THE GERUND

This looks exactly the same as a present participle, and for this reason it is now common to call both forms 'the -ing form'. However it is useful to understand the difference between the two. The gerund always has the same function as a noun (although it looks like a verb), so it can be used:

a. as the subject of the sentence:

• Eating people is wrong.
• Hunting tigers is dangerous.
• Flying makes me nervous.

b. as the complement of the verb 'to be':

• One of his duties is attending meetings.
• The hardest thing about learning English is understanding the gerund.
• One of life's pleasures is having breakfast in bed.

c. after prepositions. The gerund must be used when a verb comes after a preposition:

• Can you sneeze without opening your mouth?
• She is good at painting.
• They're keen on windsurfing.
• She avoided him by walking on the opposite side of the road.
• We arrived in Madrid after driving all night.
• My father decided against postponing his trip to Hungary.

This is also true of certain expressions ending in a preposition, e.g. in spite of, there's no point in..:

• There's no point in waiting.
• In spite of missing the train, we arrived on time.

d. after a number of 'phrasal verbs' which are composed of a verb + preposition/adverb

Example:
to look forward to, to give up, to be for/against, to take to, to put off, to keep on:

• I look forward to hearing from you soon. (at the end of a letter)
• When are you going to give up smoking?
• She always puts off going to the dentist.
• He kept on asking for money.

NOTE: There are some phrasal verbs and other expressions that include the word 'to' as a preposition, not as part of a to-infinitive: - to look forward to, to take to, to be accustomed to, to be used to. It is important to recognise that 'to' is a preposition in these cases, as it must be followed by a gerund:

• We are looking forward to seeing you.
• I am used to waiting for buses.
• She didn't really take to studying English.

It is possible to check whether 'to� is a preposition or part of a to-infinitive: if you can put a noun or the pronoun 'it' after it, then it is a preposition and must be followed by a gerund:

• I am accustomed to it (the cold).
• I am accustomed to being cold.

e. in compound nouns

Example:

• a driving lesson, a swimming pool, bird-watching, train-spotting

It is clear that the meaning is that of a noun, not of a continuous verb.

Example:

• the pool is not swimming, it is a pool for swimming in.

f. after the expressions:

can't help, can't stand, it's no use/good, and the adjective worth:

• She couldn't help falling in love with him.
• I can't stand being stuck in traffic jams.
• It's no use/good trying to escape.
• It might be worth phoning the station to check the time of the train.

LET'S STUDY ENGLISH

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS (Kata Kerja Bantu Modal)

A. Pola Kalimat

Modal auxiliary verbs (can, could, will, would, may, might, shall, should, must) yang selalu diikuti oleh kata kerja bentuk pertama dalam kalimat.

1. Kalimat Positif

S + Modal  + V-1

Contoh:

·         Ican swim.

·         He can swim.

·         She could come yesterday.

·         Neno might call us today.

·         You must meet her.

·         We should go there.

·         They will come tomorrow.

Perhatikan bahwa semua modal auxiliary verbs dalam kalimat diatas diikuti oleh kata kerja bentuk pertama atau kata kerja dasar (V-1).

2. Kalimat NegatiF

S +Modal  + Not + V-1 

Contoh:

·         I can’t swim.

·         He can’t swim.

·         She couldn’t come yesterday.

·         Neno might not call us today.

·         We shouln’t go there.

·         They won’t come tomorrow.

3. Kalimat Tanya

Modal  + S + V-1?

Contoh:

·         Can you swim?

·         Might Neno call us today?

·         May i smoke here?

·         Could he come yesterday?

·         Should we go there?

·         Must you meet her?

B. Fungsi

1. Can

Digunakan untuk:

a. menyatakan kemampuan atau kesanggupan seseorang.

·         My father can speak five foreign languages.

·         I cannot speak English but i can spaek French.

b. menyatakan request (permintaan).

·         Can you wait outside, please?

·         Can you do me a favor?

c. memberikan atau meminta izin.

·         You can go home now.

·         Can i go home now?

d. menyatakan suatu kemungkinan.

·         She can be a good teacher in the future.

e. menawarkan sesuatu kepada orang lain.

·         Can i get you some coffee?

2. Could

Merupakan bentuk lampau dari can, tetapi could tidak selalu dipakai untuk menerangkan waktu lampau, could dapat dipakai untuk :

a. menyatakan bahwa seseorang memiliki kemampuan umum untuk melakukan sesuatu.

·         My mother could speak six languages.

·         When i was 15, i could run 100 meters in 10 seconds.

b. meminta izin (permission), dalam hal ini could lebih resmi dan lebih sopan daripada can.

·         Could i use your motorcycle?

c. untuk menyatakan kemungkinan yang akan terjadi pada waktu yang akan datang.

·         The price of rice could go up again in the future.

3. Will

Will digunakan                              

a. memutuskan untuk melakukan sesuatu pada saat kita berbicara

contoh :

charles : i’m very thirsty.

Silvester : don’t worry, i will take you a glass of water.

b. memprediksi apa yang akan terjadi pada waktu yang akan datang berdasarkan pemikiran. Dalam konteks ini menggunakan i think....., i am sure...., probably.

·         I will probably go to  SMA Harapan next week.

c. jika ingin berjanji.

·         I promise i will visit you next mount.

4. Would             

Digunakan untuk menawarkan sesuatu kepada orang lain.

·         Would you like a cup of coffee?

5. May

Digunakan untuk

a. meminta dan memberi izin kepada seseorang.

·         May i come in?

·         You may go home now.

·         You may smoke here if you like.

b. menanyakan sesuatu yang mungkin terjadi pada waktu yang akan datang.

·         It may rain this afternoon.

c. menyatakan sesuatu kemungkinan.

·         “where is tanty?” “she may be in her office”.

6. Migth    

Digunakan untuk

a. menyatakan sesuatu kemungkinan.

·         She might be in her office.

·         Neno’s face is pale. She might be ill.

b. menyatakan sesuatu yang mungkin akan dikerjakan pada waktu yang akan datang.

·         They might go to France on the next holiday.