Lecture 8.

The Non-Finites.

As was mentioned all verbal forms fall into two major sets: finite and non-finite. Non-finite forms of the verb, the infinitive, the gerund, participle I (present participle) and participle II (past participle), They are otherwise called “verbals”, or “verbids”. The term, introduced by O. Jespersen, implies that they are not verbs in the proper sense of the word, because they combine features of the verb with features of other notional parts of speech (nouns, adjectives and adverbs). This is a result of many centuries development. The infinitive originated from the noun, so did the gerund; the participle originated from the adjective. Non-finites developed morphological and syntactical verbal characteristics. On the morphological level they had acquired the forms of the categories of aspect, voice and phase. Syntactically, they can take a direct object and can be modified by an adverb. For example: He saw Iriny coming (non-finite), pick up the telegram (the direct object) and read it. Another example: He saw her cross the road quickly. (adverb)

On the other hand, we see in non-finites the remnants of their former nominal character, that is the ability to perform the functions of the subject, object and attribute in the sentence, which is typical of the noun and adjective. For example, the gerund and infinitive can function as the subject and object (Swimming is my favourite pass-time or I’ve always liked swimming), while the participle – as the attribute (The fence surrounding the garden was newly painted). The gerund has a nominal combinability: it can be preceded by the preposition, which is typical of the noun. I am tired of reading.

The infinitive.

The Infinitive is the most generalized, the most abstract form of the verb, serving as the verbal name of a process. G.Curme defines the infinitive as a verbal noun which for many centuries has been gradually acquiring more and more verbal force. The preposition –to- (for example, to invite, to do) is often called a particle. But it is proved that the infinitival marker –to- is not a particle, because it has no lexical meaning of its own. Moreover, particles form combinations with words of almost any part of speech. –To is connected only with the infinitive.

In English there exist bare infinitives, infinitives without –to marker. There are certain rules when the bare infinitive should be used.

-First of all, after the auxiliary verbs do, does, did, will: Don’t apologize; He didn’t help me yesterday.

-After modals, except the verb ought: You must listen to me.

-After the modal expressions had better, would rather, etc.: You had better listen to your mother.

-and in some other cases (you will read the book and add more to this list)

The infinitive combines verbal features with features of the noun. The verbal nature of the infinitive is expressed in the grammatical categories of aspect, phase and voice: I expect him to write (non-continuous aspect), It’s nice to be writing here with a master (continuous aspect), I am sorry to have written those rude words (perfect phase – the perfect infinitive usually denotes an action prior to the action expressed by the finite verb), I stopped to drink some water (the non-perfect phase. The non-perfect infinitive expresses succession). The voice opposition is similar to that in finite verbs: There is no desire to write letters (active voice); There is no time to be lost (passive voice).

The verbal nature of the infinitive also manifests itself in its combinability. It can be combined with nouns and pronouns denoting the subject or the object of the action, and with the adverbial modifiers, e.g.: for him to write a letter; to write a letter to someone; to write a letter very carefully.

The non-verbal properties of the infinitive are displayed in its syntactic functions and its combinability. So the nominal features are only syntactic. The infinitive performs all the functions characteristic of the noun – that of a subject, e.g.: To write a letter was the main thing he had planned for the day; of a predicative, e.g.: The main thing he had planned for the day was to write a letter; of an object, e.g.: He wanted to write a letter to her; of an attribute, e.g.: It was the main thing to do; of an adverbial modifier, e.g.: He stood on a chair in order to reach for the top shelf.

The infinitive can be used alone (I asked to leave) or as part of an infinitival constructions. They are:

-the objective-with-the-infinitive construction: it functions as a complex object: We do not allow children to eat sweets often

-the for-to-infinitive construction: it functions as a complex subject: It is a shame for girls to wear short skirts or The steamer is expected to arrive tomorrow (the steamer ... to arrive — подлежащее). Ожидают, что пароход прибудет завтра.; For him to be late for the presentation was unthinkable; as a complex object: We are waiting for a bus to come ; as a complex attribute: The first thing for me to do is to find out the date of the arrival of the steamer (for me to do — определение; Первое, что я должен сделать, это выяснить дату прибытия парохода); as a complex adverbial: He stepped aside for me to pass or The water was too cold for the children to bathe (for the children to bathe — обстоятельство). Вода была слишком холодной, чтобы дети могли купаться.