Functions of the infinitive

The independent use of the infinitive comprises the functions of the subject, predicative, object, adverbial modifier, attribute, and parenthesis:

1. To visit her was all that I desired.

2. Her highest ambition was to write a book of recollections.

3. I am curious to know the news.

4. I came in to see if I could help you.

5. He gave her permission to leave.

6. To tell the truth, I am such.

Here can be included the function of the simple verbal predicate: Why not go there right away? And the function of the second action (subsequent). He turned to fined her sad. Alice arrived in time to hear Tom’s remark.

The dependent use of the infinitive can be found in the functions of:

1. Part of a compound verbal predicate (or in complex subject) He seemed to know all about it.

2. Objective predicative (or in complex object) I felt her hand tighten in mine.

3. Attendant circumstances. It was a quite house, with only his secretary to see his meals.(absolute construction)

4. Other parts of sentence in the –for –to infinitive construction: for me to go there is out of the question.

The ing-forms

The Dutch scholar E. Kruisinga is of the opinion that there is only one set of forms (ing-forms) which in different contest acquire different shades of meaning and perform different syntactical functions. Other scholars find two different sets of homonymous forms: the gerund and the participle. They’re complete homonyms. This is one of the questions, which do not admit of a definite solution (разрешение). The difference between the gerund and the participle is basically this. The gerund along with its verbal qualities has substantival qualities as well; the participle along with its verbal qualities has adjectival qualities. This of course brings about a corresponding difference in their syntactical functions: the gerund may be the subject or the object of the sentence and only rarely an attribute first and foremost. There are cases when gerund and participle are practically indistinguishable. In the sentence ‘do u mind her coming?’ the opposition between them is neutralized because ‘her’ may be regarded both as a possessive pronoun and a personal pronoun in the objective case.

Functions of the ing-forms

1. The independent use:

1. Subject. Bathing here is out of the question.

2. Predicative. To read is like dreaming at night.

3. Predicate. What about going to Moscow?

4. Object. Roger insisted on going.

5. Adverbial modifier. While going I met him. The bus passes us without stopping.

6. Attribute. Singing people filled the street..

7. Parenthesis. Generally speaking u are late.

8. Second action (simultaneous). She was upstairs getting ready.

2. The dependent use:

1. Part of a compound verbal predicate. She burst out crying.

2. Subjective predicative (after passive). The baby was found sitting on the floor.

3. Objective predicative. I felt him looking at me.

4. Part of absolute constructions (descriptive circumstances). His study was a nice room with books lining the walls.

Participle II has only one form, which may denote:

1. A state as a result of some action completed (transitive verb). The wall painted yesterday is still wet.

2. A state resulting from the action of some agent (intransitive verb). Arrived at this port we halted.

3. A process of some continuous action (intransitive verb). The watched by their parents didn’t quarrel.

4. An emotional state of a person. U must not get excited.

Subjective verbs have no PII (except in analytical forms), but there are a few exceptions: runaway, fallen, vanished, gone, faded, withered, retired, though mostly the participles ‘learned, drunken, faded, retired’ have become adjectives or are in process of adjectivization.

P II has no category of correlation but in speech it may denote simultaneousness or priority depending on the lexical meaning of the verb or context. E.g. she looked at the broken cup (terminative, priority). The old man loved and respected by all (durative, simultaneousness). P II is mostly used to modify nouns. P II may also be used with conjunctions such as when, if, as if, though in the function of adverbial modifier: when dressed I sat a long time by the window. Nobody spoke unless spoken to.