1. Dialogue

2. Grammar: Infinitive constructions

1). Read, translate and learn by heart the dialogue Dialogue ‘Telephone conversation”

• Good morning, Mr.Adams.

• Good morning, Mr. Black. How are you?

• Thanks, fine. Everything is O.K. Did you receive our fax on pipeline items yesterday?

• Yes, we did.

• I’d like to know your reaction to it.

• We’ve carefully studied your complaints. You’re perfectly correct as to the short-delivery. Pipeline items 2 and 6 lacked in the consignment of equipment we sent you. It was overlooked by our controller. We apologize for the oversight. It won’t happen again.

• When will you send us these parts?

• This week. By air. We’ll also send you some documents to facilitate customs clearance at your end.

• Fine. But what about the packaging? The cover of one of the containers was badly damaged.

• It wasn’t our fault. The pipelines were packed in the required way. You should take this up with the captain of the ship.

• We’ve already done it. He believe that your packing is to blame.

• I must disagree totally with him. Perhaps you should have been firmer in dealing with him.

• Let’s come back to this matter in a couple of days, please. In some minutes we’ll have a meeting with the representatives of the company “Karachaganak Petroleum Operating” from Aksai Kazakhstan.

• Then I wish you good luck. All the best.

• Thank you. I’ll call you later.

2). Grammar: infinitive constructions

The infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions. A single infinitive occurs but seldom: in most cases we find an infinitive phrase, i.e. an infinitive with one or several accompanying words.

1. The infinitive as a subject.

To doubt, under the circumstances, is almost to insult. (Ch. .Bronte)

Сомневаться при таких обстоятельствах — это почти означает нанести

оскорбление.

То acquire knowledge and to acquire it unceasingly, is the first duty of the artist. (Thurston)

Приобретать знания, и приобретать их непрерывно — вот первый долг

художника.

Even to think of it gave him ineffable torture. (Bennett)

Одна мысль об этом причиняла ему невыразимые страдания.

То be recognized, greeted by some local personage afforded her a joy which was very great. (Cronin)

Когда ее узнавал и приветствовал какой-нибудь видный местный

житель, она испытывала большую радость.

From these examples we can see that the infinitive as a subject can be rendered in Russian by an infinitive, by a noun, or by a clause.

Though the infinitive as the subject sometimes precedes the predicate, cases when it follows the predicate are far more common; with the infinitive in the latter position, the sentence opens with the introductory it, which serves as an introductory subject. The introductory it is not translated into Russian.

It is useless to discuss the question. (Eliot)

Бесполезно обсуждать этот вопрос.

It was pleasant to be driving a car again. (Braine)

Было приятно снова вести машину.

2. The infinitive as a preidicative.

My intention is to get into parliament. (Trollope)

Моя цель — пройти в парламент.

The infinitive can also be used as part of a predicative.

The abode of Mrs. Betty was not easy to find. (Dickens)

Жилище миссис Бетти было нелегко найти.

3. The infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate.

(a) With modal verbs, modal expressions, and verbs expressing modality the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.

We must not leave him by himself any longer. (Dickens)

The train was to leave at midnight. (Hemingway)

...I intend to lead a better life in the future. (Wilde)

(b) With verbs denoting the beginning, duration, or end of an action the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.

Imprisonment began to tell upon him. (Dickens)

Before daylight it started to drizzle. (Hemingway)

Clare continued to observe her. (Hardy)

...they gradually ceased to talk. (Twain)

Exercise 1. Use the infinitives given below as subjects: to give up. to stop, to say, to forget, to explain, to lose, to know, to repair, to hear. to search, to mention, to look up. to wait, to speak, to take.

1. He went off. ... for him now was a torture.

2. It's difficult for him ... smoking.

3. It was impossible ... the bicycle.

4. ... the map well means to be able to show any country or town on it.

5. It took us twelve days ... the island.

6. ... the past was impossible.

7. It was his habit every August ... his family to the seaside for a change of air.

8. ... at this stage would be a great pity.

9. It's such a comfort ... you say so, doctor.

10. It took him half an hour ... the words in the dictionary.

11. At this moment, ... required more effort than she could make.

12. It takes an effort ... weight.

13. It's hardly necessary for me ... how grateful I'm for all you've done.

14. It would be tactless ... the subject.

15. It would be no good ... again.

WEEK 10