Инфинитив без частицы to
В современном английском языке инфинитив употребляется с частицей to. Однако, в следующих случаях частица to не употребляется:
1. После вспомогательных глаголов
I don’t know.
They didn’t play tennis yesterday.
2. После модальных глаголов (за исключением ought to, be to, have to):
I can go there alone.
We may play darts.
3. После глаголов чувственного восприятия (to see, to hear, to feel, to watch, to notice, etc.), употребляемых в действительном залоге в инфинитивных конструкциях:
I saw him enter the house.
4. После глаголов to let, to make:
Let me see!
He always makes me laugh.
5. После выражений had better, would rather/sooner, can not but:
I’d rather go there.
6. В вопросительных предложениях, начинающихся с why:
Why not speak to her?
7. После слов than, rather than, but, except:
He did nothing but/except play cards.
I’ll take a taxi rather than walk.
Exercise 7. Use to before the Infinitives where possible.
We did everything we could ... make him ... join us.You can't ... make me ... do what I don't want .... .
Are you sure you can ... afford ... waste another year?
You need ... take more care of yourself.
It would be very foolish ... let the child ... have his way.
Let the next student ... come in now.
We'd rather ... take a train than ... fly.
Why not ... go with us? Let's ... have fun!
You'd better ... stay in bed not ... make your cold ... get worse.
I need a car ... get to my country-house.
He can't but ... admire her beauty and talent.
You ought ... have told me all this before.
We got them ... rebuild the house.
He was seen ... enter the house through the back door.
What made you ... terrorize me? — I was made ... do it.
Will you be able ... let your son ... decide his future?
He made me … do it all over again.
She can … sing quite well.
He will be able … swim very soon.
I used … live in a caravan.
Функции инфинитива в предложении
Функция |
Пример |
1. Подлежащее.
Часть сложного подлежащего. |
Indeed, to know him is to love him. Действительно, знать его значит любить его.
The delegation is expected to arrive tomorrow. Ожидают, что делегация прибудет завтра. |
2. Составная часть сказуемого.
|
The most important thing is to read a lot. Самое важное – это много читать.
They continued to discuss the matter. Они продолжали обсуждать вопрос.
You must say it now. Вы должны сказать об этом сейчас. |
3. Дополнение.
Часть сложного дополнения. |
I invited Peter to come with us. Я пригласил Петю поехать с нами.
I want you to join us. Мне хочется, чтобы вы присоединились к нам. |
4. Определение. |
He had a great wish to see his mother again. Ему очень хотелось снова увидеть свою маму. |
5. Обстоятельство цели и следствия. |
He went to the airport to meet his friend. Он поехал в аэропорт, чтобы встретить друга.
He was too tired to listen to her. Он так устал, что не мог слушать ее./ Он был слишком усталым, чтобы слушать ее. |
Exercise 8. Complete the following using the infinitive
a) as predicative:
All they do is...
To get straight to the best is...
The only safe and sane thing to do was...
What my father should do is...
My original idea was...
b) as subject:
...is not my custom.
...is quite unusual for her.
...was the last thing any man wanted.
...is a hardship.
c) as object:
I order...
I didn't mean...
Has your mother persuaded you...?
It occurred to me...
Don't bother....
d) as attribute:
He regretted his inability...
There is nothing…
His wife was the first...
e) as adverbial modifier of purpose:
The family had gathered...
She might have dropped in...
She bowed graciously and turned...
We climbed up the mountain…
He rose from his chair...
f) as adverbial modifier of result:
The novel was easy enough...
She was too sad...
He couldn't do enough...
He knew enough of the country not...
He was too astonished...
Exercise 9. Complete the following choosing a suitable infinitive from the list below.
But I quite see it is one of those things that have got....
Now we can get our heads together and ... what is best....
Really it is too dreadful. One feels one must do something ... oneself cheerful.
But nobody could ... it for sure.
I'm going ... my coffee now and I don't want ... anybody.
Don't you think I'm old enough ... of myself.
"Very good of you ... me." He shook hands with them both.
"This story made me ... of him at once," said Miss Marple.
You could taste the dirt in the air and it always seemed....
The whole town seemed....
to think, to ask, to take care, to have, to see, to be asleep, to be done, to keep, to do, to make |
Exercise 10. Change the sentences using the Infinitive as part of a predicative.
S
tudent
A: Student B:
It's difficult to understand your humour.
It was not easy tо diagnose the illness.
It's hard to please people like you.
It's very hard to deal with my uncle.
It will be very hard to get along with him.
Exercise 11. Respond to the following. Supply a natural context.
S
tudent
A: Student B:
The novel is boring. I can’t read it.
She is a charming little creature. It’s pleasant to look at her.
He is a shallow man. Don’t deal with him.
Jane is a very narrow-minded girl. I can’t talk to her.
My friend looks a new girl after the trip. I can’t recognize her.
Thе record is not to be had for love or money. You can’t get it.
It is hard to recognize my aunt.
It is hard to please her.
It’s difficult to explain his behaviour.
Exercise 12. Translate into English.
В этих ботинках очень удобно ходить. Я ношу их уже два года.
Он очень вспыльчивый человек. С ним очень трудно ладить.
Вам очень трудно угодить. Вы всегда придираетесь ко мне.
Молодой человек отрастил бороду и усы, и его трудно узнать.
Это такое счастье - видеть тебя здоровым и невредимым.
Наш план заключался в том, чтобы отправиться туда рано утром.
Наш долг - любой ценой спасти бесценные коллекции картин.
У нее красивый низкий голос и ее приятно слушать.
На ваш вопрос трудно ответить. Вы поставили меня в тупик.
Реку опасно переплывать в этом месте, лучше пройти по мосту.
Почти невозможно заставить его употреблять активный словарь.
Врач сказал, что эту мазь очень сложно приготовить.
Он говорит так быстро, что его трудно понять.
Exercise 13. Complete the following sentences.
... that is the question.
... is to believe.
... is my aim in life.
... would be madness.
It makes me feel good ...
It was unnatural ...
It annoyed them ...
... is everybody's wish.
What I want is ...
The main point is ...
To travel means ...
The only thing to do was ...
To tell a white lie is ...
To live is ...
To be up to date means ...
The secret of life is ...
Exercise 14. Combine the sentences so as to use the infinitive.
A: Mr. Simpson is very old. He can't work.
Mr. Simpson is too old to work.
B: My cousin plays the violin well. He can give a concert.
My cousin plays the violin well enough to give a concert.
The apple you gave me is so sour. I can't eat it.
She is still young. She can't travel to London alone.
He was very late. He didn't catch the 12:30 train.
You don't know the poem well. You can't recite it in front of the class
He was very far. He couldn't see what they were doing.
The water in the lake is very cold. I can't bathe.
You are very quick. You can easily catch up with the group.
You don't understand it. You are too young.
You are clever. You can answer any question.
The weather is warm. We can go out.
This tea is too hot. I can't drink it.
You were too angry. You couldn't speak.
It is so foggy today. I can't drive the car.
He has recovered. He can attend classes.
He is strong enough. He can climb up this mountain.
Exercise 15. Make up sentences using the following infinitive phrases parenthetically.
Student A:
to start with;
to make a long story short;
to say honestly;
to tell the truth;
so to speak;
to be quite truthful;
to go into particulars;
to be more exact