinitive (often without any
difference in meaning)
I like working in the morning or
I like to work in the morning.
But in British English there is sometimes a difference between the use of the
Gerund and the Infinitive.
“I like doing it” means “I enjoy doing it”.
“I like to do it” means “I think it is good or right to do it”.
I like to make all my arrangements beforehand.
 Interested in doing and interested to do.
I am interested in doing something means = I am thinking of doing it, I’d like to do
it.
They are interested in building a petrol station in our road.
Interested to do is used especially with hear/see/know/read/learn.
I was interested to hear that they were getting married soon.

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  Prefer can be followed by the gerund or the Infinitive.
I prefer working alone or I prefer to work alone.
But there are some differences in structures after prefer.
I prefer smth to smth else.
I prefer doing smth to doing smth else.
but
I prefer to do smth rather than (do) smth else.
 regret, remember, forget are used with a gerund when the action
expressed by the gerund is the earlier action:

I regret spending so much money =

I’m sorry I spent so much money. (Spending is the first
action; regret is the second.)
I remember reading about the earthquake in the papers,
(Reading is the first action, remember is the second.)
 forget + gerund is possible only when forget is in the negative. It is often
used after will never forget:
I’ll never forget waiting for bombs to fall =
I’ll always remember waiting for bombs to fall.
When regret, remember, forget themselves express the earlier action they are
followed by an infinitive:
I regret to say that you have failed your exam. (Regret is the
first action, to say is the second.)
regret here is normally followed by a verb such as say, inform, tell. It is normally
used only in the present tense,
remember can be used in any tense:
I’ll remember to ring Bill. (Remember is the earlier action.)

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forget is used similarly:
I often forget to sign my cheques.
I remembered to lock/I didn’t forget to lock the door. (I
locked it.)
Conversely:
I didn’t remember/I forgot to lock it. (I didn’t lock it.)
regret, remember, forget can also be followed by a noun/pronoun or a that-
clause.

remember and forget can also be followed by noun clauses beginning with
how, why, when, where, who etc.:
I can’t remember when I saw him last.
I’ve forgotten where I put it.
 mean meaning ‘intend’ takes the Infinitive:
I mean to get to the top by sunrise.
mean meaning ‘involve’ (used only with an impersonal subject) takes the
Gerund:
He is determined to get a seat even if it means standing in a
queue all night.
 propose meaning ‘intend’ usually takes the infinitive:
I propose to start tomorrow.
propose meaning ‘suggest’ takes the gerund:
I propose waiting till the police get here.

 go on = ‘continue’ and is normally followed by a gerund. But it is used with

an infinitive, usually with a verb like explain, talk, tell, when the speaker

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 continues talking about the same topic but introduces a new aspect of it:
He began by showing us where the island was and went on to
tell us about its climate.
Compare: He went on talking about his accident, which implies that he had been
talking about it before, with He went on to talk about his accident, which implies
that he had been speaking perhaps about himself or his journey but that the
accident was being introduced for the first time.

 stop (= cease) is followed by the gerund: Stop talking.

It can be followed by object + gerund:
I can’t stop him talking to the press.
A possessive adjective would be possible here but is very seldom used.
stop (= halt) can be followed by an infinitive of purpose:
I stopped to ask the way. (I stopped in order to ask the way.)

 try usually means ‘attempt’ and is followed by the infinitive:

They tried to put wire netting all-round the garden.
(They attempted to do this.)
The sentence doesn’t tell us whether they succeeded or not.
try can also mean ‘make the experiment’ and is then followed by the
gerund:
They tried putting wire netting all-round the garden.
This means that they put wire netting round the garden to see if it would solve
their problem (presumably they were trying to keep out rabbits and foxes). We
know that they succeeded in performing the main action; what we don’t know is
whether this action had the desired effect, i.e. kept the foxes out.

 be afraid of + gerund or gerund + noun/pronoun

Here the gerund usually expresses an action, which the subject fears may happen.

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It is normally an involuntary action:
He never swam far out. He was afraid of getting cramp.
She avoids lonely streets. She is afraid of being mugged.
She didn’t tell him because she was afraid of upsetting him.
be afraid + infinitive means that the subject is/was etc. too frightened to perform
the action. This is obviously a deliberate action:
He was afraid to jump. (so, he didn’t jump)
She was afraid to protest. (so, she kept quiet)
 be sorry for + gerund means ‘apologize/regret’. The gerund usually
refers to a previous action but can refer to an immediately following
action:
I’m sorry for making such a noise last night.
I’m sorry for disturbing you. (now)
But I’m sorry to disturb you. (would be more usual here)
be sorry + infinitive can express regret or sadness:
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been ill.
When the action expressed by the infinitive is involuntary, the two actions are
almost simultaneous:
I was sorry to see him looking so ill. (When I saw him ... I
was sorry.)
When the infinitive refers to a deliberate action, be sorry is the earlier of the two
actions and is then very similar to regret.
I’m sorry to inform you that there has been an accident.

be sorry that ... is also possible. Note: I’m sorry that usually expresses genuine
regret, but that with I’m sorry to say that or I’m afraid that the regret may be very
faint, even perfunctory.

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 The Participle

The Participle is a non-finite form of the verb. Grammatically, it combines

the characteristics of the verb with those of the adjectives or the adverb.
There are two participles in English: Participle I (the Present Participle) and
Participle II (the Past Participle). Though, the difference between these verbals is
not that of tense but that of voice.
Participle I
Participle I is formed by adding the suffix -ing to the stem of the verb and is
considered one of the ing – forms as well as with the Gerund.
The distinction between these two homonymous forms is based on their
meaning and function.
As for the meaning Participle I expresses an action characterizing a person or
a thing (like an adjective) or as modifying another action (like an adverb), whereas
the gerund expresses an action in its most general sense, naming it (like a noun).
Compare: She was always to him a laughing girl with dancing eyes. (Participle I)
For a time, he lay, trying to think his way out. (Participle I)
Repairing is what the house needs. (Gerund)
The car needs fixing. (Gerund)
As for the function both Participle I and the Gerund may be used in the function of
attribute and adverbial modifier. The difference between them is that Participle I in
these functions is not preceded by prepositions.

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Compare: Coming back he paused at the pile of the letters (Participle I,
adverbial modifier of time).
On entering the room, he noticed a telegram on the table
(Gerund, adverbial modifier of time).
The idea of parting never crossed our minds (Gerund, attribute).
I used to tell all my troubles to our neighbor living next door
(Participle I, attribute).
Thus, Participle I has the properties of a verb, adjective and adverb.
The verbal characteristics of Participle I are as follows:
a) it can take a direct object
Having done all, that was required, he was the last to leave the
office.
b) it can be modified by an adverb
He found them sitting together and talking peacefully.
c) it has tense and voice distinctions.

Tense Indefinite Perfect

taking having taken
Voice Active Passive Active Passive
taking being taken having taken having been
taken

The category of tense denotes the relation of the action either to the moment
of speaking or some definite moment in the past or future.
The category of tense of Participle I is not absolute but relative.
The Simple Participle expresses an action simultaneous or following the
action expressed by the finite form. It may refer to the present, past or future.

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 There is something bothering me. (present)
There was something bothering me. (past)
There will be something bothering me. (future)
The Perfect Participle shows the action prior to the action expressed by the
finite verb.
Having been informed of their arrival the day before, he was
better prepared to meet them.
Prior action is not always expressed by Perfect Participle. With the following verbs
of sense perception and motion Simple Participle is used to express a prior action
(to see, to hear, to come, to arrive, to seize, to look, to turn, to return etc.)
Returning home in the afternoon, she became conscious of her
mistake.
Turning to the main street, she ran into Donald and Mary.

Syntactic Functions of Participle I

Participle I can perform the following syntactic functions:

1. an attribute
In this function Participle I can
a) precede the noun it modifies and is normally used alone, hardly ever used
with accompanying words.
The train rattled on in the dying twilight.
b) follow the noun it modifies, as a rule with one or several accompanying
words
I received from her another letter saying that she was passing
through Paris.
There was something bothering me in the back of my mind.
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Note! Participle I in the function of an attribute cannot express priority. It is
rendered in English by an attributive clause.
The man who had written several articles on that subject is
highly appreciated.
The rector congratulated the freshmen who had done well in the
entrance exams.
c) be detached, i.e. it stands in loose connection with the word it modifies and
is separated by a comma
Martin, almost regretting his reply, was making lame excuses.
2. an adverbial modifier of:
a) time
In this function Participle I may denote either a simultaneous or a prior action.
Taking a key out of his pocket, he opened the door.
Having finished his work, he sighed with relief.
To express simultaneity we can also use conjunction when or while.
John hurt his leg while playing football.
Be careful when crossing the street.
Note: With the following verbs of sense perception and motion (to see, to hear, to
arrive, to come, to enter, to seize, to look out, to turn, to approach, to get etc.) non
– perfect participle I is usually used to express priority.
Coming back, he paused at the pile of pamphlets and
straightened them nearly.
Returning to the office he found it in a mess.
b) a cause / reason
He couldn’t join his friends being still busy in the laboratory.

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 Having already seen the film twice, I didn’t want to go to the
movies.
Having spent hours searching for that information, he got
exhausted.

c) attendant circumstances (with the verbs to lie, to sit, to stand etc.)

I sat on the doorstep holding my little sister in my arms and
thinking over my chances of escaping from home.
Jody stood quietly watching Grandfather.
We were sitting reading of the London Pictorial.
d) a comparison (introduced by conjunctions as if, as though)
She looked at me as if trying to understand what I was driving
at.
As though responding to an electric shock, Selena’s brother
pulled back his injured hand.
e) condition
Speaking like that, you will disappoint her.
You’ll make people laugh, behaving like that.
3. a part of a complex object (also after verbs to send and set)
He felt the bridge shaking under his feet
She turned and saw Shelton standing down there.
The wind sent the flames racing.
It set his heart beating.
4. predicative
In this function Participle I gives qualitative characteristics to the subject.
His answer is very surprising.
The film was horrifying.
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 It sounded exciting.
5. part of a compound verbal predicate.
The children were seen playing in the yard.
In this function it is also used with the following verbs (to go, to come, to
disappear, etc.).
The wind came blowing up from the bay.
We went shopping last week.
6. parenthesis
In this function participial phrase is used.
Taking into consideration your standpoint, we can accept their
proposal.
Speaking for myself, I am not keen on photography.
Generally speaking, I don’t approve of her engagement.
Participle II
Participle II is a non-finite form, which stands apart from the other verbals. It
is unchangeable, so it doesn’t possess morphological categories. It doesn’t express
an action itself but the result of an action (quality or state).

Syntactic Functions of Participle II

Participle II has only one form and it can be used in the following syntactic
functions:
1. attribute
In this function participle II may be
a) in pre-position
I took up the dairy and turned over the written pages.
The big pads slipped on the frozen wood.
b) in post-position
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 Police are looking for a boy known to work at Smith’s.
Failure is a word not tolerated in this establishment.
c) detached
Set loose, Sibyl immediately ran down to the flat part of the
beach.
Locked in her room, she flung herself on the bed and cried
bitterly.
Shocked by the poverty of my own vocabulary, I went to the
British Museum library.

Note! In addition to its attributive meaning the Participle II as a detached attribute

acquires some additional meaning of an adverbial modifier of (cause, time,
concession).
2. adverbial modifier of:
a) time
When challenged he denied it.
b) of condition
It was clear that he would go back to London, if given half a
chance.
c) of comparison
It was only a couple of pages as though specially designed for
long-sighted elderly man.
d) of concession
Though greatly embarrassed by the situation, she could find
what to answer back.
3. predicative
The child kept silent and looked frightened.
26
 His name was well known among the younger writers of
France.
France.
4. part of a complex object
How often do you have your carpets cleaned?
They got the place surrounded?
5. part of a compound verbal predicate.
The money was found hidden under the carpet.
The building was considered fully restored.
She seemed deeply confused.

Predicative Constructions with Participles

Participle I and II can be found in the following Predicative Constructions:
1) The Objective Participial Construction
2) The Subjective Participial Construction
3) The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction
4) The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction

The Objective Participial Construction

The Objective Participial Construction consists of a nominal element expressed by

a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case, or a reflexive
pronoun and a verbal element expressed by Participle I or Participle II, which is in
predicate relation to the nominal element. It has the function of a complex object in
the sentence.
He heard the young people singing and shouting from the
opposite bank.
27
 I heard some mention made of Scotch whiskey.
The Objective Participial Construction is rendered into Armenian by means of
1) Խնդիր երկրորդական նախադասություն (ներկայացված
հետևյալ շաղկապներով որ, թե, թե ինչպես):
He felt the water reaching his knees.
Նա զգաց, թե ինչպես ջուրը հասնում է իր
ծնկներին:
He felt himself clutched by the collar.
Նա զգաց, որ իրեն բռնեցին օձիքից:
2) Համակատար դերբայ
He saw Billy working in the field.
Նա տեսավ Բիլին դաշտում աշխատելիս:
3) Հարակատար դերբայ
I found the dog tied to a tree.
Ես գտա շանը ծառին կապած:
4) Անորոշ դերբայ
You can get your dress made in Paris.
Դուք կարող եք պատվիրել ձեր զգեստը
Փարիզում:
5) Պարզ նախադասություն
Why don’t you have your hair cut?
Ինչու չես կտրում/կտրել տալիս մազերդ:

This construction is used after the following groups of verbs:

1. Verbs of senses (to see, to hear, to feel, to notice, to find, etc.). Both
Participle I and Participle II are used.
He found Dora reading a novel in their bedroom.
28
 I heard the visitor walking restlessly backwards and forwards.
She heard her father referred to.
You will find yourself confused.
2. Verbs of mental activity (to believe. to consider, to understand, to imagine,
etc.)
We consider the novel finished.
I believe them annoying their friends.
3. Verbs denoting wish (to want, to wish, to desire, prefer, need, would like)
Only Participle II is used
The wished the program installed within a month.
We need the office redecorated.
I’d like my car (to be) serviced.
4. Verbs of reporting (to report, to declare, to announce, etc.)
They reported the project approved.
5. Verbs to have, to get. Only Participle II is used.
She may be at the hairdresser’s having her hair dyed.
Get the things packed before going to bed.

This construction is used if the person referred to the subject of the sentence is not
responsible for what happens:
I had my appendix removed when I was 16.
They had their flat broken into again.
In sentences like this get is used in informal speech.
She got her fingers trapped in the bicycle chain.

Subjective Participial Construction

29
 The Subjective Participial Construction is a construction in which the
Participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the
nominative case. Thus, this construction does not form one member of the
sentence. The nominal element (the Noun or the Pronoun) is the subject of the
sentence and the verbal element (the Participle) is part of a compound verbal
predicate.
Dogs have often been seen killed on the road.
They were seen walking in the procession.
The Subjective Participial Construction may be rendered into Armenian by
means of:
1. Բարդ ստորադասական նախադասություն, որի գլխավոր
նախադասությունն անորոշ դիմավոր նախադասություն է,
իսկ երկրորդականը` խնդիր երկրորդական
նախադասություն է:
He was seen riding a bicycle.
Տեսան, որ նա հեծանիվ է քշում:
2. Համակատար դերբայ
He was noticed hiding the documents.
Նրան նկատեցին փաստաթղթերը թաքցնելիս:
3. Հարակատար դերբայ
The work was believed completed.
Աշխատանքը համարվեց ավարտված:
This construction is mainly used with the verbs of senses (to see, to
hear, to feel, to notice, to find, etc.), mental activity (to believe. to consider,
to understand, to imagine, etc.) and reporting (to report, to declare, to
announce, etc.) in the passive voice, and the verb to seem in the active voice.
30
 Grandfather was seen napping on the porch.
The mountaineers were believed caught in a storm.
The moonstone was reported stolen.
She seemed depressed.

The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction

Like all other predicative constructions, the Nominative Absolute Participial

Construction consists of a nominal element and a verbal element. The peculiarity
of this construction is that the nominal element, which is expressed by a noun in
the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case is not the subject of the
sentence. The verbal element of the construction is expressed by Participle I or
Participle II.
Things packed, we called a taxi.
The boy being your son, you are responsible for whatever he
does.
This construction is chiefly used in literary style and may be rendered into
Armenian by means of:
1. Բարդ ստորադասական նախադասություն
That done, the young lady took the ring to the jeweler.
Երբ դա արվեց, երիտասարդ կինը մատանին
տարավ ոսկերչի մոտ: (ժամանակի պարագա
երկրորդական նախադասություն)
Nobody having anything more to say, he went out.
Քանի որ ոչ ոք ասելիք չուներ, նա դուրս եկավ:
(պատճառի պարագա երկրորդական
նախադասություն)
31
 Circumstances permitting, we’ll invite more people to our
housewarming party.
Եթե հանգամանքները թույլ տան, մենք ավելի
շատ մարդ կհրավիրենք մեր
բնակարանամուտին: (պայմանի պարագա
երկրորդական նախադասություն)
2. Դերբայական դարձված հարակատար դերբայով
Fernando was standing a little apart, his back turned against the
driving snow.
Ֆերնանդոն մի փոքր այն կողմ կանգնած՝
թիկունքն արած քամուն:
3. Բարդ համադասական նախադասություն
The girl sat by her, the sun shining on her hair.
Աղջիկը նստեց նրա կողքին , (և) արևի շողերն
ընկան մազերին:
This construction may be used in the following functions of a adverbial modifier
of:
a) time
The operation being over, the patient felt the pain leave him.
The day of the wedding party fixed, they started making
preparations.
b) cause
The patient’s leg having been amputated, there was no doubt of
his recovering soon.
There being nothing else to do, we went to the club.
c) condition
It mainly occurs with the verbs permit and fail. Only Participle I is used
32
 here.
Weather permitting; we will go swimming in the lake.
d) attendant circumstances
Constantia lay like a statue, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
She crept into the room on tiptoes, her heart beating at twice its
usual speed.

Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction

This construction is introduced by preposition with and is chiefly used in the

syntactic function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
Down the road they walked, with the pig trotting behind them.
(attendant circumstances)
She walked out, with her head held high. (attendant
circumstances)
With the papers signed, he could start the new project. (time/
cause)

Absolute Constructions without Participle

The participle being is sometimes omitted in the absolute constructions.
The dinner over, they left.
There are two types of absolute constructions in which no participle is found: The
Nominative Absolute Construction and the Prepositional Absolute Construction.
The second element in these constructions is an adjective, a prepositional phrase or
an adverb.
1. The Nominative Absolute Construction without Participle is used in the
function of adverbial modifier of time and attendant circumstances.
33
 Breakfast over, we went to his counting house.
Manson went homeward alone, his heart full of strange emotions.
There he stood, his face to the South-East.
Mind the difference! The lesson over… (temporal meaning).
The lesson being over… (casual meaning).
2. The Prepositional Absolute Construction without Participle is mostly used in
the function of adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
I found him waiting for me, with his stick in his hand.
Prepositional Absolute Constructions are usually separated from the rest of the
sentence by a comma.

Exercises
The Gerund

Ex. 1. Point out the Gerund and state its form.

1. I suspected my landlady of having pried about in my room out of curiosity.
2. “I don’t feel like getting stuck for the whole cab fare again today”, she said.
3. He never minded being interrupted. 4. Father didn’t approve of my having
rejected the offer. 5. She was inspired with the idea of being married immediately
and returning to Pensacola as his wife. 6. I prefer thinking matters over and over
again rather than jumping to conclusions. 7. I insist on being treated with certain
consideration. 8. Her air of having been unwittingly involved in a contemptible
business vanished. 9. Victoria displayed a distant pleasure at being allowed to tell
her story. 10. I do apologize for not having changed, but I was terrified of being
late. 11. You denied having asked Langton to get cyanide, or rather you expressed
surprise at his having done so. 12. I felt proud of having been of use to her, but I
couldn’t think of anything to say to her except “Does it only come down by
34
accident”? 13. The upper class men who passed by him knew without being told
that he was a rich boy. 14. On being told the news she gave a gasp of surprise. 15.
The idea is worth considering. 16. Your parents will mind your having married
Jane. 17. I feel better after being operated on. 18. The possibility of man being able
to reach the moon was seriously discussed at that time.
Ex. 2. Open the brackets using the right form of the Gerund.
1. There is little hope of the work (to do) in time. 2. (To avoid) the use of the
Perfect Gerund is quite common if there is no fear of (to misunderstand). 3. He
suspected her of (to give) the police information about him while the workers were
on strike. 4. (To speak) without (think) is (to shoot) without aim. 5. The coat
showed evident signs of (to wear) on the preceding night. 6. She never lost the
power of (to form) quick decisions. 7. They reproached us for (not to come) to the
party, as they were waiting for us the whole evening. 8. I remember (to take) to
Paris when I was a very small child. 9. Do you know what is peculiar about the
English rule of (to drive)? 10. From somewhere they could hear a dinner table (to
set) and a woman’s voice sing obviously to a small child.
11. She seemed a little self-conscious now and she avoided (to meet) his eyes. 12.
He felt better for (to write) her a letter with apologies. 13. Life seemed worth (to
fight) for. 14. The attempt is at least worth (to make). 15. I remember (to see) him
with her and Mariner go away from church. 16. Let me tell you whose house you
have come into without (to ask) or (to want). 17. The water requires (to filter). 18.
The equipment must go through a number of tests before (to install). 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). 21. I seem honored in (to
permit) to draw the attention of all the parties to this. 22. Hayson was by way of (to
interest) in antiquarian matters and he talked to us with a great deal of energy and
enthusiasm. 23. The camera wanted (to adjust). 24. The old man could not stand
35
(to make) fun of.
Ex. 3. Insert prepositions where necessary.
1. He had never had much difficulty … getting jobs. The trouble had always been
… keeping them. 2. He did not object … seeing and entertaining Francis. 3. If he
persists … marrying the girl it will mean absolute ruin for him. 4. I thought …
taking a trip up the Scandinavian coast. 5. Quite late, when he was on the point …
going upstairs, the doorbell rang. 6. She had not succeeded … making her sister
talk. 7. The critics accused him … writing down to the public. 8. After all, I’m
fairly used … keeping my mouth shut. 9. He was jealous of his friend … winning
Ann. 10. At the time I was very keen … getting an independent income. 11. I
became aware of the specific benefit. I was capable … getting from travel. 12.
Your colleagues are good … keeping a secret, aren’t they? 13. After half an hour
he began to feel tired … looking at copies of agreements and bills. 14. I can’t
blame you … being so eager to leave the town in this weather. 15. There was
nothing to prevent him … returning to London. 16. He reproached himself … not
having tried to talk with her. 17. How did you account … buying that car? 18. He
was annoyed with her … getting him involved in this quarrel. 19. I was a little
disappointed … not meeting Charles. 20. I felt proud … having been of use to him.
21. You can’t tell how a man is feeling just … looking at him. 22. You see a
definite reason … going down to Handborough.23. After a light meal, Poirot
suggested our … stepping round to pay and after dinner call on my so-called
cousin. 24. He insisted … coming downstairs with her and putting her into a cab.
25. He was tempted by the idea … having a flat of his own, but it was out of the
question.
Ex. 4. Complete the sentence using the Gerund in different functions.
1. What kept you from …? 2. The audience enjoyed … 3. What do you mean
by…? 4. We all look forward to … .5. I hardly remember … 6. You can’t act
36
without … .7. Are English people fond of …? 8. It is worthwhile …? 9. He is sure
to boast of …. 10. I hate the idea of …. 11. … is out of the question. 12. … was
painful. 13. … was her constant passion. 14. Do you feel like …. 15. She
immediately stopped …. 16. She badly needs .... 17. They got accustomed to …
18. I am not much in the habit of …. 19. He has reputation of …. 20. He proved it
by ….
Ex. 5. Translate the sentences into English using the Gerund.
1. Նելլին առաջարկեց այցելել պատմության ազգային
թանգարան և պնդեց, որ վերցնենք էքսկուրսավար մեզ հետ: 2.
Նա մի փոքր երկմտեց դուռը բացելուց առաջ, քանի որ
վախենում էր հարձակման ենթարկվելուց: 3. Լսելով դժբախտ
պատահարի մասին աղջիկը, արագ վերցրեց հեռախոսը և
զանգահարեց ոստիկանություն: 4. Մենք բոլորս կասկածում
էինք, որ մեզ խաբել և ասել էին կրկնակի արժեք մեքենայի
համար:5. Ես հիշում եմ, որ հանդիպել եմ այս
արտահայտությանը գրքերից մեկում, բայց, ցավոք, չեմ հիշում,
որ գիրքն էր դա: 6. Բոլորովին իմաստ չունի նրան սպասելը:
Դուք դեմ չե՞ք լինի, եթե մենք գնանք: 7. Նա հաճույք էր ստանում
թատրոն այցելելուց և շատ էր սիրում զրուցել դերասանների
խաղի մասին ներկայացումներից հետո: 8. Ինձ դուր չեկավ այն
գաղափարը, որ մենք որոշ ժամանակ պետք է անց կացնեինք
գյուղում:9. Ես չեմ սիրում, երբ ինձ ստում են: 10. Բժիշկը պնդում
է, որ հիվանդը պետք է տեղափոխվի հիվանդանոց: 11. Ինչը ինձ
ամենաշատը զայրացրեց, դա իր այդքան արագ նման
առաջարկը ընդունելն էր: 12. Նա պատասխանում էր մեր
հարցերին շատ արագ, առանց մտածելու, կարծես
մեխանիկորեն: 13. Նա սովորություն ուներ 2 ժամ քայլել
37
զբոսայգում ճաշից առաջ: 14. Չեմ կարծում, որ դուք որևէ խնդիր
կունենաք այդ հարցը լուծելիս: 15. Իմաստ ու՞նի տանը մնալ այս
գարնանային արևոտ եղանակին: 16. Որև՞է մեկը առարկում է,
որ այցելենք նրան հիվանդանոցում: 17. Ես ունեմ բոլոր
պատճառները մերժելու նրա առաջարկը համագործակցելու
նրա հետ: 18. Ամբողջ օրը անձրևեց, և ես կորցրի հույսը, որ
կհանդիպեմ նրան կրկին:

GERUNDIAL COMPLEXES
Ex. 1. Point out the Gerundial complexes and define their functions. Translate
the sentences into Armenian.
1. Uncle Julius insists on me coming to keep him company. 2. Don’t think she will
approve of your telling me this. 3. His having failed the entrance examination was
a great disappointment to his mother. 4. We have got a lot of questions to settle
before your leaving. 5. The silence was broken by the sound of a door being
locked. 6. Your being so indifferent irritates me a great deal. 7. What annoyed me
most of all was his accepting their proposal quite readily. 8. I dislike the idea of
our spending a holiday with hundreds of other people. 9. Of course, I should insist
on your accepting the proper professional fee. 10. I can’t bear the thought of the
children staying there alone. 11. I remember in school days he couldn’t answer the
teacher’s questions without my prompting him.
12. Is it worth your interfering with their affairs so much? 13. Do you agree to our
taking her up to town and putting her under the best control? 14. I remember my
visiting London for the first time. 15. Your mother will be furious at me for my not
having warned you about the delay. 16. In spite of her being extremely tired she

38
eagerly promised to help me with the work. 17. The solution was found by our
participating actively in the discussion. 18. It was a slight disappointment that the
dancers had been unable to fulfill their contract, owing to Juanita’s spraining her
ankle.
Ex. 2. Form Gerundial constructions out of the elements given in the brackets.
1. It is bad enough (Richard, fail) at the examinations.2. She was not aware of (her
sister, marry) a famous pianist.3. He did not approve of (the children, dream).4.
We postponed our visit because of (John, be ill). 5. You may rely on (I, set) matters
right. 6. You must excuse (I, not answer) you before. 7. I entered the room without
(he, see) it. 8. All the happiness of my life depends on (you, love) me. 9. I object to
(you, have) any relations with my sister. 10. Your reading so carelessly prevents
(you, enjoy) this poetry. 11. I saw that she was not pleased at (I, come). 12. Do you
mind (I, ask) you one or two more questions? 13. There was no question of
(anybody, not have) enough work to do. 14. It is no use (you, tell) me not to worry.
15. He was sore at (his son, disobey) him. 16. I insisted on the (TV, fix) and (it, be
ready) as soon as possible. 17. We objected to (John and Mary, participate) in the
coming event.
Ex. 3. Paraphrase the following sentences using Gerundial complexes. Add
prepositions where necessary.
1. Nick suggested that we should dine at a restaurant to celebrate this little event. 2.
I remember Mother reprimanded me when I spoiled her favourite fish-cake. 3. He
doesn’t like it when I give him advice. 4. Nobody objects that the child lives with
us. 5. We decided that we should join them in Glasgow.
6. She hates it when the children prompt one another and always gets very angry.
7. I can’t recollect that they ever invited me to stay a weekend with them. 8. Nell
denies that he has cheated everybody. 9. He wrote he would stay in Paris another
week and did not explain why he was obliged to do so. 10. I insist that everything
39
should be said in plain words so that there can’t be any misunderstanding. 11.
Thank you that you reminded me about the work I have to do for the company. 12.
He was afraid that the news might cause excitement among the girls. 13. Nobody
knew that they had agreed to take part in the expedition. 14. I prefer that we should
make use of tape-recording before we read the text. 15. I suspect that he told us a
lie the other day. 16. I don’t like the idea that they should be interviewed for the
second time. 17. That Bill was fired one month before he realized the plan was a
shock to the whole company. 18. Everything was organized so that we could start
immediately. 19. I don’t mind if the child sleeps with the window open. 20. I asked
if there was the slightest possibility that she could get those books at our library.

Participle I

Ex. 1. Use the appropriate form of Participle I and state its form.
1. (To inform) of their arrival the day before, he was better prepared to meet them
than anyone of us. 2. Sir Henry paused and then said, (to glance) down at his
watch: “Edward is arriving by the next train”. 3. The carriage was almost full, and
(to put) his bag up in the rack, he took his bag up in the rack, and took his seat. 4.
(To return) home in the afternoon, she became conscious of her mistake. 5. (To
look) out of the window, she saw there was a man (to work) in the garden. 6. He
left the room again (to close) the door behind him with a bang. 7. (To do) all that
was required, he was the last to leave the office. 8. He couldn’t join his friends (to
be) still busy in the laboratory. 9. (To return) from the expedition he wrote a book
about Central Africa. 10. (To turn) to the main street, he ran into Donald and Mary
(to return) from school. 11. I had spent about 10 minutes (to turn) over the sixteen
pages of “The Times” before I found the chief news and articles. 12. (To descend)
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to the hall, he came on Mr. Blacksmith (to cross) to his study, with a handful of
official-looking papers. 13. That night, (to go) up his room Shelton thought of his
unpleasant duty. 14. (To finish) his work, he seemed more pleased than usual. 15.
(To step) inside, he found himself in what had once been a sort of office. 16. The
letter contained very little matter, (to write) in haste, but the meaning was clear
enough.
Ex. 2. Replace the Infinitive in brackets by the appropriate Participles.
1. Dixon (to irritate) by this question said nothing. 2. The circumstances (to
surround) this story are not ordinary. 3. In this valley (to surround) by hills the
climate is mild. 4. Iron goods (to produce) in Birmingham are of fine quality. 5.
You should avoid topics (to irritate) the sick man. 6. A quarter of the sugar (to use)
in England comes from sugar-beet (to grow) there. 7. It was a brick house (to front)
by a small garden. 8. We all admired the monuments (to front) the entrance of the
exhibition. 9. His eyes travelled round (to search) everything in the room with a
quick (to train) glance. 10. The coach (to train) this team was an outstanding
sportsman in his younger days. 11. What is “steppe”? –It is a treeless plain (to
cover) with grass. 12. The people (to inhabit) this port are mostly sailors and
fishermen. 13. She would say sharp and (to wound) words to him. 14. It is the main
centre of the industries (to produce) clothing, food and drink. 15. With wavy hair
(to frame) her face she looked like a fairy. 16. (to frame) in the window of the
railway-carriage was the face of our friend.
Ex. 3. Translate the sentences using Participle I and Participle II where
possible.
1. Հեռագիրը ստանալուց հետո, քույրս անհապաղ մեկնեց Ռուսաստան: 2.
Տարիներ շարունակ ապրելով Անգլիայում, նա վարժ տիրապետում էր
անգլերենին և խոսում էր այդ լեզվով կարծես լեզվակիր

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լիներ:3.Զգուշացրեք երեխաներին, որ ուշադիր լինեն փողոցը անցնելիս,
քանի որ երթևեկությունը այստեղ շատ ծանրաբեռնված է: 4. Տեսնելով
մարդկանց, որոնք եկել էին իրեն դիմավորելու, տղան մի փոքր շփոթվեց,
բայց քիչ անց կարողացավ արտահայտել իր ուրախությունը: 5. Այս գիրքը
կարդալիս, ես հանդիպել եմ մի շարք դարձվածքների, որոնք արժե
սովորել: 6. Նրա հետ խոսելիս ես զգացի, որ նա մի փոքր նյարդայնացած է
և շփոթված: 7. Հայրիկը ձեռքով արեց կարծես թե փորձում էր ցույց տալ
իր անհամաձայնությունը: 8. Մենք նստած զրուցում էինք մեր ապագա
պլանների մասին, երբ անսպասելի լսվեց հարևան սենյակից եկող մի
ուժեղ աղմուկ: 9. Շարադրությունը գրելուց հետո, ուսանողները
հանձնեցին այն դասախոսին, ակնկալելով ստանալ արդյունքները
հնարավորինս շուտ: 10. Երիտասարդը, որը կանգնած էր պատուհանի
մոտ, կարծես խորհում էր ինչ-որ բանի մասին: 11. Նրանք, ովքեր երբեք
չեն այցելել Անգլիա, չեն կարող լիովին պատկերացնել այդ երկրի
գեղեցկությունը: 12. Տեսնելով, որ ես մոտենում եմ, նրանք դադարեցին
խոսելը և նայեցին ինձ, կարծես ինչ-որ բան էին փորձում թաքցնել
ինձանից: 13. Նա հեշտությամբ էր կատարում իրեն հանձնարարված
ցանկացած առաջադրանք: 14. Նախորոք տեղյակ լինելով
վերջնաժամկետի մասին, Մեգին պատրաստեց բոլոր անհրաժեշտ
փաստաթղթերը: 15. Դուք եր՞բևէ լսել էք ինչպես է երգում սոխակը: 16.
Լինելով ապատեղեկացված, ոստիկանությունը դժվարանում էր գտնել
մեղավորներին: 17. Որտե՞ղից է ինձ հասցեագրված նամակը: 18. Ես
պետք է մազերս նոր ոճով հարդարել տամ: 19. Ես կարդացել եմ

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ցուցակում նշված բոլոր գրքերը: 20. Նա պառկած էր բազմոցին՝ հոգնած և
հիասթափված: 21. Նա այնպես նայեց ինձ, կարծես զարմացած էր ինձ
տեսնելով: 22. Հրամանը տրվելուն պես զինվորներն անցան գրոհի: 23.
Նկարիչը ապրում էր ծաղիկներով շրջապատված մի հոյակապ տանը:
Ex. 4. Translate into Armenian
1. He felt better having found that telephone number. I am sure. 2. Being a calm
and quiet young lady, she didn’t say anything. 3. Under the kitchen window his
shamed, downcast eyes fell upon a curiously shaped stone. 4. A man dressed in
black dismounted from the seat and walked to the horse’s head. 5. Embarrassed,
she nodded, and realizing what had happened, he smiled at her. 6. It hurts to
breathe when you get a rib broken. 7. Left alone, Ginny looked round without
getting up for a good place to throw out the sandwich. 8. Everyone listened in
silence, broken by murmurs of “Yes, yes” or “How true”. 9. Sadie had her hand
clapped to her cheek as though she had toothache. 10. The house was alive with
soft, quick steps and running voices. 11. He could see the flash of the town’s
windows under the lowering sun. 12. Billy shook hands solemnly grinning under
his straw mustache. 13. No one living now was worthy to do the things that had
been done. 14. He thought of grandfather on a huge white horse, bumping his
elbow against the floor. 15. The dogs moved sniffing along the edge of the bush.
16. It was a whole bunch of people made into one big crawling beast. 17. On one
side of the cloth sat a lady in a white dress smoking a cigarette. 18. Brother Paul
went on, paying little attention to the lesson. 19. Together they stood looking
quietly at the lightening cast.20. The stupid words went sliding around class all
morning. 21. He sat one seat ahead of Joan and annoyed her all he could, in spite
of a feeling that, both, being disliked, they had something to share. 22. She sat
drinking her coffee in a green turban. 23. In 10 minutes she was at the dock

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carrying a bundle of clothing.

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