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89
The nominal character of the gerund reveals itself syntactically, mainly in its syntactical function, partly in
its combinability.
Like a noun, it can function as subject, object, or predicative.
Seeing you is always a pleasure. (subject)
I remember seeing you somewhere. (object)
I am thinking of seeing the film again. (prepositional object)
Peter’s hobby is seeing all new films. (predicative)
When it is an attribute or an adverbial modifier, a gerund, like a noun is preceded by a preposition.
There is a chance of catching the train.
Don’t forget to call me up before leaving London.
I reached my goal in spite of there being every reason against it.
The fact that the gerund can associate with a preposition is a sure sign of noun features.
Like a noun, but unlike the other non-finites, it can combine with a possessive pronoun and a noun in the
genitive case denoting the doer of the action expressed by the gerund.
Excuse my interrupting you.
I insist on John’s staying with us.
It combines with the negative pronoun no in the idiomatic construction of the type: There is no getting out of
it.
The grammatical categories of the gerund
§ 117. As already stated the gerund has only two grammatical categories, those of voice and perfect.
Table V
The Grammatical Categories of the Gerund
Voice
Perfect
Active
Passive
Non-Perfect
running
taking
-
being taken
Perfect
having ran
having taken
-
having been taken
The category of perfect
§ 118. The category of perfect finds its expression, as with other verb forms, in the contrast of non-perfect
(indefinite) and perfect forms.
The non-perfect gerund denotes an action simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb.
Students improve their pronunciation
John improved his pronunciation
You will improve your pronunciation
by listening to tape recordings.
The perfect gerund denotes an action prior to the action denoted by the finite verb.
I regret