• You mustn’t neglect to make the reservation right away.
Try – a gerund has the special meaning of make an experiment with – try going to bed earlier ; you’ll feel better. In this sense the infinitive may also be
used. Try meaning make an attempt to requires the infinitive.
Example:
•
He is trying to enter a good university.
After a noun – human subject, need and want in the sense of require will
take an – ing gerund – this lamp needs repairing. such a gerund may alternate with a passive infinitive—this lamp needs to be repaired .
2.2.6 Gerund Phrases as Objects of Preposition
Any verbs used as the object in a prepositional phrase takes the form of a gerund. Most gerund phrases after prepositions are subjectless, especially those in
adverbial prepositional phrases.
1. Nominal Function of Prepositional Gerund Phrases
Such gerund phrases function as prepositional objects of verbs. A great many of the verbs listed under prepositional objects in the chapter on prepositions
take such gerund objects.
Examples:
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•
He insisted on paying the entire bill for dinner.
•
She often dreams about having a lot of money to spend on
luxuries.
Some verbs are followed by either gerund phrase prepositional objects or infinitive phrase objects:
a. agree in or on going, agree to go
b. care about going, care to go
c. caution someone againts going, caution someone to go opposite
meanings d.
decide on going, decide to go e.
forget about going, forget to go f.
grieve or rejoice, exult at going, grieve or rejoice, exult to go g.
help someone in going, help someone to go h.
plan on going, plan to go i.
serve for going, serve to go j.
suffice for going, suffice to go k.
warn someone againts going, warn someone to go opposite meanings
The word to after the following verbs is a preposition rather than the
sign of the infinitive and therefore requires a gerund after it – accustom oneself, allude, confess, confine oneself, dedicate oneself, limit oneself, look forward,
object, plead guilty, reconcile oneself, resign oneself, resort, revert. Examples:
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•
He objected to their entering the factory without the permission.
•
We look forward to seeing you again. 2. Adjectival Function of Prepositional Gerund Phrases
These adjectival constructions appearing after nouns begin mostly with
of or for. There are two main types: a. Those prepositional gerund phrases that follow nouns derived
from verbs or adjectives. Examples:
•
His pretense of being rich didn’t fool anyone.
•
Their preparations for traveling abroad were very time – consuming.
•
He spoke of the necessity of hiring more men. b. Those prepositional gerund phrases appearing after nouns that are
nonderivational. Such adjectival constructions are mostly adjective clause equivalents.
Examples:
•
The money for traveling around the country = with which they could travel around the country was soon used up.
•
This is not a good way of doing it = in which you can do it .
•
The time for making excuses = in which you can make excuses is past.
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Both types of prepositional gerund phrases may have alternate infinitive forms.
Examples:
• He spoke of the necessity to hire more men.
• This is not a good way to do it.
• The time to make excuses is past.
3. Adverbial Function of Prepositional Gerunf Phrases a. Prepositional gerund phrases modifying verbs
These phrases may express almost all adverbial relationships except place.
Examples:
•
After listening to the news, she started to prepare dinner.
•
He earned the money for his tuition by working as a waiter during
the summer months. •
I passed him in the street without his recognizing me.
•
In spite of traveling alone, she enjoyed her vacation very much.
A prepositional gerund phrase may appear in all three adverbial positions, but most frequently in initial or final position. In initial position the
“subject” of the phrase is rarely expressed, since it is understood as the subject of the sentence. If the agent of an introductory gerund phrase is other than the subject
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of the sentence, the phrase is considerd an unacceptable “dangling” element – on looking out the window, a beautiful scene met his eyes.
b. Prepositional gerund phrases modifying adjectives
At introduces most prepositional gerund phrases after adjectives, especially – ed participial adjectives.
Examples:
•
He was embarrassed at hearing himself praised.
•
I’m disappointed at your doing such a thing.
•
He’s very quick at adding figures. Other prepositions introducing gerund phrases after adjectives
are :
a. About
Example : He’s very careless about keeping appointments.
b. For
Example : Their by funds are adequate for meeting their moderate
needs. c. Of
Example : He’s afraid of displeasing his parents.
d. With
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