3. Infinitive and gerund: common and distinctive features

Infinitive – is non-finite form of the verb, which has some properties of the noun, and some properties of the verb,serving as the verbal name of the process. It can be used in 3 positions:

1. as a notional part of the sentence (subject, object, attribute, adverb, modal )

2. as a semi notional constituent of the compound verbal predicate (may go- modal + inf, began to learn – compound verbal aspect )

3. as a constituent of the analytics form of the verb (shall go, will go – analytical forms)

The double nature of infinitive is expressed in its combinability. Like verbs Infinitive can combine with:

1. nouns expressing the object of the action(to read books)

2. nouns and pronouns denoting the due of the action (to go there expected him to bring the books)

3. adverbs (to read quickly)

4. with verbs forming a compound verbal predicate (can read, had to leave, happen to meet)

5. in the analytic form of the verb (auxiliary) (will read)

Like nouns it can combine:

1. finite notional verbs , when the infinitive is the object of the action (like to read)

2. finite not. verbs when the infinitive is the subject of the action(to land seemed impossible, to see is to believe)

The infinitive may form 3 predicative constructions:

1. objective with inf. Const.(complex object)

2. subjective with the infinitive(complex subject)

3. for-to-the-inf-const. ( for complex)

Complex object – consists of the noun in common case of the personal pronoun in the objective case + infinitive.(I heard the child play the piano)

Complex subject – consists of the noun in the common case of the personal pronoun in the nominative + infinitive (charly was heard to play the piano)

For complex – consists of the noun in the common case or the pronoun in the objective case preceded by the preposition for + ing. (It is necessary for him to do it)

The infinitive can be used in 2 presentational forms:

- with practical –to- (marked inf)

- without part –to- (unmarked bare, zero inf)

Like verbs the Infinitive has such gr. categories as aspect, correlation (perfective, non-perfective), and voice.

The category of aspect as expressed by the opposition of common and continuous aspects : to write as common, to been writing – continuous.

The category of voice is the oppositional active and passive: to write, to have written, to have been writing – active, passive – to be written, to have been written.

The category of correlation is the opposition of perfective and non- perfective forms. – to write – non-perfective, to have written – perfective.

Bare infinitive is used:

1. after modal verbs except ought, have to, to be to.

2. after verbs denoting sense prepositions (hear, see, notice, watch.)

3. after the verb may in the meaning force and let.

4. after some modal phrases ‘had better’, ‘would rather’

5. after why in interrogative sent (why not go there)

Gerund – is a non-finite form of the verb, which combines the properties of the verb with those of the noun. It is the verbal name of a process but unlike the infinitive and similar to the noun the gerund can be modified by the noun in the possessive pronouns and can be used with preposition.

Like the infinitive the gerund is categorically changeable , there are 2 grammatical categories of the gerund :

• The category of correlation (which is represented by the opposition of perfective and non-perfective forms). E.g. taking – non-perfective, having taken – perfective, being perfective –non-perfective, having been taken – perfective.

• The category of voice is represented by the opposition between active and passive. E.g taking, having taken – active, being taken, having been taken – passive.

Like verbs Gerund can combine:

1. with nouns expressing the object of the action (reading books)

2. with adverbs(reading loudly)

3. with certain semi functional verbs(seeing is believing)

Like nouns it can be combined:

1. with finite notional verbs with gerund as the object of the action(enjoy playing)

2. finite notional verbs when the gerund is the subject of the action (his returning so soon surprised his family)

3. nouns + preposition(a text for reading)