Learn English Grammar Free
Learn English Grammar Free :
Study the following.
Subject….verb….object….preposition + gerund
1. It….prevented….her…..from concentrating on studies.
2. Janu….prefers….walking….to catching a bus.
3. I….warned….my wife….against borrowing too much.
4. The taximan….charged….me….for keeping him waiting.
5. The teacher…. Punished…..the students…..for coming late.
I enjoy to travel. (Not correct)
I enjoy traveling. (Correct)
I want to travel. (Correct)
I hope to travel. (Correct)
Joy comes only while travelling not before.
So, I enjoy traveling. (Verbal noun) (Correct)
You should check the oil before to start the car. (Not correct)
You should check the oil before starting the car. (Correct)
You must stop to smoke. (Correct)
You must stop smoking. (Correct)
We are happy at his being promoted. (Correct)
We are happy at him being promoted. (Not correct)
I hope you know my leaving early. (Correct)
I hope you know me leaving early. (Not correct)
Study the following sentences.
Note the verbal nouns and how they are used.
1. I like walking in the rain.
2. My hair needs cutting.
3. Do you mind my giving you a suggestion?
4. I am worried about Sam's forgetting to pay.
5. You mentioned having been to Japan last year.
6. I look forward to hearing from you.
7. I am not used to driving in big cities.
8. I shall always remember meeting you for the first time.
9. I don't regret telling her what I thought right.
10. Sorry, we do not allow smoking in the lecture hall.
11. I am a rogue. Lying and cheating are my ways of living.
12. I cannot go on wasting time and doing nothing.
13. Making love requires tact, patience and powerful approach.
14. I thank the Jew for teaching me that work.
15. Singing brings you pleasure.
16. Success is not merely winning applause.
17. Praising all alike is praising none.
18. I am shocked at Ram's being absent.
19. Children love making castles in sand.
20. I left the party without anyone knowing.
Note :
1. The news shook me to the very roots of my being.
being : Noun - [here used as verbal noun] - the state of existing
of my heing - of - preposition - governs being
my - possessive pronoun
being - gerund - verbal noun - object of OF
1. I don't like borrowing money.
2. I don't like his borrowing money.
The meaning is different.
I borrow money.
I do not like this (ie) borrowing.
1. He borrows money.
I do not like it.
borrowing - verbal noun - object of LIKE in both the sentences
1. I remember her saying that she was getting married.
saying - verbal noun - object of REMEMBER
her - possessive pronoun - qualifies SAYING
1. She didn't mind our coming very late.
coming - verbal noun - object of DID (NOT) MIND
our - possessive pronoun qualifies COMING
1. She can't bear her husband's snoring.
snoring - verbal noun - object of "can(not) bear"
her - possessive pronoun
1. What do you think of David's marrying Anne Olyne?
marrying - verbal noun - object of OF
David's - proper noun - possessive case
1. I am tired of playing another game of cards.
playing - noun - verbal noun - object of OF
1. Doris has torn his shirt. It needs mending.
mending - verbal noun - object of NEEDS
1. My hands are very clean. They don't need washing.
washing - verbal noun - object of DO(NOT) NEED
1. My face needs washing.
My face needs to be washed.
to be washed - (passive infinitive)
washing - verbal noun - object of NEEDS
Note : The passive infinitive is sometimes used - not very often.
1. I can be being taken to school the first day of all.
The use of the ordinary gerund with a passive meaning after to want, to require, to need is, however, very common.
1. I want to be taken to the hospital immediately.
2. They require this to be handled gently.
3. My socks need to be mended.
Learn English Grammar Free
The Grammar Index
