The subject

Exercise 28. Point out the gerund or the gerundial phrase used as subject. Translate the sentences into Russian. Pay attention to the way of rendering the gerund in Russian.

MODEL: Crowing flowers is a nice hobby.

1) Выращивание цветов – приятное увлечение.

2) Выращивать цветы – приятное увлечение.

There is no accounting for such a failure. There – formal subject; accounting – notional subject. Такой провал ничем не объяснишь. Нет объяснения такому провалу. Нельзя объяснить такой провал.

It ’s no good telling lies. It – formal subject; telling lies – notional subject. Бесполезно лгать.

It makes no difference going there by taxi or by bus. It – formal subject; going there by taxi or by bus notional subject. Нет разницы, ехать ли туда на такси или на автобусе.

Being helped is sometimes important. Получить помощь иногда важно. Иногда важно, чтобы тебе помогали.

1. Arguing with her is useless. 2. Listening to English tapes is useful. 3. Going to the cinema too often is dull. 4. There was no pleasing him. 5. It’s useless talking much. 6. Marrying somebody for his looks is not reasonable. 7. It’s no good worrying any more tonight. 8. Being promoted sometimes helps a lot. 9. Getting on well with your friends makes you happy. 10. It makes all the difference getting some extra money. 11. Working nine to nine seems to be tiresome. 12. Worshipping somebody or being worshipped is dangerous. 13. It makes no difference having a talk with him or sending him a letter. 14. Parting with him may help her change her life. 15. It’s no good getting married without love. 16. It will make all the difference making it up with your relatives. 17. There’s no accounting for her sulks. 18. It will make no difference asking him to come.

Exercise 29. Complete the following questions and answer them.

MODEL: What is more interesting: reading an English book in translation or in the original? I think, reading an English book in the original is much more interesting.

1. What makes you healthier...? 1....having three or five meals a day?

2. What is worse...? 2....getting an excellent or a bad mark?

3. What is more exciting...? 3....losing a job or going bankrupt?

4. What is more pleasant...? 4....being taken aback or surprising

somebody?

5. What is more amusing...? 5....cooking meals or doing the cleaning?

6. What is more surprising...? 6....jogging or playing tennis?

7. What is more unexpected...? 7....lying in the sun or having a swim?

8. What is more shocking...? 8....reading a humorous story or talking

with a witty person?

9. What is more upsetting...? 9....seeing a crocodile in the forest or a

giraffe in the river?

10. What is more tedious...? 10....quarrelling or watching a quarrel?

Exercise 30. Make up sentences. Use a gerund or a gerundial phrase as subject.

I.

Having a big party	is/is not	such fun.
Drinking a lot of water		wise.
Talking about weather		impossible.
Disobeying a person in authority		exciting.
Seeing them back so soon		cruel.
Having a passion for something	is	dull.
Travelling abroad without a visa		helpful.
Using an alarm-clock	must be	necessary.
Taking offence		expensive.
Playing tennis in the park		dangerous.
Buying a Jeep	no doubt	healthy.
Using a PC		silly.
Giving offence to people		a pleasure.

II.

It	is	no good	asking them to come.
	was	of no use	having a holiday in winter.
	will be	useless	going to the seaside in winter.
			asking her for advice.
			trying to persuade him.
			washing the blouse.
			crying.

III.

There	is	no	predicting her future.
	was		denying the idea.
	will be		understanding him.
			stopping her.
			talking the matter over with them.
			accounting for her rude words.
			avoiding my boss.
			talking her into it.

Exercise 31. Paraphrase the sentences. Use the gerund-subject in the initial position.

MODEL: It’s tiresome to write quickly. Writing quickly is tiresome.

1. It’s dangerous to do such things. 2. It’s pleasant to listen to music after work. 3. It interests him to learn idioms. 4. It was lovely to go to the country. 5. It’s bad for her figure to eat between meals. 6. It’s harmful to smoke. 7. It’s difficult to learn Chinese. 8. It may cause stomach trouble to eat too much. 9. It was a great mistake to act in that play. 10. It’s a bad habit to come late. 11. It’s good for people to laugh. 12. It’s useless to expect their help. 13. It made us tired to study all day. 14. It annoys me to hear them speak so loud.

Exercise 32. Make up sentences with it is/isn’t worth + a gerund. Translate your sentences into Russian.

MODEL: tell him the news (affirmative) It’s worth telling him the news. Стоит сообщить ему эту новость.

see this ballet (interrogative) Is this ballet worth seeing? Этот балет стоит посмотреть?

go there (negative) It isn’t worth going there. He стоит туда ходить.

1. learn languages (affirmative) 2. see the film (negative) 3. go in for jogging (interrogative) 4. go through the fast reading course (interrogative) 5. see the sights of St. Petersburg suburbs (affirmative) 6. take up driving (affirmative) 7. take the coat to the cleaner’s after the accident (negative) 8. type up the whole play (interrogative) 9. sail into the harbour (affirmative) 10. look through the new book on the article (interrogative) 11. release the day of the election so early (negative) 12. recruit help from the neighbours to put out the fire (affirmative)

Exercise 33. Point out the gerund-subject and the compound nominal predicate. Translate the sentences into Russian.

MODEL: Is it any good walking in the rain? Есть ли смысл гулять под дождем?

1. It’s no good writing to him, he will not answer. 2. Is it any good going there? 3. I’m sure it’s no good planting the flowers here, there’s too little sun in this corner. 4. Is it any good mending these shoes? 5. It’s no good asking her to come, she will stay at home. 6. It’s no good speaking English to him, he doesn’t know the language. 7. Is it any good locking the door?

Exercise 34. Make up sentences with the introductory subjects It and There. Pay attention to the notional subject expressed by a gerund or a gerundial phrase. Let your partner translate your sentences.

MODEL 1: It is no good deceiving your parents. Ни к чему обманывать родителей.

MODEL 2: It was (of) no use waiting for them. Бесполезно было ждать их.

MODEL 3: It is useless attending the lecture. Бесполезно идти на лекцию.

MODEL 4: There is no restraining him from that. От этого его не удержишь.

It	is	no good	avoiding the motorway.
	was	(of) no use	talking with her.
	will be	useless	trying to get in touch with him.
There	is	no	avoiding another scandal.
	was		washing the floor.
	will be		keeping away from them.
			phoning him.
			arriving at the station so early.
			teaching him English.
			going to this club.
			accounting for her caprice.
			discussing that topic.
			denying their idea.

Exercise 35. Paraphrase the sentences. Note the use of the introductory subject It and the notional subject expressed by a gerund or a gerundial phrase.

MODEL: Teaching her music won’t succeed. It is (was, will be) (of) no use/useless/no good teaching her music.

1. Taking care of her won’t be of any use. 2. Watching a horror film won’t be of any use. 3. Attending this sports club is useless. 4. Training him as an actor won’t succeed. 5. Apologizing now is of no use. 6. Accusing them won’t be much good. 7. Punishing the boy is of no use. 8. Keeping him in the dark is not advisable. 9. You can’t send him a message. 10. Crying over spilt milk is no use. 11. Losing your temper won’t help. 12. Hoping for his assistance is useless. 13. Giving children a free hand with money isn’t good. 14. Painting the house was a waste of time. 15. Knowing everything isn’t always good. 16. Looking down upon people is shameful. 17. Telling me not to worry is no use. 18. Learning rules without Examples is useless.

Exercise 36. Complete a sentence. Use a gerund or a gerundial phrase as subject with the introductory It or There. Make use of the infinitive phrases suggested.

MODEL 1: It’s (of) no use... (to cry over spilt milk). It ’s (of) no use crying over spilt milk.

MODEL 2: There’s no... (to repair this house). There ’s no repairing this house.

1. Is it any good... (to ask for more)? 2. It’s no good... (to discuss the problem). 3. There’s no... (to fix the clock). 4. It’s no use... (to complain about her). 5. It was useless... (to have a date with him). 6. It’s of no use... (to arrange the meeting). 7. It won’t be much good... (to cut lectures on History). 8. There is no... (to disobey him). 9. There was no... (to argue with my boss). 10. It was quite a pleasure... (to attend the concert). 11. Was it any good... (to ask your dad for advice)! 12. There was no... (to get the best-seller). 13. It was quite a surprise... (to see her in Rome). 14. It’ll be no use... (to ring him at five). 15. It was such fun... (to listen to the music).

Exercise 37. Paraphrase the sentences with the infinitive used as subject. Use a gerund or a gerundial phrase as subject. Use the introductory It or There if possible.

MODEL 1: To ski in the mountains is a pleasure. – It ’s a pleasure skiing in the mountains.

MODEL 2: To persuade him is impossible. – There ’s no persuading him.

MODEL 3: To stage this play is pretty dull. – Staging this play is pretty dull.

1. To make contact with her was next to impossible. 2. To compete with this firm was useless. 3. To keep the criminal in prison was necessary. 4. To go to the dentist’s regularly is important. 5. To have a party with your old friends was such fun. 6. To account for their divorce was impossible. 7. To drive at breakneck speed is dangerous. 8. To call off the wedding is necessary. 9. To explain their strange engagement was impossible. 10. To talk on the same wave length is a pleasure. 11. To do environmental work is useful. 12. To stay indoors in this lovely weather is silly. 13. To get up early and not to stay up late is healthy.

Exercise 38. Respond to the following. Use there is no + a gerund to express impossibility. Make use of the suggested words.

MODEL: – What’s wrong with June? She’s saying such strange things! (to stop) – Oh, yes. When she talks there’s no stopping her.

1. – What’s the matter? Bess is giggling all the time. (to account for one’s moods) – Yes,... 2. – Philip is against my plan to stay at home in summer. (to persuade him) – No, he won’t stay.... 3. – Does your mother know about your failure at the Exam? (to deceive) – Yes,... 4. – Do you think John will take measures to prevent you from marrying his sister? (to tell what he will do) – Yes,... 5. – I don’t think you can do all this work alone. (to get away from it) – Yes,... 6. – I hate the idea of telling him the truth. (to avoid it) – But... 7. – It’s unpardonable not to tell Bill the whole truth. (to deny that you are right here) – Yes,... 8. – How is your mother after the flu? Is she getting any better? (to know what may happen next) – Yes, but... 9. – My little sister is such a chatter-box. She can’t shut her mouth and keeps talking all the time. (to stop her) – Yes,... 10. – I hate wasting so much time on daily chores. (to get away from it) – Yes, but... 11. – Do you think Stacy will try to enter the university a second time? (to tell what she’ll do) – Yes,... 12. – Calm down. Everything is over. The fire is extinguished. (to know what the police may find in the house now) – Yes,... 13. Why not ask Kitty again to come to the party? (to persuade) – No,...

Exercise 39. Answer the following questions. Use a gerund or a gerundial phrase as subject.

MODEL: What is most difficult for a gardener? (to dig and water plants) Digging and watering plants is most difficult for a gardener. (or: Digging and watering plants is.)

1. What is most dangerous when driving? (to drive at speed) 2. What takes you much time before going abroad? (to get a visa) 3. What is a must if you are going to take an English exam? (to revise Grammar rules) 4. What is necessary when renting a flat? (to keep the flat clean) 5. What is pleasant when walking in the park on a hot summer day? (to have a rest in the shade of a large tree) 6. What is most difficult for parents when bringing up their children? (to teach them to love people) 7. What is important when listening to a lecturer? (to take notes) 8. What is advisable when looking for a job? (to put an advertisement regularly in a weekly newspaper and to read advertisements about job vacancies) 9. What is desirable when choosing a career? (to get the necessary information about the occupation you are going to choose) 10. What is important when doing business? (to keep one’s word)

Exercise 40. Respond to the following. Express impossibility of some action. Use the formal subject There and a gerund or a gerundial phrase as the notional subject. Use the suggested verbs.

MODEL: Did Brian agree to join us? (to persuade) No, he refused to and there ’s no persuading him.

1. – Sid says that he is pretty busy and he can’t take a trip to New York. (to deny) –... he is right. But we’ve got nobody else to send there. 2. – I hear your son made up his mind to enter the journalist faculty, didn’t he? (to prevent him from it) – Unfortunately he did and... 3. – He tried to pretend that nothing unusual had happened. But his dad didn’t believe him. (to deceive) – Oh, he is shrewd and... 4. – Jack is worried sick. He has lost some very important papers this week. (to know) – No wonder.... whether he will find them or not. 5. – She is totally unpredictable. You never know how she will behave. (to tell) – Yes,... what she will do next. 6. – Ann is an impossible chatterbox. (to stop) – Oh, yes. She can chat all evening and... her. 7. – What’s up with Victoria? She looks gloomy. (to account) –... for her moods. She is as changeable as the weather. 8. – The Greens invited us to the party but we don’t feel like going there. (to avoid) – I’m afraid... it. They may take offence. 9. – I’m sorry, I can’t give you a hand. (to get) – That’s all right. Then I’ll manage it by myself.... away from it.

Exercise 41. Read the English sentences. Point out the gerundial construction used as subject. Choose the corresponding Russian sentence.

1. His mother’s finding fault with everything never irritates him.

a) Его мать ко всему придиралась, а он не раздражался.

b) Придирки его матери ко всему никогда его не раздражали.

c) То, что мать ко всему придиралась, никогда его не раздражало.

2. It’s no good all this idolizing film- and pop-stars.

a) Ни к чему все это чрезмерное восхищение кино- и поп-звездами.

b) Нехорошо чрезмерно восхищаться кино- и поп-звездами.

c) Кино- и поп-звезды ко всему относятся с чрезмерным восхищением, и это нехорошо.

3. It makes all the difference your father’s having warned you.

a) Предупреждение твоего отца совершенно меняет дело.

b) То, что твой отец предупредил тебя, совершенно меняет дело.

c) То, что твоего отца и тебя предупредили, совершенно меняет дело.

4. Your children watching horror films can’t but worry you.

a) Ваше беспокойство может быть вызвано тем, что ваши дети смотрят фильмы ужасов.

b) Ваши дети смотрят фильмы ужасов, и это не может вас не беспокоить.

c) То, что ваши дети смотрят фильмы ужасов, не может вас не беспокоить.

5. Their being given a warm welcome by his parents was much spoken of.

a) To, что его родители тепло их принимали, вызывало много разговоров.

b) Было много разговоров из-за того, что они тепло приняли его родителей.

c) Об их теплом приеме много говорили его родители.

Exercise 42. Translate the sentences into English using a gerund or a gerundial phrase as subject. Underline the notional subject in the sentences with the introductory subject It and There.

1. Работать на открытом воздухе полезно. 2. Коллекционирование древних монет было его увлечением. 3. Поездка к морю была необходима всей семье. 4. Покупка новой машины требует больших денег. 5. Невозможно убедить его не делать этого. 6. Бесполезно просить ее принять экзамен. 7. Переписка с англичанами (to have an English pen-friend) помогает совершенствовать язык. 8. Разговор с ними ничего не изменит. 9. Его не заставишь ходить туда. 10. Нельзя отрицать, что он прав. 11. Получение денег очень помогло бы. 12. Развлекать гостей довольно сложно. 13. Просвещать людей необходимо. 14. Нет смысла спорить с ним. 15. Финансирование этого проекта чрезвычайно важно. 16. Производство электротоваров требовало крупных вложений. 17. Невозможно избежать встречи с ним. 18. Воспитание детей – сложный процесс. 19. Выбор профессии – непростое дело. 20. Было интересно наблюдать за игрой в футбол. 21. Невозможно было в тот вечер попасть в цирк.

Unit 4