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

2. THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

Exercise 1. Read and translate the sentences with the infinitive used as object. Pay attention to the ways the infinitives are rendered in Russian.

1. He ordered George to marry her as he would have ordered his butler to draw a cork, or his clerk to write a letter. 2. I hate this place, and want to leave it. 3. She was content to lie on the shore where fortune had stranded her. 4. Are you not very thankful to have such a fine place to live at? 5. Bessy invited him to walk into the breakfast-room and led the way out. 6. The ghost, then, was naturally very anxious to show that he had lost his influence over the Stiltons. 7. I assure you, I desire to be your friend. 8. My help had been needed and claimed; I had given it; I was pleased to have done something. 9. I always think it best to err on the safe side. 10. I saw a room I remembered to have seen before, the day Mrs Fairfax showed me over the house. 11. At this moment I discovered that I forgot to take my parcel out of the pocket of the coach, where I had placed it for safety. 12. He pronounced it needless to send for a doctor. 13. Show me how to work, or how to seek work: that is all I now ask. 14. The U.S. Minister was naturally a little annoyed to find that his present had not been accepted. 15. I feared to return to the nursery, and feared to go forward to the parlour. 16. ‘It’s absurd asking me to behave myself’, he answered. 17. They were all now in the greatest state of excitement, and did not know what to do. 18. I don’t propose to discuss politics, sociology or metaphysics with you.

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

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

Exercise 2. Match the parts of the sentences. Choose the proper object expressed by an infinitive or an infinitive phrase.

Exercise 3. Paraphrase the sentences using the infinitive as object. Follow the model.

Model:

I think you should do it as soon as possible. – I advise you to do it as soon as possible.

Use the verbs: to advise, to allow, to ask, to compel, to encourage, to order, to persuade, to plan, to promise, to recommend, to request, to teach, etc.

1.I wanted to continue the experiment, but my boss said it was high time to stop it.

2.His recommendation was that we should purchase a package tour to Australia.

3.I guess, I’ll pack my suitcase first and then take a taxi to the airport.

4.Father told Jimmy that he would buy him a new snowboard.

5.When I got into the house, the hostess politely asked if I could take off my shoes.

6.The sergeant told the soldier that he should peel a bucket of pota-

toes.

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2.THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

7.He showed me how to drive a car on the motorway.

8.I think you should read English books and watch films in English; that will help you to enrich your vocabulary.

9.Mary explained that if I do aerobics, I would definitely lose some weight.

10.We were given permission to use their phone and make a call to the Embassy.

Exercise 4. Complete the sentences using a conjunctive infinitive

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

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

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using the infinitive as object after predicative adjectives, statives or participles. Make use of the table below.

Exercise 6. Translate the sentences into Russian. Comment on the difference in meaning between the infinitive and the gerund used as object after the verbs in bold type. (See 4f for reference)

1.I like cooking for my family. I’d like to cook something delicious today.

2.The manager stopped speaking on the phone. The manager stopped to pick up the file.

3.He’ll never forget seeing Anne for the first time. Don’t forget to get some bread on the way home.

4.They went on talking all night. After getting a BS at a local University, James went on to study for his Master’s at Harvard.

5.If you want to improve your French, try watching French films. He tried to give up smoking but failed.

6.The piano needs tuning. I need to go there at once.

7.When a girl, she used to practise playing the piano every day. I hope I’ll get used to working regularly or I’ll fail to make progress in English.

8.I regret to inform you that we need no service of yours any longer. Steve regrets telling you the truth about your son.

9.Why are you so afraid to see the dentist? He’ll stop your suffering! – I’ve always been afraid of going to doctors, not only to dentists, I just can’t help it!

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2.THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

10.She can’t bear seeing her ex-husband every day! Ted couldn’t bear to quit sports.

Make up your own examples to illustrate the difference in use of gerunds and infinitives as objects. Initiate short dialogues with your partner using your illustrative examples.

Exercise 7. Use either the infinitive or the gerund of the verbs in brackets. (Sometimes either form is possible.)

1. I hate to admit it, but my bolognese sauce always seems tasteless. – Have you ever tried (add) a little sugar to it? 2. You lent me some money a few months ago – Did I? I don’t remember (lend) you any money. 3. When she saw what had happened, she began (laugh) loudly. 4. When you see Liz, remember (give) her my regards, will you? 5. I asked them to be quiet, but they continued (make) a lot of noise. 6. He tried (reach) the shelf, but he wasn’t tall enough. 7. I’m pleased (hear) that you like (work) for this company. 8. I must stop (write) now, I’ve got to run. 8. Tracey’s car needs (wash) and (refill). – Does it? I thought she stopped (refill) it on the way home yesterday. 9. I forgot (lock) the door of my apartment this morning and had to return. 10. I like (give) parties to my friends. 11. The Sharps can’t afford (go) on such an expensive tour. 12. I need to stay at home and study tonight as I have a test in physical geography tomorrow. 13. He forgot (tell) the story many times before. 14. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean (interrupt) you. 15. Could you stop (talk) for a moment? I need (concentrate) on this letter. 16. I don’t remember (take) my wallet out of my bag, but I must have done it when I stopped (buy) a paper. 17. I can’t contact York, he’s not at home and his mobile phone is switched off. – Have you tried (phone) him at work?

Exercise 8. Translate the sentences into English using the infinitive as object.

1. Они надеялись найти Стива в компьютерном классе, но там егонеоказалось. 2. Япригласилсвоихдрузейпосмотреть, какмне отремонтировали квартиру. 3. Томас никак не мог решить, куда

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

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

поехать в отпуск, но вдруг вспомнил, что обещал жене навестить ее родителей. 4. Думаю, весьма желательно регулярно читать книги на английском языке. 5. Попытайся убедить ее не посту- пать в аспирантуру в этом году. 6. Когда ты будешь готова вы- ходить, позвони мне. 7. Ей было приятно узнать, что Джим на- писал о ней книгу. 8. Неужели ты не помнишь, что обещал мне хорошо подготовиться к контрольной работе? 9. Перестань от- читывать меня как ребенка! Я не виноват, что ты забыла по- здравить свою лучшую подругу с днем рождения. 10. Когда я был студентом, я частенько прогуливал лекции знаменитого профес- сора. 11. Он с сожалением сообщил им, что не может приехать на конференцию в Брюссель. 12. Спроси у Джеймса, куда пойти в Вашингтоне. Меня интересуют музеи Института Смисониан. 13. Я считаю интересным увидеть Музей Иммиграции на остро- ве Эллис, я и вам советую посетить его. 14. Джек с удивлением обнаружил, что все его гости крепко спят. 15. Он научил меня, как водить машину в пробках. 16. Тебе не стыдно так опазды- вать? – Конечно, стыдно, но я вчера забыл распечатать доклад по страноведению и вынужден был заниматься этим утром, а принтер сломался, ну, в общем, это длинная история. 17. Как же вкусно! Расскажи мне, как готовить это блюдо. 18. Кэрол пред- почла устроить праздничный ужин дома.

5) The infinitive as ATTRIBUTE

As an attribute the infinitive is more common in English than in Russian as in English it can modify:

-both abstract and concrete nouns,

-the noun-substitute “one”,

-compound indefinite, negative and universal pronouns in -body,

-thing, -one,

-ordinal numerals (especially the first)

-substantivized adjectives next, last, much, more, little, little more, enough.

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2. THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

The infinitive in the function of an attribute often has some modal meaning of obligation or possibility. It is rendered in Russian:

-by an infinitive (mostly after abstract nouns),

-by a subordinate clause containing a modal verb or a modal word or a verb in the subjunctive mood,

-by a finite verb serving as the predicate of a simple sentence (after ordinal numerals and the adjectives “last”, “next”).

I didn’t have enough time to learn the poem yet.

У меня еще не было достаточно времени, чтобы выучить стихо- творение.

He wasn’t a person to be cheated easily.

Он нетот человек, которого можно легко обмануть.

We had nothing to lose.

Нам было нечеготерять.

She needed somebody to comfort her.

Ей был нужен кто-нибудь, кто мог бы успокоить ее.

John is always the last to come to classes and the first to leave.

Джон всегда последним приходит на занятия и первым уходит.

I’ve got no more to add.

Мне больше нечего добавить.

Your pronunciation leaves much to be desired.

Твое произношение оставляет желатьлучшего.

The infinitive-attribute may be expressed by a conjunctive infinitive phrase:

I have no idea who to address. what to do. where to go.

how to find the answer. when to start.

whether to go there or not.

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

Exercise 1. Read and translate the sentences with the infinitive used as attribute. Pay attention to the ways the infinitives are rendered in Russian.

1. He must come tomorrow, she thought, but she never had the courage to speak a word on the subject to Rebecca. 2. As she is not a heroine, there is no need to describe her person. 3. ‘It’s my belief, sir, that you have not the power or the right to separate those two’,Dobbin answered in a low voice. 4. A more immediately important question was whether I had any right to read a letter not addressed to me. 5. I had nothing to say to these words, they were not new to me. 6. I was not reprimanded for leaving my bed; people had something else to think about. 7. It was true Wisdom that consoled me in that hour, and showed me the right path to follow. 8. He saved me the trouble by being the first to commence a dialogue. 9. St. Jones was not a man to be lightly refused. 10. ‘Oh, there is really very little to tell, Harry’, answered the painter. 11. Mr Otis suddenly remembered that, some few days before, he had given a band of gypsies permission to camp in the park. 12. However, by taking great care of himself, he recovered, and resolved to make a third attempt to frighten the US Minister and his family. 13. By no other circumstances had I will to decide my choice. 14. The wish to have some strength and vigour returned to me as soon as I was amongst my fellow-beings. 15. We had no one to help us. We were alone, thousands of miles from any of our own people, surrounded by darkness.16. These two young couples had plenty of tales to relate to each other. 17. In weather like this a native hut must be a rather uncomfortable place to live in.

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2. THE SYNTACTICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

Exercise 2. Match the two corresponding parts of the sentences, choosing the proper attribute expressed by the infinitive or an infinitive phrase.

Exercise 3. Paraphrase the sentences using the infinitive as attribute. Use the words suggested in brackets (they are to be modified) and make all the necessary changes. Follow the model.

Model: They didn’t want to attend the lecture. (wish) – They had no wish to attend the lecture.

1.It was impossible to get a good job at his age. (possibility)

2.The student was allowed to retake the exam. (permission)

3.I can’t remember whether you promised to help him with the exhibition. (promise)

4.The manager’s requirement was that we should stop using the office computer for personal use, and we had to obey. (requirement)

5.She desired to adopt a child and nothing could make her change her mind. (desire)

6.The guests arrived one after another. Mark was the first one; then Jennie appeared. Finally Erik came, the last as usual. (the first, the next, the last)

7.He didn’t know how to help his friend out. (idea)

8.Please, don’t argue with Denis. Just do what he says. (person)

9.There are so many things I should do before my parents come back. (things)

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С. В. МАЙОРШИНА. НЕЛИЧНЫЕ ФОРМЫ ГЛАГОЛА: ИНФИНИТИВ

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

10.His ambition in life was to become a good surgeon, and we all were sure he’d be able to realize it. (ambition)

11.Her life-time dream had been to become an actress, and recently she was invited to play a minor role in the film of a well-known director. (invitation)

12.There are no children of his age with whom he can play. (nobody)

Exercise 4. Paraphrase the sentences using a noun instead of the verb or the adjective in bold type with the infinitive as attribute; make all other necessary changes. Follow the model.

Model: I don’t want to change my mind. – I have no desire to change my mind.

He offered to help us but we refused. – We refused his offer to help us. It is necessary to make these changes as soon as possible. – There is

a necessity to make these changes as soon as possible.

1. He was permitted to leave the classroom. 2. One could easily see that she was anxious to change the subject of the conversation. 3. They attempted to make the experiment again. 4. I remember you promised to help me in this matter. 5. I could not understand why he was reluctant to speak. 6. He didn’t wish to hurt your feelings. 7. It is needless to talk of it now. 8. I don’t intend to do anything about it. 9. Is it possible to get a ticket for today’s performance? 10. I saw he was not inclined to answer my question. 11. The coach instructed the sportsmen to keep to a diet. 12. It was pleasant to watch how impatient the children were to see the presents. 13. We needn’t inform him of the new requirements. 14. They did not conceal that they were impatient to see the performance.

Exercise 5. Paraphrase the sentences using the infinitive as attribute.

1. There was nothing that might keep him at home that night, and he gladly accepted the invitation. 2. He is not the man who would agree to it easily. 3. There are so many letters that must be answered! 4. The ship has arrived with the pictures which will be displayed at the inter-

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