11. Infinitive: Infinitive or -ing-form?

 

On the whole the distinction between the infinitive and the -ing-form (participle or gerund) is defined as follows:

 

Infinitive	-ING-form
special, particular, concrete single action, often in the future, perfective (completed) in its character	general, abstract fact or permanent, regular action, often simultaneous or in the past, imperfective in its character
To sing at the party was a challenge for her. = Спеть на этой вечеринке ...   Nice to meet you. = (при встрече)	Singing was a challenge for her. = Пение вообще... Singing was a stupid thing to do. = То, что она спела, ... Nice meeting you. (при прощании)

 

This distinction is observed in the functions of:

 

1. Subject:

To win the world’s race was his main ambition.

Winning was his motto.

Winning the world’s race was his greatest achievement.

 

Only the gerund is used after:

It’s worth doing smth. (Smth. is worth doing.)

There’s no doing smth. (e.g. There’s no stopping him.)

 

2. Complex Subject:

The door was heard to shut. (= ЧТО закрылась)

The door was heard shutting. (= КАК закрывалась)

 

The participle is usually used instead of the indefinite infinitive

(unless it is the verb “to be”) after:

is found / reported / shown doing smth.

BUT: is found / reported / shown to be smth.

to be doing smth.

to have done smth.

3. Complex Object:

She heard him come in. (= ЧТО вошел)

She heard him coming in. (= КАК входил)

 

The participle is usually used instead of the indefinite

infinitive (unless it is the verb “to be”) after:

found /imagined / fancied / smb. doing smth.

BUT: found / imagined / fancied smb. to be smth.

 

4. Predicative (infinitives are more frequently used):

His job was to file all the incoming letters.

 

Only the gerund is used after:

be like: It’s like trying to kill two birds.

mean (=signify): It means coming late.

BUT: He meant to come late. (= intended).

 

5. Direct Object (the distinction will be discussed later)

 

 

Exercise 11.1. Choose between the infinitive and the ing-form.

 

1. 1.    (Call) her upset would have been an understatement, she was beside herself with anger.

2. 2.    She felt euphoric, there was no (deny) it.

3. 3.    (Get) away for a weekend demanded a degree of will and organization.

4. 4.    There is no (know) how long he could have continued on the subject.

5. 5.    I belonged to neither groups, and (speak) was to take sides.

6. 6.    There was no (mistake) the sound.

7. 7.    I did it because (go) on living in the country would have been too much of a problem.

8. 8.    There was no (tell) how his father would react to the news.

9. 9.    Just (be) silent together like that helps.

10. 10. Just (mention) my trouble would have been in bad taste.

11. 11. Let us admit that (read) with us is the thing that we cannot do without.

12. 12. Not (go) home, in fact, seemed lately to become the pattern of his life.

13. 13. There’s no (account) for taste.

14. 14. Though it was fine, (sit) outside at a small table, eating, was not a tempting prospect.

15. 15. We were in the offices, and (get) to his room meant (to go) right through the place.

 

 

Exercise 11.2. Choose between the infinitive and the ing-form to use it as part of a complex subject in the following sentences.

 

1. 1.    From the hill a man could be seen . . . half a mile away. (to run)

2. 2.    He has never been known . .. his temper at rehearsals. (to lose)

3. 3.    He is in hospital. And his condition is reported as . .. serious. (to be)

4. 4.    He was instructed . . . for a special grant. (to apply)

5. 5.    He was left . . . a couple of hours. (to sleep)

6. 6.    He was understood ... the new teacher. (to be)

7. 7.    Her brother was reported . . . alive in Europe. (to be)

8. 8.    His book was found . .. a fine piece of writing. (to be)

9. 9.    I don't see how anyone can be expected . . . a case like this. (to tackle)

10. 10. I think you'd like to know, sir, that the train has been heard . . . . (to whistle)

11. 11. I was made . . . at the gate. (to stand)

12. 12. In your story he is shown . .. a lot for other people. (to do)

13. 13. People can feel satisfaction if they are made . . . they are doing a useful service. (to feel)

14. 14. She may have found the note because she was seen . . . through the book. (to look)

15. 15. When the car was heard ... the people fled anywhere to avoid the police. (to approach)

16. 16. When they were getting into the car he was heard . . . good luck to the girl. (to wish)

 

Exercise 11.3. Choose between the infinitive and the ing-form to use it as part of a complex object in the following sentences.

 

1. 1.    Adeline found her husband . . . in the middle of the room waiting for her. (to stand)

2. 2.    He explained his behavior as . . . to make up their quarrel. (to try)

3. 3.    He found you . . . pretty liberal about your children. (to be)

4. 4.    He guessed her age . . . about eighteen. (to be)

5. 5.    I can imagine people not . . . him. (to like)

6. 6.    I can't imagine you . . . anything but what you are. (to be)

7. 7.    I caught her . . . at me. (to look)

8. 8.    I found myself . . . almost entirely on the grapes which the cook found it hard to spoil. (to live)

9. 9.    I heard Arthur . . . a slight noise which may have been a sigh or a chuckle. (to make)

10. 10. I left him . . . with the issue by himself. (to deal)

11. 11. I saw Mother . . . at me and . . . away. (to look, to turn)

12. 12. I saw Mother . . . at me. (to look)

13. 13. If you go on talking like this you'll have me . . . . (to cry)

14. 14. James proved himself . . . a man of his word. (to be)

15. 15. Now I was over-confident. I expected things . . . my way. (to go)

16. 16. There was a lot of noise all around now, and amongst it you could hear a plane . . . unusually low. (to fly)

17. 17. They always treated her as . . . superior in every way. (to be)

18. 18. We left him . . . the afternoon with his family. (to spend)

19. 19. We left the others . .. outside the house. (to chat)

20. 20. We stood for a while watching a man . . . an Alsatian puppy. (to train)

 

 

Exercise 11.4. Choose between the infinitive and the ing-form to use it as predicative in the following sentences. Point out the instances when the particle 'to' can be omitted before the infinitive.

 

1. 1.    "My job is . . . everyone alike, and be courteous, even when passengers are not," said the stewardess. (to treat)

2. 2.    "To say that you are a fool is ... it very mildly," said Douglas. (to put)

3. 3.    All he wanted to do was . .. and . . . . (to sit, to dream)

4. 4.    All I wanted to do was . . . the formalities short. (to cut)

5. 5.    All you can do is . . . .(to obey)

6. 6.    But the difficulty was . . . an excuse for absence from home. (to find).

7. 7.    He didn't know what to talk to him about. It was like . . . an unknown brother. (to meet)

8. 8.    His request meant . . . further than I was prepared to go. (to go)

9. 9.    My idea was . . . a fuller explanation of what they plan to discuss. (to demand)

10. 10. The best thing for you to do is . . . the thought of her out of your mind. (to put).

11. 11. The first objective was . . . ourselves a suitable house to live in. (to find)

12. 12. The loss of his job meant . . . poor again. (to be)

13. 13. The only thing to do was . . . who she was. (to explain)

14. 14. The place was cheerful and he felt relaxed. It was like . . . warm in bed. (to be)

15. 15. To love John was like . . . alive. (to burn)