PROGRAM OF ARCHITECTURE / ENGLISH 3

THE GERUND FORM

Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Try to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form.

Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:

Smoking costs a lot of money.

I don't like writing.
My favorite occupation is reading.

But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression [gerund +
object] can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence.

Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.

I don't like writing letters.
My favorite occupation is reading detective stories.

Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners):

pointless questioning
a settling of debts
the making of Titanic
his drinking of alcohol

But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:

a settling of debts (not a settling debts)

Making "Titanic" was expensive.
The making of "Titanic" was expensive.

Do you see the difference in these two sentences? In one, "reading" is a gerund (noun). In the other
"reading" is a present participle (verb).

My favorite occupation is reading.

My favorite niece is reading.

English teacher: Nydia M. Rincn-

Other examples of Ing forms are:

Uses Examples Problems / Notes

She left without

1. After kissing me. Were
prepositions thinking of going to
Italy. like, love, hate, enjoy, miss, feel like, mind, finish, risk,
I enjoy eating out. practise, put off, stop, suggest, cant help, fancy, admit,
2. After some
Do you mind giving deny, give up, imagine, keep (on), put off (postpone),
verbs.
me your address? spend time, cant stand, delay, regret, avoid, consider,
Smoking is bad for involve, go on (=continue)
3. As a Subject
you. Skiing is
of a sentence
expensive
I forgot to phone
3. After some
the bank. She needs
verbs
to see you urgently.

GERUNDIO E INFINITIVO CUANDO LOS DOS SON POSIBLES

Existen verbos con los que se puede poner el gerundio (-ing) o el infinitivo con to.
En algunos, el significado de la combinacin de los dos verbos cambiar al poner infinitivo o
gerundio.

Lee los siguientes ejemplos y su explicacin en espaol.

STOP
- I stopped to have a beer.
Se interrumpe la actividad que se est haciendo para beber una cerveza.

- I have stopped drinking beer.

Se interrumpe la actividad (en este caso de beber cerveza).

TRY
- I tried to lift the box but it was too heavy.
Se intenta algo difcil que requiere esfuerzo.
- Why dont you try closing the window if the traffic is too noisy?
Se intenta un experimento, test o prueba para ver si funciona.

LIKE
- I like to get up at 6am.
Me gusta el resultado de la actividad porque me da tiempo a desayunar y hacer otras cosas
tranquilamente.

- I like getting up at 6am.

Realmente me gusta realizar la actividad.

English teacher: Nydia M. Rincn-

NEED
- I need to work harder.
Tengo la obligacin de hacer algo.
- This room needs painting.
Hay necesidad hacerlo (en voz pasiva)

REMEMBER Y FORGET
1. Remember to buy milk on your way home.
2. I remember kissing my first girlfriend.

1. I forgot to phone Dad on his birthday.

2. Ill never forget seeing my wife for the first time. She looked beautiful.

1. Se refiere a recordar u olvidar cosas que tienes o tenas que hacer.

2. Se refiere a recordar u olvidar cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.

REGRET
- We regret to inform you that your application for a loan of 5000 Euros has not been accepted.
Normalmente se utiliza para comunicar malas noticias.
- Do you regret leaving school early and not going to university?
Lamentas cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.

GO ON
- After winning the Kings Cup, Valencia went on to win the Champions League.
Expresa un cambio de actividad.
- They went on complaining about their holiday all evening.
Expresa que se contina realizando la misma actividad.

EXERCISES

Use the Gerund or the infinitive form according to each statement:

1 I dislike (go)_________ the movies by myself.

2 We started (eat) ________ dinner without you.

3 I can't imagine (Buy) _________ my own house.

4 I used (Watch) _________ that television show all of the time.

5 I always eat breakfast before (Go) ___________ to school.

6 When do you practice (Play) _________ the piano?

7 My grandmother prefers (Read) ____________ science fiction books.

8 You need (study) _____________ harder this year.

9 I am used to (See) _____________ in a bad mood.

10 Have you talked to the dentist about (Clean) ___________ your teeth?

English teacher: Nydia M. Rincn-

 PRACTICE 2

READING

Read the following text, after identify the gerund forms and their
functions.

Measures to avoid cracking in fresh concrete

Generally, the contractor shall allow for all necessary measures to monitor and avoid
cracking in fresh hydrating concrete, regardless the size or volume of the pour. Such
measures shall be to the satisfaction of the Engineer and shall be such that maximum
surface crack width on hardened concrete measure immediately after the pour does not
exceed 0.004 times the nominal cover of the main reinforcement.

The contractor shall allow for and provide approved instrumentation for the measurement
of internal temperature changes in large pours. The maximum concrete temperature at
the point of delivery shall not in general exceed the lower of either 37 degree C, or 6
degree C above the prevailing shade temperature in accordance with the
recommendations of ACI. The limiting internal temperature differential measured across
the extreme faces of concrete mass shall not exceed 25 degrees C at any time.

Curing of hardened concrete shall be executed in accordance with the curing specification.
Generally, the element surface shall not be cooled to dissipate heat from the concrete.
Curing methods, such as the wetting of heated concrete elements exposed to prolonged
and direct radiation, which induce temperature gradients within the concrete mass are
strictly prohibited.

For large pours, the contractor shall allow for and take extra precautions to reduce
concrete temperature gradient and to prevent the loss of surface moisture. Such measures
include but are not limited to:

Keeping all mix constituents shaded where possible to reduce their temperatures in
the stockpile

Cooling of mixing water and/or replacing part or whole of the added water with
ice.

Reducing the cement content by the use of admixtures (but not below that
required for the durability)

Using a cement with a lower heat of hydration

Injecting liquid nitrogen after mixing of concrete

English teacher: Nydia M. Rincn-

 Restring the time between mixing and placing of the concrete to not more than 2
hours

Providing approved surface insulation continuously over all exposed surfaces to

prevent draughts and to maintain uniform temperature through the concrete mass

Initiating curing immediately after final tamping and continue until the approved
surface insulation system is fully in place
Providing shade to the concrete surface to prevent heat gain from direct radiation.

If the surface exhibits crack after compaction, it shall be retamped to close the cracks
while the concrete is still in plastic stage.

(Taken from: http://civilengineerblog.com/measures-avoid-cracking-fresh-concrete/)

English teacher: Nydia M. Rincn-