İNGİLİS DİLİNDƏ CERUNDUN FUNKSİYALARI

The article deals with the Gerund in English. All English grammars distinguish between finite and non-finite forms of the verb. The non-finite forms, which are also called the verbal or the non-predicative forms of the verb, comprise, according to most grammars. There are 3 verbals in English. One of them is Gerund. Gerund is used in many functions in the sentence. Some grammarians do not distinguish between the gerund and participle I, calling them both the -ing form. The Collins Cobuild English Grammar (London 1995) prefers the term -ing noun to gerund. There are grammars which use the term gerund, but the functions of the gerund are not the same from one grammar to another. In this grammar the term -ing form is not used and a clear distinction is made between the gerund and participle I, for the reason that in spite of having the same form they function differently in a sentence. The gerund is close to a noun (pronoun) and has many nominal features, while participle I is close to an adjective and has adjectival features. Therefore, a number of the functions of the gerund and participle I do not coincide. Thus, the gerund, unlike participle I, can function as subject and object. As to the functions of attribute and adverbial modifier, the gerund, when used in these functions, is always introduced by a preposition, while participle I is either introduced by a conjunction (adverbial modifier of comparison and concession) or by nothing at all (attribute, adverbial modifier of time, cause, manner). The only functions in which participle I and gerund can be confused are those of the predicative and complex object. According to their functions in a sentence verb forms can be classified into finite and non-finite. The finite forms perform the function of the predicate. The non-finite forms, sometimes called verbal, can perform various functions in a sentence except that of the simple verbal predicate. The verbal include the Infinitive, the Gerund and the Participle. The verbal has some features in common. First, they can show whether an action expressed by a verbal is simultaneous with the action expressed by the finite verb, or precedes it. To denote precedence we use perfect forms of the verbal. Second, all the verbal can be used: a) singly: • Annoyed, she went out of the room (single participle II). b) in a phrase: • She spent whole days reading books (participle I in a phrase). c) in a predicative construction: • She noticed him look back (infinitive construction)