ABSTRACT
In Russian, there are only two types of gerund: imperfective and perfective, formed from imperfective and perfective verbs respectively. The Russian imperfective gerund is the equivalent of the English verbal form in -ing. The perfective gerund is the equivalent of the English verbal form ‘having done’. In Russian, gerunds can be used only in sentences with one subject and more than one verb. In this type of sentence, the verb always describes the main action. Imperfective gerunds can clarify a background action/actions that occur at the same time as the main action. Perfective gerunds can clarify an action/actions that occurred before the main action. Like adverbs, gerunds are unchangeable and can clarify the time, place and manner in which the main action is carried out. The imperfective gerund can be used only in a sentence with one subject and more than one verb and where all actions occur simultaneously. Imperfective gerunds usually describe background action/actions.
