Неличные формы глагола инфинитив = Verbals in Depth the Infinitive. Учебное пособие

2.THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

4.The teacher’s question was …

5.The trouble with some students is …

6.My parents’ problem was …

7.Your task will be …

Exercise 4. Change the structure of the sentences to use the infinitive as part of a predicative. Use the model:

Model: It is difficult to explain his behaviour. – His behaviour is difficult to explain.

1. It is very pleasant to listen to him. He sings so well. 2. It is easy to answer such questions. 3. It is rather hard to read his handwriting. 4. It is hard to hide gold and love affairs. 5. It is very comfortable to work at this desk. 6. It was very amusing to watch the scene. 7. It was easy to follow the wolf’s track. 8. It won’t be pleasant to deal with him. 9. It was charming to look at this house, but it was rather inconvenient to live in. 10. It was impossible to make out the date of the letter. 11. It was impossible to convince him. 12. It was easy to understand the reason of his success.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using the infinitive as part of a predicative.

1. The book was difficult … . 2. She is pleasant … . 3. This problem will not be difficult … 4. The boy is hard … . 5. What he says is pleasant …, but rather hard … . His stories are incredible … . 6. The sentence is easy … and useful … . 7. All she cooks is nice … and delicious … . 8. The little puppies are amusing … . 9. This armchair is comfortable … .

Exercise 6. Translate the sentences into English. Use the infinitive as predicative or part of a predicative.

1.Согласитьсянаэтопредложениезначитпотерятьсамоуважение.

2.Очень трудно написать остроумный лимерик. 3. Моя обязанность вдоме– пылесосить комнаты и вытирать пыль. 4. Его единственным желанием было остаться в полном одиночестве. 5. Номер моеготеле- фона очень легко запомнить. 6. Путешествовать значит расширять

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

S. V. MAYORSHINA. VERBALS IN DEPTH: THE INFINITIVE

свой кругозор. 7. Главное сейчас не нервничать, а спокойно во всем разобраться. 8. Сэтойдевушкойинтереснопоговорить, онамногочи- тает. 9. Все, чтояхочу– этовыполнятьтвоижелания. 10. Деньгипри- ятно тратить, но нелегко зарабатывать. 11. Этот код невозможно за- помнить. 12. Моивпечатлениянелегковыразитьсловами. 13. Сказать ему правду значить обрести в нем врага. 14. Мой совет – забыть его как можно скорее. 15. Наш план состоял в том, чтобы разыскать его отца. 16. Интересную и высоко оплачиваемую работу довольно труд- нонайти. 17. Обычносложноубедитьупрямогочеловека.

3)The infinitive as PART OF A COMPOUND VERBAL PREDICATE

In this function the infinitive occurs as part of a compound verbal

modal predicate and as part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.

a)the infinitive as PART OF A COMPOUND VERBAL MODAL PREDICATE

As part of a compound verbal modal predicate, the infinitive follows a modal verb (the first part of this predicate) and denotes an action, which may be possible, impossible, obligatory, desirable, etc. as indicated by the modal verb.

I must do it at once.

Я должен сделать это сразу же.

The train is to leave in a couple of hours.

Поезд должен отправиться через пару часов.

b)the infinitive as PART OF A COMPOUND VERBAL ASPECT PREDICATE

As part of a compound verbal aspect predicate the infinitive follows an aspect (or phrasal) verb that is a verb denoting the beginning, the duration, the repetition, or the end of the action expressed be the infinitive (“to begin”, “to start”, “to come”, “to cease”, “to continue”’, “used to”, “would”, etc.).2

2Note that the infinitive after the verb “to stop” expresses purpose and means “to make a break”, “to pause in order to do something” (He stopped to talk to an old friend. He stopped to light a cigarette.). Unlike the infinitive, the gerund after “to stop” means”сeasing/preventing the action from continuation” (Stop talking!).

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2. THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

People started to leave the theatre long before the end of the play.

Публика стала уходить изтеатра задолго до конца спектакля.

She continued to miss classes.

Она продолжала пропускать занятия.

He used to meet her outside the factory.

Обычно он встречал ее у фабрики.

Exercise 1. Read and translate the sentences with the infinitive used as part of a compound verbal (modal or aspect) predicate. Pay attention to the ways the infinitives are rendered in Russian.

1. Amelia did not dare to look at Rebecca’s pale face and burning eyes, but she dropped the letter into her friend’s lap. 2. When he was drunk, he used to beat his wife and daughter. 3. He continued to send for me punctually the moment the clock struck seven. 4. Was it because he loved her so much that he could not bear to see her unhappy? 5. ‘We must go and visit our beautiful suburbs of London’, she then thought,‘I hear they are the most picturesque in the world’. 6. His stiff black hair began to grow quite white soon after his son’s death. 7. She had better be put to bed soon; she looks tired. 8. I can’t tell what his motive was. 9. I ought to have refused him, only I had not the heart. 10. I wished, many a time, he had continued to neglect me. 11. They gradually ceased to talk and fell asleep. 12.As long as you see the doughnut you are an optimist. As soon as you start to see the hole, you cease to be an optimist, you are a pessimist.

Exercise 2. Match the parts of the sentences choosing the correct part of a compound verbal predicate.

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

S. V. MAYORSHINA. VERBALS IN DEPTH: THE INFINITIVE

Exercise 3. Paraphrase the sentences using an infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate.

1. Perhaps she will come to the party. (may/might) 2. I would recommend you to have a talk with your boss about it. (should) 3. It’s time she paid attention to Michael’s passionate gaze. (to begin). 4. No matter what happened, she stood her ground. (to continue) 5. I’d prefer to stay at home tonight. (would rather) 6. I wish you didn’t treat me as if I were a child. (to cease) 7. It is your duty to help your brother out of the mess. (ought to) 8. I regret telling him about it. (shouldn’t) 9. I wonder when you got the first stamps for your collection. (to start) 10. She kept crying though she realized that she was wrong. (to continue) 11. It’s very important that I should be present at this meeting. (must) 12. I’m not sure but I hope Garry will cope with this task. (may) 13. When a boy, he did well at school, as a rule. (used to) 14. He told his story to the end and gave me a concerned look. (to finish) 15. We’ve arranged to meet at 10.30 in the morning tomorrow. (to be to) 16. I’d advise you to take up art. (had better) 17. It is not necessary for you to tell her all about our arrangement. (needn’t)

Exercise 4. Translate the sentences into English. Use the infinitive as part of а compound verbal predicate.

1. Он имел обыкновение рассказывать нам невероятные исто- рии о своем детстве. 2. Я, пожалуй, изменю тему курсовой рабо- ты. 3. Должно быть, она уже ушла, уже довольно поздно. 4. Можно я взгляну на этот документ, инспектор? – Боюсь, что пока нет. 4. Он, вероятно, опаздывает. Возможно, он застрял в пробке. 5. Он начал играть с таким чувством, что все замолчали и слушали, затаив дыхание. 6. Мог бы и постучаться, я занят с клиентом, раз- ве не видишь? 7. Я бы посоветовал тебе не пропускать лекции это- го профессора. 8. Майкл достаточно компетентен, он может сде- латьэту работу самостоятельно. 9. Когда он закончил читатьроман, то понял, что эта книга написана о нем. 10. Боюсь, тебе придется показать Кейтлин врачу. Она раньше не была такой агрессивной. 11. Не надо было тебя слушать! Теперь Хелен обидится на меня.

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2.THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

12.Вы не подскажете, как мне добраться до Лубянки? 13. Он про- должал оказыватьсопротивление полицейскому, хотя силы остави- ли его. 14. Я никогда не смогу понять, какты решилась натакое!

4) The infinitive as OBJECT

The infinitive used as an object is placed after the predicate and is often expressed by an infinitive phrase though a single infinitive is also possible.

We plan to go on holiday together.

Мы планируем поехать в отпуск вместе.

The trousers need to be cleaned and ironed.

Брюки надо почистить и погладить.

I regret to have invited her yesterday.

Я жалею, что пригласил ее вчера.

a)Some verbs are followed directly by the infinitive (“to afford”, “to agree”, “to arrange”, “to ask”, “to beg”, “to care”, “to claim”, “to dare”. “to decide”, “to demand”, “to deserve”, “to desire”, “to expect”, “ to fail”, “to fight”, “to forget”, “to grow”, “to help”, “to hesitate”, “to hope”, “to intend”, “to learn”, “to manage”, “to mean”, “to need”, “ to neglect”, “to offer”, “to plan”, “to prepare”, “to pretend”, “to promise”, “to refuse”, “to struggle”, “to survive”, “to swear”, “to tend”, “to threat-

en”, “to volunteer”, “to wait”, “to want”, “to wish”, etc.) He asked to come with us.

Он просился пойти с нами

Do not hesitate to ask questions if you have any.

Если у вас есть вопросы, задавайте их без колебаний.

I don’t care to see this show.

Мне все равно, посмотрю ли я это шоу.

They arranged to meet at the station.

Они договорились встретиться на станции.

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

S. V. MAYORSHINA. VERBALS IN DEPTH: THE INFINITIVE

I can’t afford to take risks.

Я не могу позволить себе рисковать.

He deserves to be promoted.

Он заслуживает продвижения по службе.

b)After a number of verbs that take two objects the first one may be expressed by a noun or a pronoun and the second by an infinitive (“to advise”, “to allow”, “to ask”, “to cause”,

“to compel”, “to enable”, “to encourage”, “to expect”, “to forbid”, “to force”, “to get”, “to help”, “to inspire”, “to invite”, “to lead”, “to leave”, “to order”, “to pay”, “to permit”, “to persuade”, “to recommend”, “to remind”, “to teach”, “to tell”, “to train”, “to trust”, “to urge”, “to use”, “to warn”, etc.).

I asked her to explain everything.

Я попросил ее, чтобы она все объяснила.

My mom taught me to read and write.

Мама научила меня читать и писать.

It has led me to change my attitude.

Это привело ктому, что я изменил свое мнение.

They paid him to be silent.

Они заплатили, чтобы он молчал.

He got Ann to help them.

Он уговорил Энн помочь им.

c)After the verbs “to find”, “to consider”, “to believe”, “to think”, “to hold”, “to judge”, “to make”, etc., when used as an object, the infinitive may be preceded by the formal introductory object “it”, which is not translated into Russian.

He thought it impossible to quit sports.

Он думал, что бросить спорт невозможно.

Did you find it necessary to invite her?

Ты счел, что ее необходимо пригласить?

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2. THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

He made it a rule to get up at seven o’clock.

Он взял за правило вставать в семь часов утра.

d)After the verbs “to advise”, “to ask”, “to decide”, “to discover”, “to explain”, “to find out”, “to forget”, “to guess”, “to imagine”, “to know”, “to learn”, “to realise”, “to remember”, “to say”, “to see”, “to show”, “to teach”, “to tell”, “to think”, “to understand”, “to want”, “to wonder”, etc., the object may be expressed by a conjunctive infinitive phrase.

I don’t know what to say. where to go. who to meet how much to pay. when to come.

Have you decided when to have the party?

Вы решили, когда проводить вечеринку?

We’ll have to ask whether to go on ahead with the project.

Нам придется спросить, продолжатьли работу над проектом.

e)The infinitive may also be used as an object after some predicative adjectives, statives or participles.

It’s an awful photo. I’m ashamed to show it to anyone.

Ужасная фотография. Мне стыдно показывать ее кому-нибудь.

They were pleased and proud to have been invited to the conference.

Они радовались и гордились тем, что их пригласили на кон- ференцию.

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

S. V. MAYORSHINA. VERBALS IN DEPTH: THE INFINITIVE

He was delighted to see her again.

Он был счастлив снова видеть ее.

f)Some verbs and statives are followed either by an infinitiveobject or by a gerund-object, but with the change of meaning that can be slight or rather considerable. These cases are as follows:

•stop

•remember, forget

•like, love, prefer, hate

•dread, regret

•to be afraid

•advise, intend, recommend

•cannot bear

•mean

•try

•go on

•understand

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2. THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

like

love + infinitive or gerund prefer

hate

=in the affirmative sentences there’s particularly no difference in meaning between the infinitive and gerund:

I love skating / to skate.

Я люблю кататься на коньках.

I prefer staying / to stay at home.

Я предпочитаю остаться дома.

=to express a particular action in the past the infinitive is used, while a habitual action is mostly expressed by the gerund.

I preferred to stay at home.

=note the common patterns with “prefer”:

I prefer to walk in the park than (to) stay at home. I prefer walking in the park to staying at home.

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

S. V. MAYORSHINA. VERBALS IN DEPTH: THE INFINITIVE

In informal English try+ infinitive is often replaced by try and do smth without any change of meaning.

Try and draw that vase on the mantelpiece.

Попробуй нарисовать вонту вазу на камине.

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