Gerund


 
 

               The gerund can be used like a noun and like a verb (Verbalsubstantiv).
 
 

               The most common forms:
 

- gerund (active form)

- gerund (passive form)

playing 

I like playing tennis. 

being sent

I hate being sent shopping.

               Other possible forms (but rarely used):
 

- gerund (perfect form, active)
 

- gerund (perfect form, passive)

having played 
I remember having played
Cricket once last summer.

having been sent
I'm proud of having been sent
there by my country.

               1. The gerund as a noun
 

- Swimming is healthy.

- Travelling to foreign countries is a lot 
  of fun.

Schwimmen ist gesund.

Reisen in fremde Länder macht
großen Spaß.

               2. The gerund after verbs without a preposition
 

Like, enjoy, hate, 
suggest,start, 
stop etc.
+ gerund

- I like going for walks in the mountains.
- My brother enjoys playing tricks on me.
- I hope you will stop talking about food all the time.

               3. The gerund after prepositions
 

a. after verb + prep.
succeed in, dream
of, look forward to,
think of, complain
about etc.

+ gerund

- We are looking forward tomeeting you 
  in summer.
- I've always dreamed of playing in a famous
  rock group.
- My friend insisted on paying the bill.


 

b. after adj. + prep.
be fond of, be good
at, be interested in,
be afraid of, be 

tired of, be keen on
+ gerund

- I'm fond of visiting my relatives. 
- Peter is really interested in studying
  Physics.
- Susan is afraid of walking on her 
  own during the night.


 

c. after noun + prep.
be in danger of, 
have difficulty in,
a chance of
+ gerund

- We were in danger of falling off the 
   rock.
- They had difficulty in buying enough
   food in for the weekend.

               4. Gerund constructions as adverbials (als adverbiale Bestimmung)
 

a. after certain prep.
on, in spite of, 

after, before 
+ gerund
 
 

 

- On arriving in York, he phoned his friend.

  As soon as he arrived ...
- In spite of setting off early, he was late for tea.

  Although he set off early...

- After spending a fortnight in London, he decided he 
  had had enough.
  After he had spent...

               !!! 'After' is also used as a conjunction. Therefore the underlined word of the
                     last example 'spending' can also be seen as a participle.
 

b. instead of, apart 
from, by, without 
+ gerund

!!! No adverbial 
clauses possible
in English

- Instead of going home, we went for a walk.

   Statt nach Hause zu gehen,....
- Apart from being hungry, they were also tired.

   Abgesehen davon, daß....
- By working hard he made alot of money.
   Dadurch daß../indem.. 

               5. The gerund after certain expressions
 

it's no use, there

is no, it's no good,
it's worth
+ gerund

- It's no use ringing the bell. no one is at home. 
  ( Es hat keinen Zweck...)

- It's no good asking me. I haven't got a clue.
   ( Es nützt nichts...)
- It's worth saving these stamps. They might be very 
   valuable in a few years.
    ( Es lohnt sich...)


 

                    6. The gerund or infinitive after certain verbs

                    Certain verbs have different meanings, depending on whether a gerund or an infinitive follows.
 

- Why don't you stop talking about school? 

- Let's stop to have a drink at this pub.

- Yes , I remember seeing you last week.

- Please remember to post this letter

- I regret eating this chocolate.

- We regret to tell you that we have none of the trousers left.

Warum hörst du nicht auf,...

Komm wir halten .... an,...

Ja, ich erinnere mich daran...

Denke bitte daran,...

Ich bereue, daß...

Wir bedauern, Ihnen sagen (mitteilen) zu
müssen,...