 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
52
going - to have gone - to have been going.
The continuous and perfect continuous passive can only be used occasionally, with a strong stylistic
colouring. But they underlie the corresponding finite verb forms. It is the indefinite infinitive that constitutes
the head-form of the verbal paradigm.
§ 3. The gerund is the non-finite form of the verb which, like the infinitive, combines the properties of the
verb with those of the noun. Similar to the infinitive, the gerund serves as the verbal name of a process, but its
substantive quality is more strongy pronounced than that of the infinitive. Namely, as different from the
infinitive, and similar to the noun, the gerund can be modified by a noun in the possessive case or its
pronominal equivalents (expressing the subject of the verbal process), and it can be used with prepositions.
Since the gerund, like the infinitive, is an abstract name of the process denoted by the verbal lexeme, a
question might arise, why the infinitive, and not the gerund is taken as the head-form of the verbal lexeme as a
whole, its accepted representative in the lexicon.
As a matter of fact, the gerund cannot perform the function of the paradigmatic verbal head-form for a
number of reasons. In the first place, it is more detached from the finite verb than the infinitive semantically,
tending to be a far more substantival unit categorially. Then, as different from the infinitive, it does not join in
the conjugation of the finite verb. Unlike the infinitive, it is a suffixal form, which makes it less generalized
than the infinitive in terms of the formal properties of the verbal lexeme (although it is more abstract in the
purely semantic sense). Finally, it is less definite than the infinitive from the lexico-grammatical point of view,
being subject to easy neutralizations in its opposition with the verbal noun in -ing, as well as with the present
participle. Hence, the gerund is no rival of the infinitive in the paradigmatic head-form function.
The general combinability of the gerund, like that of the infinitive, is dual, sharing some features with the
verb, and some features with the noun. The verb-type combinability of the gerund is displayed in its combining,
first, with nouns expressing the object of the action; second, with modifying adverbs; third, with certain semi-
functional predicator verbs, but other than modal. Of the noun-type is the combinability of the gerund, first,
with finite notional verbs as the object of the action; second, with finite notional verbs as the prepositional
adjunct of various functions; third, with finite notional verbs as the subject of the action; fourth, with nouns as
the prepositional adjunct of various functions.
The gerund, in the corresponding positional patterns, performs the functions of all the types of notional
sentence-parts, i.e. the subject, the object, the predicative, the attribute, the adverbial modifier. Cf.:
Repeating your accusations over and over again doesn't make them more convincing. (Gerund subject
position). No wonder he delayed breaking the news to Uncle Jim. (Gerund direct object position). She could not
give her mind to pressing wild flowers in Pauline's botany book. (Gerund addressee object position). Joe felt
annoyed at being shied by his room-mates. (Gerund prepositional object position). You know what luck is?
Luck is believing you're lucky. (Gerund predicative position). Fancy the pleasant prospect of listening to all the
gossip they've in store for you! (Gerund attributive position). He could not push against the furniture without
bringing the whole lot down. (Gerund adverbial of manner position),
One of the specific gerund patterns is its combination with the noun in the possessive case or its possessive
pronominal equivalent expressing the subject of the action. This gerundial construction is used in cases when
the subject of the gerundial process differs from the subject of the governing sentence-situation, i.e. when the
gerundial sentence-part has its own, separate subject. E.g.:
Powell’s being rude like that was disgusting. How can she know about the Mortons' being connected with
this unaccountable affair? Will he ever excuse our having interfered?
The possessive with the gerund displays one of the distinctive categorial properties of the gerund as such,
establishing it in the English lexemic system as the form of the verb with nouoal characteristics. As a matter of
fact, from the point of view of the inner semantic relations, this combination is of a verbal type, while from the
point of view of the formal categorial features, this combination is of a nounal type. It can be clearly
demonstrated by the appropriate transformations, i.e. verb-related and noun-related re-constructions. Cf.:
I can't stand his criticizing artistic works that are beyond his competence. (T-verbal > He is criticizing
artistic works. T-nounal > His criticism of artistic works.)
Besides combining with the possessive noun-subject, the verbal ing-form can also combine with the noun-
subject in the common case or its objective pronominal equivalent. E.g.:
I read in yesterday's paper about the hostages having been released.
This gerundial use as presenting very peculiar features of categorial mediality will be discussed after the
treatment of the participle.