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53
The formal sign of the gerund is wholly homonymous with that of the present participle: it is the suffix -ing
added to its grammatically (categorially) leading element.
Like the infinitive, the gerund is a categorially changeable (variable, demutative) form; it distinguishes the
two grammatical categories, sharing them with the finite verb and the present participle, namely, the aspective
category of retrospective coordination (perfect in opposition), and the category of voice (passive in opposition).
Consequently, the categorial paradigm of the gerund of the objective verb includes four forms: the simple
active, the perfect active; the simple passive, the perfect passive. E.g.: taking - having taken - being taken -
having been taken.
The gerundial paradigm of the non-objective verb, correspondingly, includes two forms. E.g.: going -
having gone.
The perfect forms of the gerund are used, as a rule, only in semantically strong positions, laying special
emphasis on the meaningful categorial content of the form.
§ 4. The present participle is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with
those of the adjective and adverb, serving as the qualifying-processual name. In its outer form the present
participle is wholly homonymous with the gerund, ending in the suffix -ing and distinguishing the same gram-
matical categories of retrospective coordination and voice.
Like all the verbids, the present participle has no categorial time distinctions, and the attribute "present" in
its conventional name is not immediately explanatory, it is used in this book from force of tradition. Still, both
terms "present participle" and "past participle" are not altogether devoid of eluddative signification, if not in the
categorial sense, then in the derivational-etymological sense, and are none the worse in their quality than their
doublet-substitutes "participle I" and "participle II".
The present participle has its own place in the general paradigm of the verb, different from that of the past
participle, being distinguished by the corresponding set of characterization features.
Since it possesses some traits both of adjective and adverb, the present participle is not only dual, but triple
by its lexico-grammatical properties, which is displayed in its combinability, as well as in its syntactic
functions.
The verb-type combinability of the present participle is revealed, first, in its being combined, in various
uses, with nouns expressing the object of the action; second, with nouns expressing the subject of the action (in
semi-predicative complexes); third, with modifying adverbs; fourth, with auxiliary finite verbs (word-
morphemes) in the analytical forms of the verb. The adjective-type combinability of the present participle is
revealed in its association with the modified nouns, as well as with some modifying adverbs, such as adverbs of
degree. The adverb-type combinability of the present participle is revealed in its association with the modified
verbs.
The self-positional present participle, in the proper syntactic arrangements, performs the functions of the
predicative (occasional use, and not with the pure link be), the attribute, the adverbial modifier of various
types. Cf:.
The questions became more and more irritating (Present participle predicative position). She had thrust the
crucifix on to the surviving baby (Present participle attributive front-position). Norman stood on the pavement
like a man watching his loved one go aboard an ocean liner (Present participle attributive back-position). He
was no longer the cocky, pugnacious boy, always squaring up for a fight (Present participle attributive back-
position, detached). She went up the steps, swinging her hips and tossing her fur with bravado (Present
participle manner adverbial back-position). And having read in the, papers about truth drugs, of course Gladys
would believe it absolutely (Present participle cause adverbial front-position).
The present participle, similar to the infinitive, can build up semi-predicative complexes of objective and
subjective types. The two groups of complexes, i.e. infinitival and present participial, may exist in parallel (e.g.
when used with some verbs of physical perceptions), the difference between them lying in the aspectivc
presentation of the process. Cf.:
Nobody noticed the scouts approach the enemy trench. - Nobody noticed the scouts approaching the enemy
trench with stow, cautious, expertly calculated movements. Suddenly a telephone was heard to buiz, breaking
the spell. - The telephone was heard vainly bussing in the study.
A peculiar use of the present participle is seen in the absolute participial constructions of various types,
forming complexes of detached semi-predication. Cf.:
The messenger watting in the hall, we had only a couple of minutes to make a decision. The dean sat at his
desk, with an electric fire glowing warmly behind the fender at the opposite wall.