lliEGERUND

The gerund looks like the present participle and is mostly used like a noun. It can be subject or object of the sentence:

Living in London can be quite expensive.

The two girls really enjoyed living in London.

The gerund is used after:

to include (einschlieflen)

to involve (mit sich bringen) to keep (fortfahren zu tun)

to mind (etwas dagegen haben) to miss (vermissen)

to postpone (aufschieben) to practise (uben)

to prevent (verhindern)

to resent (jernandem etwas ubel nehmen, ablehnen)

to risk (riskieren)

to suggest (vorschlagen) to tolerate (dulden)

to acknowledge (bestatigen) to appreciate (wertschatzen) to avoid (vermeiden

to consider (erwagen)

to delay (verzogern

to dislike (nicht mogen) to enjoy (geniellen)

to entail (mit sich bringen) to escape (entkommen)

to excuse (entschuldigen) to fancy (Lust haben auf) to finish (beenden)

to forgiven (vergeben)

to imagine (sich etwas vorstellen)

Exercises:

Complete the sentences with these verbs:

watch - go - buy - make -stay

1 I can't say that I miss '" .. , , '" '" television.

2 You must avoid '" . " '" '" " . '" .those silly mistakes.

3 Do you really enjoy at home every night?

4 He is always suggesting to Turkey for a holiday.

5 Nora has always fancied one of those dresses.

Translate:

1. Er hatte endlich die Zeitungslekture beendet.

2. Wie kann ich es vermeiden, ihn zu treffen?

3. James hatte nicht wirklich etwas dagegen, den Kurs zu besuchen.

4. Ich werde dein Zuspatkommen nicht Hinger dulden.

5. Vater schlug vor, zur Abwechslung mit del' Bahn zu fahren.

6. Wir hinderten ihn daran, in den falschen Bus zu steigen.

7. Sollen wir es wagen, ohne Schirm auszugehen?

8. In den letzten Wochen habe ieh oft erwogen, nach Kanada auszuwandern.

9. Hast du keine Lust, in die Oper zu gehen?

10. Es macht uns wirkliche SpaB, im Meer zu sehwimmen.

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The gerund is also used after certain expressions:

can't help can't endure can't stand It's no good It's no use

It's (not) worth

(nicht anders konne, ganz einfach mussen) (nicht ertragen konnen)

(nicht ausstehen konnen)

(es hat keinen Sinn)

(es hat keinen Zweck)

(es ist (es nicht ) wert)

Exercise:

Complete these sentences with a suitable gerund phrase:

1. When she saw his face, she couldn't help .

2. I often find it very difficult to endure ..

3. When I was quite young, I just couldn't stand .

4. Doreen looked at him and knew it was no good .

5. When he sawall those black clouds, he realized it was no

use ..

6. Sometimes I wonder if it is really worth " '" , . '"

Give the English fOI'.

1. Es hat keinen Sinn, ihn daran zu erinnern.

2. Findest du das Buch lesenswert?

3. Es hat keinen Zweck, Mike urn Geld zu bitten.

4. Viele Leute konnen es nicht ertragen, Blut zu sehen.

5. Ich kann nicht umhin, seinen Mut zu bewundern.

6. Seine kleine Schwester kann es nicht ausstehen, dass sie urn halb neun ins Bett geschickt wird.

The gerund is also used after prepositions:

to be in danger of

to be on the point of to have an objection to to have a reason for

to take pleasure in

to have experience in to beg one's pardon for to have the habit of .... surprise at

aversion to

(in Gefahr sein)

(im Begriff sein, etwas zu tun) (einen Einwand gegen etwas haben) (einen Grund haben fur)

(Freude an ......... haben)

(Erfahrung haben)

Gem. urn Vergebung fur bitten)

(die Gewohnheit, zu , haben)

(Uberraschung tiber)

(Abneigung gegen)

e.g. The little girl was in danger of being run over.

You can imagine their surprise at meeting her there.

Complete the sentences with the correct preposition and a suitable gerund construction:

1. I'm glad to say that there is no danger .

2. We beg your pardon '" '" ..

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3. Thank goodness I've got some experience ..

4. Do you know her reason , .

5. What is your objection , .

6, They have this awful habit. , , .

7. It is hardly surprising that he takes such an

interest. , , .

8. I still remember our surprise '" " '" , " '" .

9. There was little hope .

10. I have always taken considerable

pleasure , .

11. You know she has a strong aversion , .

12. When you telephoned I was on the point .

Give the English for:

1. Es best and keine Gefahr, zu spat zu kommen.

2. Ich kenne seine Abneigung gegen das Briefschreiben.

3. Jeder kennt seine Einwande gegen das lange Aufbleiben.

4. Seine Hoffuung, den Preis zu gewinnen, waren gering.

5. Es gibt keinen Grund, langer hier zu bleiben.

6. Bitte entschuldigen Sie, dass ich nicht fruher geschrieben habe.

7. Er hatte keine Erfahrung im Walzertanzen.

The gerund is also used after the following verb + prepositions:

to succeed in

to congratulate on to decide against to dream of

to insist on

to prevent from to suspect of

to thank for

to think about

erfolgreich sein in, gelingen gratulieren zu

entscheiden gegen

traumen von

bestehen auf

hindern an

verdachtigen

danken fur

erwagen

Form sentences of more or less the same meaning using the above expressions:

e.g. Paul was able to translate the text without difficulties.

Paul succeeded in translating the text without any difficulties.

1. They told him how pleased they were that he had finished first in the long jump.

2. He mad up his mind that he wouldn't buy a motorbike.

3. What can we do so that he won't get on the wrong bus?

4. I would never have thought that he had robbed the bank.

5. Mrs Moody lent the girls a kettle. The girls said how grateful they were.

6. Sometimes I think how wonderful it must be to be fabulously rich.

7. Has it ever come to your mind that you might take a job with a big American firm?

8. She wanted to have a holiday abroad and would not change her mind.

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Give the English for:

l. Wie war es ihm gelungen, einen so guten Posten zu finden?

2. Er traumt davon, eines Tages zum Mond zu fliegen.

3. SchlieBlich entschieden wir uns gegen den Verkauf des Hauses.

4. Der Lehrer verdachtigte ihn, die Hausubung abgeschrieben zu haben.

5. Sie bestand darauf, ihr Essen selbst zu bezahlen.

6. Wir verhinderten, dass das Auto in den Fluf fiel.

7. Lola dankte Andreas dafur, dass er ihr die Stadt gezeigt hatte.

8. Er erwagt, seinen Posten zu wechseln.

Be especially careful about:

to look forward do to object to

to be used to

sich freuen auf

etwas ablehnen, millbilligen an etwas gewohnt sein

Usually 'to' is followed by the infinitive.

You can differentiate the 'to' as preposition if you can replace the verb with a noun:

e.g. I'm looking forward to going to France/my holiday.

He objected to being treated like a child/the treatment. She was used to hearing the traffic/the noise of the traffic.

Fill in the appropriate form of these verbs into the blanks:

buy - lend - spend - eat - meet - work

1. My father is really looking forward to you.

2. We all decided to our holiday at home that year.

3. Does he really object to for a foreign company?

4. We could not afford to a new one.

5. They offered to us their lawnmower.

6. I think Fred is not used to exotic food.

Give the English for:

1. Sie freuten sich darauf im Sommer in die Berge zu fahren.

2. Freust du dich darauf, deine Verwandten wieder zu sehen?

3. Viele Leute sind es gewohnt, mit dem Zug zur Arbeit zu fahren.

4. Jane kann sich nicht daran gewohnen, allein zu wohnen.

5. Warum hast du etwas dagegen, in die Oper zu gehen.

6. Ich harte nichts dagegen, in einer Bank zu arbeiten.

The gerund is also used with adjectives + prepositions:

capable of fond of doing good at interested in responsible for tired of

fahig sein

gem tun

gut in

interessiert an verantwortlich fur mnde sein, etwas zu tun

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Oral practice

1. Say what you are fond of doing in your spare time.

2. Describe what young people are interested in doing nowadays.

3. Explain what you are responsible for doing at home

4. State what you sometimes get tired of

5. What are you good at and not so good at doing? Are there things you are really bad at doing?

Give the English for.

1. Ich esse sehr gem auslandische Speisen.

2. Er ist es rniide, jeden Tag urn halb funf aufzustehen.

3. Judy ist sehr gut im Schreiben von Geschaftsbriefen.

4. Wirst du imstande sein, das Auto in die Garage zu fahren?

5. Onkel Fred war nicht daran interessiert, ins Museum zu gehen.

6. Wer ist fur das Reinigen der Tafel verantwortlich?

VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND OR THE INFINITIVE

Sometimes there is a difference in meaning:

a You must remember posting the letter. Du mufst dich doch daran erinnern, dass du den Brief aufgegeben hast. (past reference)

b You must remember to post the letter. Du darfst nicht vergessen, den Brief aufzugeben. ifu lure reference)

a He will never forget proposing to her. Er wird nie vergessen, wie er ihr den Heiratsantrag stellte,

b She always forgets to do her homework. Sie vergifit immer, die Hausubungen zu machen.

a He stopped talking to her years ago. Er hat schon vor Jahren aufgehort, mit ihr zu sprechen.

b He stopped to talk to her about the weekend. Er blieb stehen, um mit ihr tiber das Wochenende zu sprechen.

a Basil went on talking about his operation. Basil erzahlte uns weiter von seiner Operation.

b After complaining about the food, he went on to tell us about the weather. Nachdem er sich tiber das Essen beschwert hatte, berichtete er uns als nachstes tiber das Wetter.

a We regret telling her about it. Wir bedauern, es ihr erzahlt zu haben.

b I regret to inform you that we are unable to deliver the goods on time.

Ich bedaure, Ihnen mitzuteilen, dass wir nicht in der Lage sind, die Ware punktlich zu liefern.

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Complete the following sentences with the gerund or infinitive of the verb in brackets. H both constructions can be used, explain the difference in meaning.

1. Do you remember (have) your first English lesson?

2. Did you remember (take) your medicine?

3. I'm afraid I forgot. (switch) the light off in the cellar.

4. Will you ever forget (eat) those lovely cakes in Bad Ischl?

5. The doctor told him to stop , '" (smoke) straight away.

6. Must you go on ,. (tell) us about it while we are having lunch?

7. If it goes on (rain), we will have to cancel our picnic.

8. The boss went on (talk) about less serious matters.

9. He soon regretted (sell) the old house.

10. We regret (say) that we are not satisfied with the quality.

Give the English for:

1. leh crinnere mieh nicht, Sie schon einmal gesehcn zu haben.

2. Hast du daran gedacht, die Milch in den Kuhlschrank zu geben?

3. Ich werde nie vergessen, wie ich mit dem Flugzeug tiber den Grand Canyon flog.

4. Jemand muss gestern Abend vergcssen haben, die Ture abzusperren.

5. Wann wird es zu schneien aufhoren?

6. Sie blieben stehen, urn eine Tasse Tee zu trinken.

7. A1s nachstes zeigte sie uns ihre Fotos von Amerika.

8. Hamish redete weiter tiber seine Erlebnisse auf Borneo.

9. Irvin bedauerte, dass er seinen Fotoapparat zu Hause gelassen hatte. 10. Es tnt mir Leid zu sagen, dass es nicht stimmt.

Finish these sentences using suitable ,-ing forms':

1. In winter I always enjoy '" , '" '" '"

2. Some people dislike , '" ..

3. Going to this school entails ..

4. My friend never finishes ..

5. Your job includes ..

6. Sometimes I Iniss .

7. Can't we postpone .

8. Has she ever considered ..

9. Quite a few people resent .

10. If I were you, I wouldn't risk '" , '" '" ..

Fill ill infinitive or gerund:

1. Although the baby was crying she went on (talk).

2. I don't mind her , (wear) my dresses.

3. In this gallery lots of pictures arc worth " (sec).

4. They are looking forward to (go) on holiday.

5. Would you like (visit) us tonight?

6. Most people prefer (spend) money to (earn) it.

7. After (read) this article you will give up (drink).

8. It's no use (have) a car if you don't know how

............... '" '" (drive) it.

9. Do you mind '" .. ' '" .. , '" (me/smoke) in this room?

10. Stop (talk); I am trying '" .(finish) a letter.

11. They got tired of '" '" (wait) for him at the bus stop and decided

........................... (go).

12. She didn't enjoy (go) to the dentist.

13. We are interested in (buy) their old house.

14. She is fond of (sing) gospels.

15. I am very sorry for (be) late. It was nice of yon

................................ (wait) for me.

16. I suggest (work) harder.

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