Functions of the (Half)-Gerundial Constructions

Complex subject:

Your going there won’t help much.

It was quite unexpected his coming back so soon.

Complex predicative:

What annoyed me most of all was his accepting their proposal quite readily.

Complex direct object

Do you mind my opening the window?

Complex prepositional object

I rely on your coming in time.

Complex attribute

I don’t like the idea of our living here.

Complex adverbial modifier of time

Fix everything before my leaving the town.

Complex adverbial modifier of condition

There’s no teaching at school without your loving children.

Complex adverbial modifier of cause

They couldn’t come to an agreement because of his being stubborn.

He felt better for Mary’s having written the letter.

Complex adverbial modifier of attending circumstances

That’s where we can talk without anybody’s hearing.

Complex adverbial modifier of concession

In spite of it being cold, we went for a walk.

Complex adverbial modifier of manner

He was wakened by someone knocking at the door.

Complex adverbial modifier of comparison

She was not sure why it was so awful, even more awful than Hugh’s knowing that she had returned.

 

INFINITIVE OR GERUND

 

NOTE	INFINI-TIVE	VERB	GERUND	NOTE
= wish, have a desire	I want to have a haircut.	WANT	My hair wants cutting.	= require, be in need of	= to be + Ven The subject
= be under a necessity or obligation	He didn’t need to be remind -ed about it.	NEED	This chapter needs rewriting.	= want, require	of the sen-tence is mostly lifeless.
= demand, insist upon as a right or by authority (often passive)	You are required to be there by nine o’clock.	REQUIRE	This flat requires whitewashing.	= need, depend on for success, fulfillment, etc.
= intend, have in mind as a purpose or plan; “to have + Ven” is used to denote an action which was not carried out in the past	I meant to leavetomor-row. I meant to have left yesterday but fell ill.	MEAN	This illness will mean going to hospital. It’ll require that treatment.	= signify
= run that risk, be in a position where one is likely to win	What do we stand to gain by the agreement?	STAND	She can’t stand being kept waiting.	= can’t bear, endure
= don’t want	I hate to trouble you.	HATE	She hates getting to the theatre late.	= can’t bear, have a strong dislike on/for smth.
a particular/singular action	I’ d like to go to the South this year.	LIKE PREFER	I like going to the South each year.	= a general/ recurrent action
= worried, filled with apprehension	She is afraid to wake her husband. He may get angry.	BE AFRAID	She is afraid of waking her husband. He is ill.	= doubtful/anxious about the consequences
= want to do very much, have a great desire	I am anxious to hear your news.	BE ANXIOUS	I am anxious about leaving Jimmy alone in the house.	= afraid of the consequences
= attempt, use one’s utmost efforts; “try + to V” is often replaced by “try and + Vinf”, esp. in the Imperative.	Try to behave better.® Try and behave better.	TRY	Try knocking at the back door if nobody hears you at the front door.	= make that experiment and see whether it is satisfactory
= put an end to the movement or progress of a person, thing, activity for some purpose	We stopped to havea talk.	STOP	We stopped talking.	= cease, give up
The action of the Infinitive takes place after the act of remembering, forgetting, or regretting.	Remem-ber to close the window. I forgot to close the window before leaving. I regret to inform you that it is impossible.	REMEM-BER FORGET REGRET	Do you remember closing the window before leaving? I shall never forget closing that window. I broke it. I bitterly regret having toldher that.	The action of the Gerund took place before the act of remembering, forgetting, or regretting.	= having + Ven