2014-08-05 Structure: gerunds/friendship

p. 270-271
pursuing <- pursue = go after, follow, develop
He has two "best" friends. ("quotes" because neither is really the #1 top best friend)
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GERUNDS: verb+ing, functions as a noun

Subject: Studying English is important in today's world.
(Subject complement: My passion is kayaking.)

Object (of a verb): I enjoy talking to him about books.

Object of a preposition: I look forward to meeting them.
	(be used to, be accustomed to, object to)

Subjects and objects of verbs can also have infinitives.
Prepositions ALWAYS have gerunds.

I was having difficulty finding a subject for this column.
I had trouble understanding the lesson.
I had a good time talking to your friends yesterday.
She has some problems meeting new people.
They'll have a hard time traveling without knowing English.
(These may be present participles. They have a meaning similar to the continuous/progressive tense.)

Gerunds follow possessives:
	I was worried about their not getting along.
	My smoking bothered my friend.
	Bill supported my becoming a writer.

I saw his driving. I don't want to ride in his car.
(I saw the driving. It doesn't look safe.)

I saw him driving.
(I saw him, he was driving at the time.)
I looked for him, and then I found him reading in his room.
Their mother caught them eating cookies before dinner.

Their mother doesn't like their eating cookies before dinner. She thinks that it will ruin their appetites.
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http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk
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p. 283 exercise 9
Decide how important each thing is for your own friendships.
Add one more thing that is very important for you.
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"I hate to be the bearer of bad news."
lose-lose situation
blunt - honest without caring if you hurt someone's feelings
tactful - saying something carefully to avoid hurt feelings
enabling - helping someone do something bad for him or her
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Homework: p. 276-278 exercises 2 and 3