Gerund Phrases

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Change From Full Subject – Predicate From

• The verb in a gerund phrase is reduced to participial from. All participial froms may function as gerund except the –ed past participle; the most common form, however, is the –ing present participle.

• The simple sentence The hunters shot the bird can become the gerund phrase the shooting of the birds (original object) by the hunters ( original subject). These changes from subject – predicate form also permit the gerund phrase to be embedded as a noun within another predication – The shooting of the birds by hunters caused her great distress.

• The gerund fuctions as noun head pf the gerund phrase, the transformed “subject” and “object’ as adjectival modifiers

Subject of Gerund in or Unchange Form

“ SUBJECT” A WORD DENOTING A LIVE BEING. The choice of possessive or non-possessive form often depends on whether formal or informal usage is being observerd.

In formal usage, possessive form of nouns and pronouns are required.

• Example : The girl resents her sister’s getting more attetion than she

does

“subject” of Gerund an of Phrase An of phrase “subject” of a gerund may denote a live being or an

inanimate thing. This kind of “subject” is used mostly with intransitive verbs. The (occasionally another determiner) initiates the phrase.

• Example : the shouting of the children distrubed his sleep Personal pronouns are not used as “subject” in of phrase ---*the

shouting of them. A “subject” representing a live being may someimes be put either in an pf

phrase or in s’ possessive form –the shouting of the children or the children’s shouting. The gerund with the possessive “subject” has greater force as a verb ; the gerund with the of phrase “ subject” has greater force as a noun.

Adverb In Gerund Phrase In a gerund phrase a word used as an adverb may remain unchange or it

may take adjective form. 1. Final Position An unchange adverb is rate in a the . . . –ing + of phrase construction,

but occasionally such a form appears in final position –the administering of artificial respiration immediatelly may save a person’s life.

• Example : Eating and drinking intemperately may ruin one’s health 2. Initial position Gerunds are usually preceded by the same types of adverbs as those

that precede finited verb –usually manner or frequency adverbs. He received a reward for promptly returning the money

Gerund Phrase as subject of verb

A gerund phrase does not occur frequently as a subject. One of its common use as a subject is in general statements with be as the main verb.

• The gerund phrase may also function as the subject of a verb expressing :

1. Cause –effect relationship Seeing her every day made him realize how wonderful she

was 2. Emotion Being overcharged for anything enrages her

Gerund Phrases as Objects of prepositions

Any verb used as the object in a prepositional phrase takes the form of a gerund. Most gerund phrases after preposition are subjectless, especiallythose in adverbial preposition phrases.

Nominal Function of Preposition Gerund Phrases Such gerund phrases function as preposition object of verb.

A great many of the verbs listed under preposition object in the chapter on preposition take such gerund object.

Adjectival Function of Preposition Gerund Phrases

These adjectival constructions appearing after nouns begin mostly with of or for. There are two main types.

a. Those prepositional gerund phrases that follow nouns derived from verbs or adjectives.

• Example : His pretense of being rich didn’t fool anyone b. Those preposition gerund phrases appearing after nouns that are

nonderivational. Such adjectival constructions are mostly adjective clause equivalents.

The money for traveling around the country (= with which they could travel around the country) was soon used up

Adverbial Function of Prepositional Gerund Phrases

PREPOSITIONAL GERUND PHRASES MODIFYING VERBS. These phrases may express almost all adverbial relationships except place.

• Example : after listening to the news, she started to prepare dinner. He earned the money for his tuition by working as a waiter

during the summer months I passed him in the street without his recognizing me In spite of traveling alone, she enjoyed her vacation very much

Stylistic Matters Related to Gerund Phrases

In general, the gerund phrase retains a stronger verbal force than do the other nominals ( noun clauses, infinitive phrases, bstract noun phrases ). However, its varying forms offer choices that range from emphasis on the action of a verb to emphasis on the abstract idea of a noun.In this last choice, the indoctrinating of the children, there is less concern for the “Subject” as agent. This choice is closest to the nominal form used for the highest level of abstraction, the abstract noun phrase – the indoctrination of the children ( By the teacher ).Ex : The teacher’s indoctrinating the children disturb their parents

( Emphasis on a action )The teacher’s indoctrinating of the children disturbed their

parents.( Emphasis intermediate between an action and an idea )