Unit VII. The Infinitive

The double nature of the infinitive

The infinitive is a non-finite form of the verb which names a process or an action in a most general way. The infinitive is the initial or basic form of the verb, that is why it represents the verb in the dictionary.

The formal sign of the infinitive is the particle “to” ( [to] go). In the negative form the particle “not” is added before the infinitive.

We decided [not] to go to the disco.

Like all the other verbals the infinitive has a double nature, with the infinitive it is verbal and nominal, that is the infinitive combines the features of a verb with those of a noun.

The nominal character of the infinitive manifests itself in the syntactical functions of the infinitive which are similar to those of the noun, such as:

the subject of a sentence

It’s never late to learn. – Учиться никогда не поздно.

a predicative

The trouble was to get any money from her father. – Проблема была в том, чтобы получить хоть какие-то деньги от ее отца.

an object

I didn’t wish to be questioned. – Я не хотел, чтобы меня допрашивали.

The verbal character of the infinitive is manifested in:

1. its syntactical features and

2. its morphological features

The Syntactical Features of the infinitive

I. The Syntactical Features of the infinitive are manifested in its combinability:

1. The infinitive can take an object in the same way as the corresponding finite verb:

To choose time is to save time. – Выбрать правильно время - значит сэкономить его.

2. Like a finite verb the infinitive can be modified by an adverbial:

He was not one to think rapidly. – Он был не из тех, кто умеет быстро думать.

II. The morphological features of the infinitive (The forms of the infinitive)

The morphological features are manifested in the morphological categories of the infinitive which are three in number:

the category of aspect (Common aspect – Continuous aspect)

in case of transitive verbs, the category of voice (Active voice – Passive voice)

the category of order (Perfect – Non-Perfect)

Thus there are six forms of the infinitive for transitive verbs and four forms for intransitive verbs.

Table3. The forms of the infinitive

Order	Non-Perfect		Perfect
Tense Voice	Indefinite (Simple)	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
Active	to build	to be building	to have built	to have been building
Passive	to be built	—	to have been built	—

The categories of aspect and voice of the infinitive have the same meaning as in the corresponding finite verb forms. Thus the infinitive in the common aspect does not define the character of the action while the infinitive in the continuous aspect expresses a progressive (continuous) action.

He is said to write a lot of books. – Говорят, он пишет много книг.

He is said to be writing a new book. – Говорят, он сейчас пишет новую книгу.

Note: As there is no continuous aspect in Russian the translation does not reflect the difference between common and continuous infinitives unless it is expressed lexically (сейчас).

The active infinitive denotes an action directed from the subject to the object while the passive infinitive denotes an action directed to the subject (from the object if there is any).

She wanted to love and to be loved. – Она хотела любить и быть любимой.

A writer must read a lot and he is eager to be read. – Писатель должен много читать, и он очень хочет, чтобы его читали.

In some cases both active and passive infinitives are possible with similar passive meaning. But the active infinitive is found if we think more about the person who has to do the action than about the action itself.

There are six letters to write /to be written. = There are six letters which are to be written. – Нужно написать шесть писем.

Give me the names of the people to contact / to be contacted. – Дайте мне имена тех людей, с которыми следует связаться.

The active infinitive “to blame” is often used in a passive sense.

Nobody was to blame for the accident. (=responsible for something bad that happened) – Никто не был виноват в случившемся.

Note: After the verb “to be” in its modal meaning passive infinitives are usually found.

He was nowhere to be seen. – Его нигде не было видно.

You are to be congratulated – Вас надо поздравить.

There is some difference in meaning between

s omething			s omething
anything	to do	and	anything	to be done
nothing			nothing
There’s nothing to do. I’m bored. (=There’s nothing for me to do. There are no entertainments.)			There’s nothing to be done. We’ll have to buy another TV set. (= There’s no way of putting it right.)

The perfect and non-perfect forms

The perfect and non-perfect forms of the infinitive differ in that a non-perfect form denotes an action simultaneous with (or posterior to) that of the finite verb form, while a perfect infinitive denotes an action prior to that of the finite verb form.

Table4. Non-perfect forms of the infinitive
The non-perfect infinitive	Translation	Comments
I’m glad to study English.	Я рад, что занимаюсь английским.	An action simultaneous with the present (am)
I was glad to study English.	Я был рад, что занимаюсь английским.	An action simultaneous with the past (was)
I’ll be glad to study English.	Я буду рад, что буду заниматься английским.	An action simultaneous with the future (will be)
I’m going to study English.	Я буду (собираюсь) заниматься английским.	An action posterior to the future or present (am going to)

Table 5. Perfect forms of the infinitive
The perfect infinitive	Translation	Comments
I am glad to have studied English.	Я рад, что (раньше) занимался английским.	An action preceding the present (am)
I was glad to have studied English.	Я был рад, что (раньше) занимался английским.	An action preceding the past (was) moment
I’ll be glad to have studied English.	Я буду рад, что занимался английским.	An action preceding a future moment (will be)

The above tables illustrate the fact that the infinitive does not show any time reference by itself, the time of the action expressed by the infinitive can be understood only through its reference to the time indicated by the finite verb. So the reference to time in the infinitive is not absolute but relative as the form of the infinitive can show only simultaneity or priority.

Ex. 1. Choose the right form of the infinitive according to the definition given below.
The perfect common infinitive active	1. to be shaving 2. to have been shaved 3. to have shaved 4. to have been shaving
The non-perfect continuous infinitive active	1. to examine 2. to have been examining 3. to be examining 4. to have examined
The non-perfect common infinitive passive	1. to have been translated 2. to be translating 3. to have translated 4. to be translated
The perfect continuous infinitive active	1. to have repaired 2. to be repairing 3. to have been repairing 4. to have been repaired
The non-perfect common infinitive active	1. to be left 2. to have left 3. to be leaving 4. to leave
The perfect common infinitive passive	1. to be cut 2. to have been cutting 3. to have cut 4. to have been cut

Ex.2. Choose the sentences where the forms of the infinitive denote:

1. an action simultaneous with or posterior to the action expressed by the finite verb

2. an action prior to the action expressed by the finite verb

3. an action that lasted a certain time before the action expressed by the finite verb

1. It is very kind of you to have done it for us.

2. I asked Jane to cut sandwiches for all of us.

3. Here’s the saucepan to boil water in.

4. I’ve got a list of foodstuffs to be bought before Charles comes.

5. She is said to have been taken to hospital.

6. He smokes a lot and is sure to be ruining his health.

7. I know him to have been an outstanding politician.

8. Your proposal is certain to be accepted.

9. The green blouse doesn’t seem to fit you.

10. The group is known to be arriving tomorrow.

11. They seem to have been chatting all day long.

12. She happened to be passing by the chemist’s when she saw her husband.

Ex.3. Use the infinitive in the active or passive voice. Translate into Russian.

1. My younger brother hates (to read) but he likes (to read to).

2. I’ve got something (to tell) him and he has the right (to tell) what happened to his son.

3. I won’t have (to spend) the money he gave me though money is supposed (to spend).

4. Teachers like (to ask) students and students hate (to ask).

5. I prefer (to choose) and not (to choose).

Ex.4. Use the appropriate form of the infinitive. Translate into Russian.

1. Everyone wants (to respect).

2. I have nothing (to hide).

3. He is good enough (to give) the first prize.

4. Dick is said (to spend) all his money while travelling all over the world.

5. Fred seems (to work) in the garden since morning.

6. Jack is so weak that not (to support) him would be just a crime.

7. He is so lucky (to find) his purse.

8. The baby must (to sleep) now.

Ex. 5. Translate the sentences into English. Pay attention to the use of the active and passive forms of the infinitive.

1. Моя сестра обрадовалась, когда ее пригласили на день рождения.

2. Я не люблю вмешиваться в чужие дела.

3. Мне пришлось редактировать статью, которую должны опубликовать в ближайшее время.

4. Ничего не поделаешь. Придется принять их предложение.

5. Билл ожидает, что его встретят в аэропорту и отвезут в гостиницу.

6. Не выношу, когда над кем-то насмехаются.

7. Ему совершенно нечего делать.

8. Мне доставляет радость делать Вам подарки.

9. Вам приятно, когда Вам делают подарки?

Ex.6. Translate the sentences into English. Pay attention to the use of the perfect and non-perfect forms of the infinitive.

1. Это все, что надо сказать, когда мы позвоним им.

2. Должно быть, жюри присудило уже все премии.

3. Филипп планирует вернуться на следующей неделе.

4. Будем рады познакомиться с твоим женихом.

5. Мы ожидали, что вы придете.

6. Говорят, книга еще на прошлой неделе была распродана.

7. Очень мило с Вашей стороны, что Вы пригласили его погостить у Вас.

8. Мне нечего Вам ответить. Я чувствую, что виноват.

9. У тебя два варианта: принять их у себя или поехать к ним.