Gerund-participial clauses

1. Gerund-participial clauses functioning as the subject

Learning Chinese is easy.

subject(gerund-participial clause): learning chinese
- predicand: we
- predicate: learning chinese
  - head: learning
  - direct object: chinese
predicate: is easy
- head: is
- complement: easy

2. Gerund-participial clauses functioning as the complement in a VP

She likes dancing.

subject: she
predicate
- head: likes
- complement(gerund-participial clause): dancing
  - predicand: she
  - predicate: dancing

3. Gerund-participial clauses functioning as the complement of a PP

I’m sorry for giving you trouble.

subject: i
predicate
- head(auxiliary verb): am
- complement(Adjp): sorry for giving you trouble
  - head(Adj): sorry
  - complement(PP): for giving you trouble
    - head(P): for
    - complement(gerund-participial clause): giving you trouble
      - predicand: i
      - predicae: giving you trouble
        
        head: giving
        
        indirect object: you
        
        direct object: trouble

She is tired of Lucy’s being late.

subject: she
predicate
- head(auxiliary verb): is
- complement(Adjp): tired of Lucy’s being late
  - head: tired
  - complement(PP): of Lucy’s being late
    - head(P): of
    - complement(gerund-participial clause): Lucy’s being late
      - subject(NP)
        
        head(genitive N): Lucy’s
      - predicate: being late
        
        head(auxiliary verb): being
        
        complement(Adjp): late

The rotation is caused by the earth spinning on its axis

PP: by the earth spinning on its axis
- head: by
- complement(gerund-participial clause): the earth spinning on its axis
  - subject: the earth
  - predicate: spinning on its axis

4. Gerund-participial clauses functioning as the complement of an AdjP

It’s nice seeing him again.

predicate
- head(auxiliary verb): is
- complement(Adjp): nice seeing him again
  - head(Adj): nice
  - complement(gerund-participial clause): seeing him again
    - predicand: I
    - predicate: seeing him again
      - head(V): seeing
      - direct object: him
      - modifier(Advp): again

5. Gerund-participial clauses functioning as an adjunct

Gerund-participial clauses가 adjunct로 기능할 때 progressive aspect를 가질 수 있다. 즉, 때때로 finite relative clause의 progressive counterpart와 의미적으로 대응한다.
Smiling brightly, the girl turned toward him.

supplement(gerund-participial clause): smiling brightly
- predicand: the girl
- predicate: smiling brightly
  - head: smiling
  - modifier(Advp): brightly
matrix clause: the girl turned toward him
- subject: the girl
- predicate: turned toward him
  - head: turned
  - complement(PP): toward him
    - head(P): toward
    - object(NP): him

Semantics

A backup external memory containing several data files