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Gerunds vs. Verbal Nouns Explained

The document discusses the different non-finite verb forms in English: verbals, infinitives, and gerunds. It describes: 1) Verbals have a dual nominal and verbal nature. They indicate tense relative to other verbs rather than absolutely. All verbals can form predicative constructions. 2) Infinitives developed from verbal nouns and have both nominal and verbal properties. They can serve different syntactic functions like subjects, objects, and adverbial modifiers. 3) Gerunds also developed from verbal nouns and have both nominal and verbal properties. Like infinitives, gerunds can serve as subjects, objects, predicates, and adverbial modifiers in sentences.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
54 views8 pages

Gerunds vs. Verbal Nouns Explained

The document discusses the different non-finite verb forms in English: verbals, infinitives, and gerunds. It describes: 1) Verbals have a dual nominal and verbal nature. They indicate tense relative to other verbs rather than absolutely. All verbals can form predicative constructions. 2) Infinitives developed from verbal nouns and have both nominal and verbal properties. They can serve different syntactic functions like subjects, objects, and adverbial modifiers. 3) Gerunds also developed from verbal nouns and have both nominal and verbal properties. Like infinitives, gerunds can serve as subjects, objects, predicates, and adverbial modifiers in sentences.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1.

The grammatical category of mood in ME is constituted by 6 grammatical verb


forms:

1. Two direct moods – The Indefinite Mood and the Imperative Mood

[Link] oblique moods – Subjunctive 1, 2, the Suppositional and the Conditional


moods.

Each of them is a grammatical mean to express either real events ( The Indicative
Mood), problematic events (The Imperative Mood, the Suppositional Mood and
Subjunctive 1), unreal events ( the Conditional Mood and Subjunctive 2)

The forms of the Oblique Moods are used in other different subordinate clauses:
subject, object, predicative, adverbial clauses of purpose, comparison, manner,
concession, time and place, attributive clauses. They don’t refer to the an action to
the present, past or future. /the action in the subordinate may be either
simultaneous with or prior to the action in the principal clause. When the action of
the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause non-perfect
Oblique Moods are used. When the action in the sub. clause is prior to the action in
the principal one, the perfect Oblique Moods are used.

16. The verbals as non-finite forms of the English verb.

The verbals don`t express person, number and mood, cant be used as the predicate,
but they have tense and voice distinction. There are 3 verbals: the participle, the
gerund and the infinitive.

The characteristic traits of the verbals:

1. They have a double nature, nominal and verbal. The parti ciple combines the
characteristics of a verb with those of an adjective; the gerund and the infinitive
combine the characteristics of a verb with those of a noun.

2. The tense distinctions of the verbals are not absolute but relative; the form of a
verbal does not show whether the action it denotes refers to the present past or
future; it shows only whether the action expressed by the Verbal is simultaneous
with the action expressed by the finite verb or prior to it.

3. All the verbals can form predicative constructions, i. e. constructions consisting


of two elements, a nominal (noun or pronoun) and a verbal (participle, gerund or
infinitive); the verbal element stands in predicate relation to the nominal element, i.
e. in a relation similar to that between the subject and the predicate of the sentence.
In most cases predicative constructions form syntactic units, serving as one part of
the sentence.
ПРИМЕР: They sat down to supper, Manston still talking cheerfully.

In the sentence a verbal may occur:


1. Singly - То decide is to act.
2. In phrase - She tried to tranquillize him by reading aloud.
3. in predicative constructions. - There is no mistake about his being a genius.

17. The infinitive developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time
became verbalized, retaining at the same time some its nominal properties. Thus in
Modern English the infinitive has a double nature, nominal and verbal.

The nominal character of the infinitive is manifested in its syntactic functions.


The infinitive can be used:
[Link] the subject of a sentence. - To go on like this was dangerous.
[Link] a predicative. - Her plan was now to drive to Bath during the night.
3. as an object. - I have never learnt to read or write.

The verbal characteristics of the infinitive are as follows:

1. the infinitive of transitive verbs can take a direct object - He . . . began to feel
some curiosity

2. the infinitive can be modified by an adverb.- I cannot write so quickly.

3. the infinitive has tense and aspect distinctions; the infinitive of transitive verbs
has also voice distinctions.

In Modern English the infinitive has the following forms:

Active Passive

Indefinite to write to be written

Continuous to be writing --

Perfect to have written to have been written

Perfect Continuous to have been writing --

18. The function of the infinitive in the sentence.

The infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions.


[Link] infinitive as a subject:
To doubt, under the circumstances is almost to insult
2. The infinitive as a predicative.
My intention is to get into parliament
[Link] infinitive can also be used as part of a predicative
The abode of Mrs. Betty was not easy to find.
4. The infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate.

- part of a compound verbal modal predicate


The train was to leave at midnight.
-part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.
Imprisonment began to tell upon him.

5. The infinitive as an object


Leila hatTTearned to dance at boarding school.
6. The infinitive as part of complex object.
I never saw you act this way before.
7. The infinitive as an attribute.
Не was the first to offer his hand to the Russians.
8. The infinitive as an adverbial modifier.
- purpose - laws were not made to be broken, laws were made to stay within.
- result - I was too busy to see anyone.
- comparison(manner) -she nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop
him.
9. The Infinitive as parenthesis.
Well, to cut a long story short, they

19. in Modern English we find the following predicative constructions with the
infinitive:

1. the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction;


- the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun
- In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.
-e.g. He’s a wonderful teacher and I’ve never seen him lose his temper
- Construction is used after verbs denoting sense perception
-After verbs of mental activity in the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction
the verb to be is generally used.
-I know you to be the most honest
- is used after verbs of declaring: to pronounce, to declare, to report.
- Construction is used after verbs denoting wish and intention: to want, to wish
e.g.I want you to come and dine with me.
-Construction is used after verbs and expressions denoting feeling and emotion; to
like
e.g. I dislike you to talk like that.
-Construction is used after verbs denoting order and permission: to order, to allow
e.g. The teacher ordered the room to be aired.

2. the Subjective Infinitive Construction;


- is in predicate relation to a noun
- one of its component parts has the function of the subject, the other Forms part
of a compound verbal predicate.
- is used with verbs denoting sense perception:
e.g. Mr. Bob Sawyer was heard to laugh
-with verbs denoting m ental activity: to think, to consider,
e.g He was thought to be honest and kindly.
- With the verb to make.
[Link] Abraham was aroused... and made to put on his clothes
-is used with the word groups to be likely, to be sure, and to be certain.
e.g. But he is sure to marry her.

3. the for-to-Infinitive Construction,


- the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun or pronoun preceded by the
preposition for.
-can have different functions in the sentence:
a. subject - e.g I sometimes think it is a shame for people to spend so much
money this way.
b. predicative - e.g. That was for him to find out.
c. Complex object - e.g He waited for her to speak.
d. attribute. - There was really nothing for him to do
- Adverbial modifier:

(a) оf purpose. - Не stepped aside for me to pass.


(b) of result. - Не spoke loud enough for you to hear.

20. The gerund developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time became verbalized preserving
at the same time its nominal character.

It coincides in form with Participle I.

DOUBLE NATURE: As a natural result of its origin and development the gerund has nominal and verbal
properties. 
The nominal characteristics of the gerund
The gerund can perform the function of subject, object and predicative:

 They say smoking leads to meditation. (subject)

 I like making people happy. (object)

 The duty of all progressive mankind is fighting for peace(predicative)

The gerund can be preceded by a preposition

• I am very, very tired o f rowing.

Like a noun the gerund can be modified by a noun in the possessive case or by a possessive pronoun

 "I wonder at Jolyon’s allowing this engagement,” he said to

Aunt Ann.

• Is there any objection to my seeing her?

The verbal characteristics of the gerund


The gerund of transitive verbs can take a direct object.

I had now made a good progress in understanding and speaking their language.

The gerund can be modified by an adverb.

She burst out crying bitterly.

The gerund has tense distinctions; the gerund of transitive

verbs has also voice distinctions. The forms of the gerund in

Modern English are as follows:

Act pass

Ind writing being writing

Perf having written having been written

21. The functions of the gerund in the sentence.


1. as a subject.
Talking mends no holes. (proverb)
Разговоры не помогают в беде.

2. as a predicative.
The only remedy for such a headache as mine is going to bed.
3. The gerund as part of a compound verbal predicate.
- compound verbal modal predicate. e.g. Joseph could not help admiring the man.
- compound verbal aspect predicate. E.g. In the night it started raining.
4. may be use3 as a direct object and as a prepositional indirect object.
e.g. I simply love riding.( Direct)
e.g. The times were good for building (prep)

5. as an attribute.
e.g. Не was born with the gift of winning hearts.

6. the most common functions are those of adverbial modifiers of time, manner,
and attendant circumstances.
-of time - After leaving her umbrella in the hall, she entered the living room.
- of manner - The day was spent in packing.
-of purpose - One side of the gallery was used for dancing.
- of concession - In spite of being busy, he did all he could to help her.
22. Predicative constructions with the gerund form a complex object as they
consist of two distinct elements, nominal and vernal.

Perhaps you wouldn’t mind Richard's coming in? (Dickens)

Может быть, вы не будете возражать против того, чтобы вошел Ричард?

24. The Gerund and the Infinitive

1. With a number of verbs and word-groups both the gerund and the infinitive may
be used. The most important of them are:

 to be afraid  to intend

 to begin  to like (dislike)

 to cease  to neglect

 to continue,  to prefer

 can (cannot) afford  to propose

 to dread  to remember

 to fear  to recollect

 to forget  to start

 to hate  to stop.
! the infinitive is mostly used with reference to a special occasion, the gerund
being more appropriate to a general statement!

Примеры!!

 The young man began turning over the pages of a book.

 At length she began to speak softly.

 She continued standing near the piano.

 She continued to look at him.

 The child was not afraid of remaining alone, but he was

afraid to remain alone on such a stormy night.

Ребенок (вообще) не боялся оставаться один, но он боялся остаться


один в такую бурную ночь.

2. With the verb to remember, to forget, to regret, to go on, to try the


infinitive usually refers to the future, and the gerund to the past:

E.g. I remember seeing the book in many bookshops.

Я помню, что видел эту книгу во многих магазинах.

Remember to buy the book.

Не забудьте купить эту книгу.

3. With the verb to stop the infinitive and the gerund have different syntactical
functions.

 The gerund forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate:

They stopped talking when he came in.

Когда он вошел, они перестали говорить.

• The infinitive has the function of an adverbial modifier of purpose:

She stopped to exchange a few words with a neighbour.

Она остановилась, чтобы поболтать с соседкой.

4. I am considering working abroad. (I am thinking of working abroad.)


 Everybody considers him to be the best person for the job. (Everybody
thinks that he is the best person for the job.)

an adjective.(Tom took a good


scolding about clodding Sid.)
23. The gerund and verbal noun.

The gerund
Verbal noun

-has a double character — nominal


adverbial. -The verbal noun has only a nominal
- The gerund is not used with an character.
article. - The verbal noun may be used with
- The gerund has no plural form. an article.
- The gerund of a transitive verb takes -The verbal noun may be used in the
a direct object.( he had given up plural.( Our likings are regulated by
reading books.) our circumstances)
- The gerund may be modified by an - A verbal noun cannot take a direct
adverb. object; it takes a prepositional object
with the preposition of.
- The verbal noun may be modified by
an adjective.(Tom took a good
scolding about clodding Sid.)

Verbal noun

-The verbal noun has only a nominal


character.
- The verbal noun may be used with
an article.
-The verbal noun may be used in the
plural.( Our likings are regulated by
our circumstances)
- A verbal noun cannot take a direct
object; it takes a prepositional object
with the preposition of.
- The verbal noun may be modified by

Common questions

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As a complex object, the infinitive forms part of a construction following verbs that denote perception or mental activity, allowing for expression of nuanced actions or states, such as "I never saw you act this way before." As a subject, the infinitive stands at the sentence forefront, establishing a nominal characteristic, as in "To doubt, under the circumstances, is almost to insult." This contrast reflects the infinitive's dual nature, functioning both as action and as noun modifier within sentence structures .

In Modern English, the infinitive showcases both nominal and verbal properties. Nominally, it can function as a subject (e.g., "To go on like this was dangerous"), predicative, object, and more. Verbally, it can take direct objects and be modified by adverbs, showing tense and aspect distinctions. It serves multiple functions: subject, predicative, part of a compound predicate, object, etc., reflecting it as both a noun and a verb .

Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction involves the infinitive in predicate relation to a noun, functioning as a complex object, commonly used after verbs of perception, mental activity, and declaration. Conversely, the Subjective Infinitive Construction involves a noun subject and forms part of a compound verbal predicate, used with verbs of perception and mental activity, and phrases like "to be likely." Each construction shows different relationships and functions within sentences, highlighting distinct syntactic roles of the infinitive .

Oblique moods utilize simultaneity and priority by defining the timing of actions in subordinate clauses relative to principal clauses. Non-perfect forms indicate actions simultaneous with the principal clause action, while perfect forms connect to prior actions. This relative tense consideration structures complex temporal relationships, essential for expressing nuanced meaning in clauses concerning purpose, comparison, or concession, ultimately guiding the listener's understanding of action timelines .

Gerunds as adverbial modifiers in functions of purpose, manner, and concession demonstrate their versatility. For purpose, they show intention or reason for a preceding action, as in "One side of the gallery was used for dancing." In terms of manner, they describe how an action is performed (e.g., "The day was spent in packing"). As concessions, gerunds indicate actions occurring despite opposing circumstances, shown in "In spite of being busy, he did all he could to help her." Each usage highlights different syntactic roles and functions of the gerund in conveying complex relationships in sentences .

Gerunds have both nominal and verbal properties and do not use articles, nor do they have plural forms. They can take direct objects and may be modified by adverbs. Verbal nouns, however, possess only nominal characteristics, can be used with articles, have plural forms, and take prepositional objects introduced by 'of.' Additionally, verbal nouns can be modified by adjectives, further distinguishing them from gerunds .

Verbals, unlike finite verbs, do not express person, number, or mood, and therefore cannot be used as predicates. They include participles, gerunds, and infinitives and express tense and voice relative to the context. Verbals showcase a dual nature: participles combine verb and adjective traits, gerunds and infinitives combine verb and noun traits. They form predicative constructions that reflect subject-predicate relationships, highlighting complex syntactic functions .

In Middle English, the grammatical category of mood consists of six forms. There are two direct moods: the Indefinite Mood, and the Imperative Mood, and four oblique moods: Subjunctive 1, Subjunctive 2, the Suppositional Mood, and the Conditional Mood. The Indicative Mood expresses real events, while the Imperative Mood, the Suppositional Mood, and Subjunctive 1 express problematic events. The Conditional Mood and Subjunctive 2 express unreal events. These distinctions help convey the speaker's attitude towards the likelihood or reality of the action or event .

Tense distinctions for non-finite verbs (verbals) in Modern English are relative rather than absolute. Unlike finite verbs, which correlate directly to specific tense forms (past, present, future), verbals do not denote whether their actions refer explicitly to the present, past, or future. Instead, their tense shows whether the action expressed is simultaneous with or prior to the action expressed by the finite verb. This characteristic is common in participles, gerunds, and infinitives .

The infinitive in Modern English reveals tense and aspect through different forms. Tense is demonstrated by the distinctions between present (to write), perfect (to have written), and continuous aspects (to be writing), each altering how the timing of the action is perceived relative to the context. These distinctions reflect the dual verbal and nominal nature of infinitives, allowing them to function dynamically within sentences to convey different temporal and aspectual nuances .

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