Gerund and Participle I

Gerund Participle I

1. can be used as the subject, object, ---------

part of a compound aspect predicate

* Seeing is believing.

* I like singing.

* He kept smiling.

2. can be used as an attribute can be used as an attribute

but is preceeded by a preposition

* the idea of walking * a walking boy

3. can be used as an adverbial modifier can be used as an adverbial

modifier

but always follow a preposition may follow when, while

* After writing * Having written

* On singing * (While) singing

4. can follow a possessive pronoun or

a noun in the possessive case -------------

* his reading, boy`s singing

5. If the Gerund is part of the Compound 5. If the Participle is used as a definite

Noun, then a person or a thing expressed person expressed by a Noun, then

By this Noun doesn`t show the action this person carries out the action

expressed by the «ing» form: expressed by the «ing» form:

* A dancing hall (= a hall for dancing) * A dancing girl (= a girl who

dances)

But still there are cases when both variations are suitable and that`s why it is clear only to the speaker what is meant: the Gerund or the Participle.

* A sewing machine (a machine for sewing and a machine that sews)

Note: The participle clause is immediately followed by the Subject of the sentence, and is separated from it by a comma. The Gerundial clause is itself the subject of the sentence, and is immediately followed by a verb.

Compare:

* Looking hard at the prisoner, he recognized his uncle.

* Looking at pictures in art-galleries was very interesting.

Note: While translating Russian sentences into English with «не + деепричастие», we translate «without doing smth». It is usually an Adverbial Modifier of Attendant Circumstances or Condition. In these cases one should ask a question «In what way? How?»

* He left without saying a word. (Att. circumstances)

* He couldn`t do it without asking for permission. (Condition)

We translate «not doing smth» if it is the Adverbial Modifier of Cause «Why? Because of what?».

* Not knowing her address he couldn`t find her.

СOMPLEXES with the PARTICIPLES

The participle forms three complexes.