Verbals as subject

Infinitive as Subject

As subject the infinitive is always used with particle to and usually expresses a si­multaneous or following action:

• To visit her was all that I desired.

• To visit her is always a pleasure.

The infinitive often has the additional modal meaning of condition in this function and this meaning is supported by Conditional Mood:

• To take money from him would be like robbing a child (= if you took money from him...).

• To take him seriously would be absurd (= if you took him se­riously...).

Sentences with infinitive as subject have structural peculiarities:

a) the infinitive as subject may be used only in declarative - never in interrogative sentences;

b) The infinitive is always placed at the head of the sentence;

c) We generally find the nominal predicate in sentences of this kind:

• To go with him to picture galleries was a rare treat.

• Not to go back was awful.

ing-form as Subject

The ing-form as subject express­es permanent or recurrent actions simultaneous with the predicate:

• Looking after one man is really enough.

Sentences with the ing-form as subject have certain structural peculiarities:

a) ing-form as subject is only in declarative - never in interrogative sentences;

b) ing-form as subject is always placed at the head of the sentence;

c) ing-form as subject is occasionally found in negative sentences beginning with there is:

• There was no arguing with her about it.

• Well, there is no avoiding him now.

Infinitive and ing-form as Subject Compared

The difference between the infinitive and the ing-form as subject: the infinitive mostly denotes the following ac­tion, ing-form expresses the simultaneous:

• To win the world’s greatest cycling event became the ambi­tion of his life.

• Writing letters is a waste of time.

Neither the infinitive nor the ing-form as subject is common in English, so the distinction between them is not very important.

EXERCISES:

Ex. 125. Choose between the infinitive and the ing-form to use it as subject in the following sentences:

1. I did it because ... on living in the country would have been too much of a problem. (to go) 2. There was no ... how his father would react to the news. (to tell) 3. You know, her ... cleverer than her husband was half the trouble. (to be) 4. Not ... home, in fact, seemed lately to become the pattern of his life. (to go) 5. I belonged to neither groups, and ... was to take sides. (to speak) 6. There is no ... how long he would have continued on the sub­ject if his attention had not been distracted by a man who appeared on the deck. (to know) 7. … her upset would have been an understatement, she was beside herself with anger. (to call) 8. There was no ... the sound. (to mistake) 9. We were in the offices, and ... to his room meant going right through the place.(to get) 10. Just ... silent together like that helps. (to be) 11. Just ... my trouble would have been in bad taste. (to mention) 12. Let us admit that ... with us is the thing that we cannot do without. (to read) 13. … away for a weekend demanded a degree of will and organi­zation. (to get) 14. She felt exhilarated, there was no ... it. (to deny) 15. Though it was fine, ... outside at a small table, eating, was not a tempting prospect. (to sit)